ANNOUNCEMENTS
MilTICK offers help with troublesome travelers latching on to summer fun
10 June- It seems that cold weather is finally in the rearview mirror, and folks can safely pack away the snow boots for the season. Warm weather is a welcome change for those living and working on Rock Island Arsenal, and folks are already exploring the numerous trails and campgrounds located along the Mississippi River… but they aren't alone. Say hello to some annoying little friends looking to latch onto the fun, as well as the people and pets having it: Ticks. According to experts, the tick season (which traditionally runs from April to July) is severe this year, with the season extending into September and a higher population of ticks overall looking to hitch a ride with a host. “Continuing a trend that we've seen over the past several years, this year's tick season is likely to be severe," said Saravanan Thangamani, professor in the department of microbiology and immunology at the State University of New York Upstate Medical University and director of the SUNY Center for Environmental Health and Medicine, in a recent interview on the Today Show. It's still too early to predict what this season might hold for tick-borne diseases, he said, but he's already seen a 43% increase in the number of ticks submitted for testing compared to last spring. In Illinois, there are at least 15 species of ticks, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. However, people and pets likely encounter only a few of these ticks who can pack a punch with their bite: The American dog tick, the lone star tick, and the blacklegged (deer) tick. However, that doesn't mean there aren't others out there because, according to experts, ticks are on the move. In the past, ticks tended to stay in their own regional environments. Now, they are migrating to new locations around the country where they have never been a concern before. Experts say this vastly widens the exposure of not only the more commonly known tick-borne diseases, but introduces previously unseen health-related conditions into communities. “Tick habitats are changing and expanding as well," Thangamani said. “We are actually seeing ticks in areas that never reported ticks before," he explained. “And I think this trend is going to continue." Army.mil 
U.S. MILITARY
Behavioral Health offers tools, resources to Soldiers
14 June- On May 19, U.S. Army Health Clinic Hohenfels hosted an open house to discuss implemented policies and procedures aimed at removing the stigma associated with service members seeking and receiving mental health services. Lt. Col. Marlene Arias-Reynoso, behavioral health director of U.S. Army Health Clinic Hohenfels, led discussions with leaders from 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, the Directorate of Emergency Services and the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels. The main goal of the open house was to increase communication and collaboration between the behavioral health team and the different units. The command teams used this opportunity to meet the behavioral health staff face-to-face, and learn about the variety of resources they provide for the community. Leadership plays a major role when it comes to Soldiers and their families' behavioral health needs, according to Arias-Reynoso. It is important that leadership has the tools to recognize red flags early enough to help the Soldiers receive the support they need and prevent negative outcomes. “As a behavioral health provider, I see Soldiers get separated from the military for misconduct because they got into trouble due to an alcohol-related incident or domestic violence," said Arias-Reynoso. “The majority of these incidents can be prevented, if we take action early on." Army.mil
CTE is rare in brains of deceased service members, study finds
13 June- Despite a high risk of brain injury, military personnel rarely develop chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a disabling condition often found in former boxers and football players. Fewer than 5% of 225 brains from deceased service members showed evidence of CTE, a team reports in the June 9 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine. In contrast, a 2017 study of brains from deceased college and NFL football players found that 87% had signs of CTE. Even service members who had experienced concussions from bomb blasts were unlikely to develop CTE. Just 6.7 percent of the brains from 45 people exposed to blasts were diagnosed with the condition. The results suggest that "serving in the military and being exposed to blast is probably not a significant risk factor for developing CTE," says Dr. Daniel Perl, a professor of pathology at the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda and one of the study's authors. CTE can only be diagnosed after a person has died. During an autopsy, a pathologist looks for areas of the brain that have high concentrations of a toxic form of the protein tau. The condition is associated with dementia, mood problems, and a range of psychiatric disorders. NPR
Fight for troops' abortion access starts as roe rollback looms
9 June- A group of Senate Democrats led by Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.) are seeking to scrap the law that prohibits the use of Defense Department money to perform abortions. US troops could see their access to abortion severely curtailed if the Supreme Court overturns the landmark ruling on reproductive rights this summer. Doctors on military bases, as employees of the federal government, are already banned from performing abortions so female troops—and troops' wives—must seek the procedure on their own. That would become much more difficult if the Supreme Court overturns the precedent set in its Roe v. Wade ruling almost five decades ago, as a leaked draft ruling indicates it's likely to do. The ruling established the constitutional right to an abortion. At least 26 states probably would restrict abortion if Roe v. Wade is rolled back, including Texas, Florida, and other southern states that have many of the nation's military bases. “Our service members defend our freedom, but women in our armed services will lose freedom of autonomy over their own bodies if Roe is overturned," Gillibrand, who leads the Senate Armed Services Personnel subcommittee, said in a statement. Gillibrand on Thursday will introduce the Military Access to Reproductive Care and Health for Military Service members Act, together with Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.), Richard Blumenthal(Conn.) and Mazie Hirono(Hawaii). The measure may face an uphill battle as it needs backing from all Democrats or support from a few Republicans if it is to make it into law through a narrowly divided Senate. “The MARCH for Service members Act would empower the Department of Defense to protect the constitutional right for service members to make decisions they need to safeguard their health," Gillibrand said, adding that she “will fight for its passage." BGOV
MEDCoE hosted a professional development on parenthood, pregnancy, and postpartum
10 June- The U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence held a leader professional development (LPD) session focusing on U.S. Army Directive 2022-06 (Parenthood, Pregnancy, and Postpartum) at the Blesse Auditorium June 9, 2022. The event was hosted by Maj. Gen. Dennis LeMaster, MEDCoE commanding general, and featured guest speakers Mrs. Amy Kramer, special assistant, Office of the Undersecretary of the Army, and Lt. Col. Lana Bernat, director, Female Force Readiness and Health (3SW325) and Women's Health Nursing Consultant to the Surgeon General (66G/66W), who provided the in-person audience and those watching online, with insightful information on the background and implementation of this new directive. Addressing the guest speakers and audience, LeMaster stated, “This is about People First, and this LPD is the most important part of my day. This is the right thing to do for humanity. I can almost feel the pressure coming off on our pregnant females. This will create an environment, and a community for children to thrive." With the recent publication directive 2022-06 on April 19, 2022, the largest and oldest branch of the military makes strides to become more family friendly, in large part by accommodating the needs of Army women before, during and after they give birth. “It is a privilege to work in this policy," said Kramer when beginning her briefing. “This is an army wide effort, and these are real human beings behind this policy." The directive modifies six existing policies, including extending exemptions for postpartum body composition, physical fitness testing, and increasing family care plan flexibility. It also introduces six new policies, including policies related to professional military education, fertility treatment and pregnancy loss. During the next hour, she and Bernat went through the directive in detail while also covering many topics asked during their previous road shows. They fielded questions covering a wide area of topics related to parenthood, pregnancy, and postpartum including assignments, temporary duty, fertility treatments, family care plans, convalescent leave, lactation policy, and professional military education. Throughout their presentation, attendees asked questions on topics before they were addressed on the briefing slides, demonstrating the considerable interest in the new directive. Providing background, Kramer explained this initiative did not originate within the Army. DVIDS
UAMS study will take look at vets' health; researchers seek data on impact of toxic burn pits
13 June- The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences will conduct a study into the long-term health effects from veterans' exposure to toxic burn pits during the Iraq War and Afghanistan War. The research, which will study Arkansas veterans, will determine if exposure to toxic burn pits can be directly linked to numerous health problems. Leading the study are researchers Shuk-Mei Ho, vice chancellor for research and innovation at the College of Medicine Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at UAMS and Dr. Kalpana Padala, associate director for clinical research at the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System.
The researchers hypothesize that exposed service members will have persistent organic pollutants in their blood and heavy metals in their urine because of exposure to burn pits. Researchers will also use new genome sequencing technology to study modification to DNA and whether veterans' health problems from burn pit exposure can be passed on to their children. "This grant is trying to link the diseases or the disorders that the veterans are experiencing right now -- that they believe are derived from that exposure during that time -- to get evidence for them that it is connected," Ho said. The burns contained numerous kinds of trash including chemical, plastic and electronic and human waste often set ablaze with jet fuel. Since returning home, thousands of veterans were diagnosed with numerous health problems, including various types of skin, lung and heart disorders and cancers. When veterans made claims to the Department of Veterans Affairs asking for health-care coverage, many were met with skepticism, with officials saying there was not enough evidence to prove that exposure to burning piles of trash could be linked to specific health ailments. NWA Online
GLOBAL
Adaptive jiujitsu fills void for children with autism
14 June- Tuesday afternoons in Fayetteville are one of Mia Martin's favorite times of the week. The 12-year-old girl, who has autism, hops, runs or back pedals her way through an adaptive jiujitsu class at the Martial Arts of North Carolina Dojo. The rules are specific to every child's sensory needs. “Can I have a sticker?" Mia Martin asked after she finished an exercise. These days, the teenager often talks in complete sentences. The middle schooler has developed stronger language skills, despite being diagnosed as a non-verbal communicator with autism at a younger age. Her small verbal observations are taken as a major sign of progress for her father, James Martin, who understands executing a mission. “It's been awesome," James Martin said. “This is probably the one activity that challenges her emotionally, mentally and physically for a sustained period of time." James Martin is an Army veteran who has served in the theater of war in the Middle East. He said this class builds on his daughter's speech and behavioral growth outside the studio. Looking high and low for therapeutic ways to help his daughter adapt to the world is a never ending quest for the Martins. Like many servicemen with a child on the autistic spectrum, the retired soldier is painfully aware of the limited options he has with his government funded health care, called Tricare. With so few therapeutic outlets available, the doting father paid out of pocket for this class and believes it's worth every penny. “She gets a full body workout. I would say it's improved her cognitive ability," James Martin said. Changes to Tricare limited or eliminated many therapies. According to the Defense Health Agency's website, “The DHA Autism Care Demonstration (ACD) manual changes were published on March 23, 2021." Families were notified changes would take effect May 1 of last year. The biggest alteration to policies and benefits happened to applied behavior analysis, or ABA, services. Parents interviewed by Spectrum News 1 said ABA could no longer be effectively used at school or in the community. Spectrum Local News
Discovery could lead to more effective treatment for chronic, pathological pain
9 June- The world has changed since 1664, when French philosopher and scientist Rene Descartes first claimed the brain was responsible for feeling the sensation of pain. However, a key question remains: How exactly does the human brain feel pain? Specifically, thermal pain-;like that experienced when touching an open flame or a hot pan while cooking. A team of researchers in the neurosciences department at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine think they've found an answer-;that a neural circuit involving spinal neurons and a signaling pathway––are responsible for how burning pain is sensed. They believe their discovery, published recently in the journal Neuron, could lead to more effective treatment for chronic, pathological pain-;such as shooting, stabbing and burning pain-;because it may involve the same signaling pathway. The brain controls everything we do, from our perception of the world around us to how we move our bodies and experience sensations. The process involves neurons, which are cells that act as messengers to transmit information between the brain and nervous system. The neurons send information through complex circuits throughout the body. The research team looked at neurons in the spinal cord and their role in thermal pain by analyzing mouse models and their response to heated plates. During this process, the team identified the activation of a "novel, "or newly discovered, class of spinal cord neurons (called ErbB4+) that process heat signals to the spinal cord. News-Medical
Knee pain from arthritis may be prevented by walking, study says
9 June- Frequent knee pain was less likely to develop in those over age 50 who have arthritis and walked for exercise compared to those who did not walk, according to a study published in the Journal Arthritis and Rheumatology. Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine looked at over 1200 individuals diagnosed with arthritis who were part of the Osteoarthritis Initiative, a multiyear observational study where participants self-reported the amount of time they walked for exercise. They found that those who walked for exercise were 40% less likely to develop new frequent knee pain compared to the non-walkers. "When we looked at those who did not have regular knee pain at the beginning of the study , those who walked for exercise were LESS likely to develop regular knee pain compared to those who do not walk", Dr. Grace Hsiao-Wei Lo, assistant professor of immunology, allergy and rheumatology at Baylor, chief of rheumatology at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center and first author of the study, told Fox News. Fox News
Nearly 15% of people worldwide have had Lyme disease, study says
14 June- Lyme disease was first named nearly 50 years ago in Lyme, Connecticut, but the tick-borne disease is now found around the world. A new study published in BMJ Global Health estimates that 14.5% of the world's population has, at some point, been infected with Lyme disease, which can cause short-term symptoms including a skin rash, fever, headache, and fatigue—as well as long-term ones, including damage to the joints, heart, and nervous system. The scourge also appears to be getting worse. Lyme prevalence has doubled from 2010 to 2021, compared to 2001 to 2010. The study, led by a team of researchers from the Institute for Tropical Medicine at Kunming Medical University in China, was a meta-analysis of 89 studies dating as far back as 1984 until 2021. That cache of papers included blood samples from nearly 160,000 people who were tested for Borrelia burgdorferi, the spiral-shaped bacterium that causes Lyme disease. Blood samples were examined by any one of a range of methods, including the ELISA test, which uses enzymes to detect the presence of antibodies in the blood; and the IFA test, which uses a fluorescence method to do the same job. Considered more reliable than both techniques is the Western blotting method, which looks for proteins in the blood as markers of infection with a target bacterium or virus. The Western blotting method is thought to reduce the incidence of false positive results, but it has a major drawback: it's less sensitive in the early stages of Lyme infection than ELISA or IFA. Of the 89 studies selected, 58 used Western blotting. MSN
WHO convenes experts to decide if monkeypox is an emergency
14 June- The World Health Organization will convene an emergency committee of experts to determine if the expanding monkeypox outbreak that has mysteriously spread outside Africa should be considered a global health emergency. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Tuesday he decided to convene the emergency committee on June 23 because the virus has shown “unusual" recent behavior by spreading in countries well beyond parts of Africa where it is endemic. “We believe that it needs also some coordinated response because of the geographic spread," he told reporters. Declaring monkeypox to be an international health emergency would give it the same designation as the COVID-19 pandemic and mean that WHO considers the normally rare disease a continuing threat to countries globally. The U.K. said Monday it had 470 cases of monkeypox across the country, with the vast majority in gay or bisexual men. British scientists said last week they could not tell if the spread of the disease in the U.K. had peaked. AP News
Will monkeypox spread as fast as COVID?
9 June- As health departments around the country start to report cases of monkeypox, some are getting flashbacks to early 2020 before the coronavirus spread like wildfire. With more than 30 cases across 13 states, will the virus start a new pandemic? Key differences between the viruses make that unlikely. In a media briefing Tuesday, Dr. Tom Inglesby, director of The Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, outlined some of those differences. While monkeypox can spread through respiratory droplets, Inglesby explained, evidence suggests spread is happening through close contact. “It's not spreading across a room or greater distance," Inglesby said. In addition to respiratory droplets at close range, the virus can also be spread through bodily contact, or through contact with someone's bedding or clothing, he said. Monkeypox does pose a serious danger to those who get it. It results in death for as many as 10% of people who contract it in Africa, where the virus is endemic, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, the way it spreads can make it easier to control outbreaks. “It is not acting in a way like a disease that spreads through respiratory droplets or airborne dominantly does," Inglesby said. “So it's not acting like influenza or covid or chickenpox or measles – things that spread quickly in an unvaccinated community. It is acting more like a disease that is spreading by close contact." We also have a vaccine that works against the virus, the smallpox vaccine. “If we all react quickly and we all work together, we will be able to stop this," said the World Health Organization's Dr. Rosamund Lewis. “We will be able to stop it before it reaches more vulnerable people and before it establishes itself as a replacement for smallpox." The Hill
INFLUENZA
CDC: Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report
Key Updates for Week 22, ending June 4, 2022:
-Seasonal influenza viruses continue to circulate, and activity is increasing in parts of the country.
-The majority of influenza viruses detected are A(H3N2). H3N2 viruses identified so far this season are genetically closely related to the vaccine virus. Antigenic data show that the majority of the H3N2 viruses characterized are antigenically different from the vaccine reference viruses. While the number of B/Victoria viruses circulating this season is small, the majority of the B/Victoria viruses characterized are antigenically similar to the vaccine reference virus.
- The percentage of outpatient visits due to respiratory illness decreased slightly over the past three weeks. Influenza is contributing to levels of respiratory illness, but other respiratory viruses are also circulating. The relative contribution of influenza varies by location.
- The number of hospital admissions with laboratory confirmed influenza that were reported to HHS Protect remained stable compared to last week, but is trending downwards.
- Due to late-season activity during the 2021-2022 season, FluSurv-NET surveillance has been extended beyond the typical end date of April 30 (MMWR Week 17). As of MMWR week 22, the overall cumulative hospitalization rate was 16.7 per 100,000 population, and the overall weekly hospitalization rate was 0.3 per 100,000 population. Reporting of recent hospital admissions can be subject to reporting delays; therefore, as hospitalization data are received each week, prior rates are updated accordingly.
- Three influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported this week. A total of 28 influenza-associated pediatric deaths occurring this season have been reported.
- CDC estimates that, so far this season, there have been at least 7.8 million flu illnesses, 80,000 hospitalizations, and 4,900 deaths from flu.
- An annual flu vaccine is the best way to protect against flu. Vaccination can prevent serious outcomes in people who get vaccinated but still get sick. CDC continues to recommend that everyone ages 6 months and older get a flu vaccine as long as flu activity continues.
- There are also prescription flu antiviral drugs that can be used to treat flu illness. CDC
VETERINARY/FOOD SAFETY
Bakery recalls packaged salads because of risk of Listeria contamination
9 June- Northern Tier Bakery LLC of St. Paul Park, MN, is recalling 905 pounds of ready-to-eat salad products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. “The problem was discovered when the company notified FSIS that the firm's product sampling resulted in a positive for Listeria monocytogenes," according to the recall notice posted by the FSIS. FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers' refrigerators. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase. There had been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions related to the consumption of these products as of the posting of the recall notice... Food Safety News
Raspberries recalled in Canada over norovirus contamination
14 June- New Alasko Limited Partnership is recalling Alasko brand IQF Whole Raspberries because of possible norovirus contamination. This recall comes after a month after a similar recall of Mantab Inc.'s Below Zero brand whole, frozen raspberries because of possible norovirus contamination. The recalled product has been sold in Canada in Quebec, Ontario and Nova Scotia. Consumers, retailers, and restaurant owners should check to see if they have the recalled products in their homes or establishments. Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the location where they were purchased. People with norovirus illness usually develop symptoms of gastroenteritis within 24 to 48 hours, but symptoms can start as early as 12 hours after exposure. The virus can live on surfaces for long periods of time and survives freezing temperatures. It is highly contagious. The illness often begins suddenly. Even after having the illness, you can still become reinfected by norovirus. The main symptoms of norovirus illness are diarrhea, vomiting (children usually experience more vomiting than adults), nausea, and stomach cramps. Other symptoms may include low-grade fever, headache, chills, muscle aches, and fatigue (a general sense of tiredness). Most people feel better within one or two days, with symptoms resolving on their own, and experience no long-term health effects. As with any illness-causing diarrhea or vomiting, people who are ill should drink plenty of liquids to replace lost body fluids and prevent dehydration. In severe cases, patients may need to be hospitalized and given fluids intravenously. Food Safety News
WELLNESS
How meditation could change the brain
13 June- In a time when traumatic events such as pandemics, shootings and loss seem never-ending, mindfulness can be a tool for feeling capable during periods of uncertainty. "Mindfulness is a collection of practices nowadays, aimed to help most of us cultivate moment-to-moment awareness," said Monica Vermani, a clinical psychologist based in Toronto and author of "A Deeper Wellness: Conquering Stress, Mood, Anxiety and Traumas." "You're not only aware of your body; you're aware of your surroundings and your world," she added. "It forces you to pay attention to life (rather) than get caught up in your head with anxious thoughts, worries and ruminating about the future." Meditation, a practice of mindfulness, doesn't have a single universal definition. But as interest in mindfulness and meditation has grown, it has been summed up as "a mind and body practice focused on interactions between the brain, mind, body and behavior, containing four key elements: a quiet location with little distractions, a comfortable posture, a focus of attention and an open attitude," according to a 2021 study. Scientists are still learning about exactly how meditation could induce positive impacts on other aspects of health, too -- such as helping our immune systems function optimally, enhancing sleep, lowering cholesterol and alleviating pain. "It helps you with memory and concentration, increases resiliency, helps you manage stress better (and) helps you have a positive impact on relationships," Vermani said. "In relationships, if you're busy in your mind, you're reactive. And when you're mindful and you're grounded, you have a tendency to respond versus react, meaning to pause and reflect before letting things go out of your mouth that are sometimes hurtful, or negative or judgmental." CNN
USAFRICOM
Ghana chef serves free stew as more struggle to afford food
15 June- Storm clouds circled a large zinc shed outside Ghana's capital Accra where market porters sat on overturned metal bowls, disheartened by the lack of business as the encroaching rain deterred shoppers from nearby stalls. Then a rumbling sound broke the stillness as gourmet chef Elijah Addo pulled up in a food truck and started dishing up hot plates of beef stew. Eyes widened when the 31-year-old said they were free and bright faces lined up behind the vehicle. Addo said he has two core missions, to reduce hunger and eliminate food waste. With food prices up an annual 30% in May, he is finding more and more people are turning to his food truck, including those with jobs and homes. "It started with a disabled man I met in 2011, who would collect unused food from the hotel I worked at for his colleagues on the street," Addo explained. "When I asked him why he did that, he told me: 'If I don't, who will?'"Inspired, Addo founded West Africa's largest food bank, started a school feeding programme and organised bi-weekly food truck distributions in Accra's poorer neighbourhoods. Reuters
Iraq Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever cases continue rise
12 June- The Iraqi Ministry of Health announced on Saturday that the cases of hemorrhagic fever have reached 162 cases, including 27 deaths, since the beginning of the year. The authorities are trying to limit the spread of this viral disease, which is transmitted through livestock. As recent as May, the authorities announced 12 deaths from the disease. Spokesman for the Ministry of Health, Saif Al-Badr said that Erbil governorate in the Kurdistan Region recorded the 1st death from the disease. In addition, he added that half of the cases have recovered. He also confirmed that the ministry is working on early detection of cases, and is providing health care, education, and awareness. The majority of infections were recorded in Dhi Qar governorate (61 cases), located in the south of the country, which is a poor rural area where cows, sheep, goats and buffaloes are raised, all of which are intermediate vectors of this disease. Outbreak News Today
Europe confirms more children impacted by mysterious liver infection
13 June- The Sweden-based European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) recently reported an update on the cases of hepatitis of unknown origin in children aged 16 years and below. As of June 9, 2022, 178 patients had been reported from the European region. Since the last ECDC surveillance bulletin, nineteen countries (Austria (two), Belgium (14), Bulgaria (one), Cyprus (two), Denmark (seven), France (seven), Greece (six), Ireland (13), Israel (five), Italy (31), Latvia (one), the Netherlands (14), Norway (five), Poland (eight), Portugal (15), Moldova (one), Serbia (one), Spain (36), and Sweden (nine) reported cases. 'As severe hepatitis can take some time to develop after the onset of the first symptoms, and as investigations take time, there may be a delay in reporting cases.'
- The majority (77.9%) of cases are five years old or younger.
- Sixty-eight children remain under medical care.
- Of the cases for which this information was available, (8.9%) have received a liver transplant.
- There has been one death associated with this unknown disease.
- Of the children, PCR tested for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, (10.6%) tested positive.
- Of the pediatric cases with data on COVID-19 vaccination, (85.1%) were unvaccinated.
Dr. Sophia Makki, Incident Director at UKHSA, stated in a media release issued on June 9, 2022, 'The likelihood of children developing hepatitis remains extremely low.' Precision Vaccinations
USINDOPACOM
Covid: Dozens of Covid cases linked to Beijing bar
12 June- A total of 166 Covid infections in China have been linked to a single bar in the capital Beijing, officials say. A government spokesman described the outbreak as "ferocious". All residents living in the area where the bar is located will be tested over the next three days. The number of infections in the city is low by international standards but high for China, which is the world's only major economy still maintaining a "zero Covid" policy. The outbreak was traced to a venue called the Heaven Supermarket Bar, in the well-known entertainment area of Sanlitun in Chaoyang district. Two buildings housing hundreds of people in Chaoyang were put under strict lockdown on Sunday after a positive case was reported, a residential committee worker told Reuters news agency. Some people in Beijing said they were sent texts telling them to report to authorities if they had recently visited Sanlitun's bars. Chinese officials have reversed the relaxation of some Covid rules in Beijing because of the outbreak. Most children in the capital will not return to school next week as originally planned, officials said. BBC News
US: Pfizer COVID-19 shot appears effective for kids under 5
13 June- Federal health officials said Sunday that kid-sized doses of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccines appear to be safe and effective for kids under 5, a key step toward a long-awaited decision to begin vaccinating the youngest American children. The Food and Drug Administration posted its analysis of the Pfizer shot ahead of a Wednesday meeting where outside experts will vote on whether the shots are ready for the nation's 18 million babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Kids under 5 are the only group not yet eligible for COVID-19 vaccination in the U.S. Late last week the FDA posted a similar analysis of Moderna's shots for children under 6. If regulators clear the shots by one or both companies, vaccinations could begin as soon as next week with the drugmakers ready to rapidly ship doses ordered by the government. Parents have been pressing federal officials for months for the opportunity to protect their smallest children as more adults shed masks and abandon other public health precautions. While only about 3% of U.S. COVID cases are in the age group 6 months to 4 years, hospitalization and death rates in that group are higher than those for older children, according to the FDA's analysis — one reason experts have said protecting this group is important. AP News
Brazil dengue death toll tops 500 this year
14 June- Agência Brasil reports Brazil recorded 504 deaths from dengue in the period from January 1 to June 4. The number represents practically double the number of deaths reported in the whole of last year, according to the Epidemiological Bulletin released by the Ministry of Health. The state of São Paulo leads the list, with 180 deaths. Then come Santa Catarina (60), Rio Grande do Sul (49), Goiás (44) and Paraná (43). There are still 364 deaths under investigation. This year alone, there were 1.1 million probable cases of dengue across the country, which implies an incidence rate of 517.9 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The mark reached in just six months already represents more than twice the number of cases recorded in the entire year of 2021 (544,460). The Midwest region of the country leads the incidence rate, with the mark of 1,544.2 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, higher than the Brazilian average. It is also in this region that the municipalities with the highest number of infected are: Brasília, with 51,131 cases; and Goiânia, with 41,637 cases. Next in the ranking are Joinville (SC), with 23,058 cases; São José do Rio Preto (SP), with 16,005 cases; and Aparecida de Goiânia (GO), with 14,689. Outbreak News Today
