ANNOUNCEMENTS
Reserve component Soldiers must now be vaccinated to participate in training, drill
1 July- Maintaining readiness continues to be among the U.S. Army's highest priorities. We are fully committed to ensuring all Soldiers are vaccinated against COVID-19, as directed by the Secretary of Defense in August 2021. Beginning July 1, 2022, members of the Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve who have refused the lawful DOD COVID-19 vaccination order without an approved or pending exemption may not participate in federally funded drills and training and will not receive pay or retirement credit. Soldiers who refuse the vaccination order without an approved or pending exemption request are subject to adverse administrative actions, including flags, bars to service, and official reprimands. In the future, Soldiers who continue to refuse the vaccination order without an exemption may be subject to additional adverse administrative action, including separation. Unit commanders will be able to activate and pay Soldiers for limited administrative purposes, such as receiving the vaccine, processing their exemption requests, or conducting separation procedures. Soldiers will be paid and/or receive retirement credit for these service days. Army policy affords every Soldier the opportunity to request an exemption, such as for medical or religious concerns. Officials review each request on an individual basis, including review by appropriate medical personnel or chaplains, public health and legal review, and recommendations from the Soldier's commanders. Army.mil 
U.S. MILITARY
Final days in Afghanistan: Lab techs stepped up to support withdrawal
30 June- It was a hot summer afternoon last year in Kabul, Afghanistan, when Air Force Master Sgt. Grace Hodge, lab services section chief at David Grant Air Force Medical Center, in Fairfield, California, heeded an emergency call for all hands on deck. Hodge had deployed to Bagram Air Base, just north of Kabul, in April, as the lab team's noncommissioned officer in charge. She and her team were providing COVID-19 and trauma support while also closing down the medical treatment facility at Bagram to support the final withdrawal of U.S. forces. As the events in Afghanistan grew increasingly chaotic, Hodge forward deployed in June to a hospital at the international airport outside Kabul. There, she and her colleagues continued to process COVID-19 tests, blood work, and other routine lab tests as U.S. forces continued the troop drawdown and provided airlift support during the final days of the U.S. mission in Afghanistan. Hodge also led the Blood Product Distribution Center for American efforts in Kabul, working directly with the U.S. Central Command's Blood Transshipment Center Opens to an article in Qatar to provide whole blood products to treat wounded patients and service members. On the afternoon of Aug. 26, 2021, Hodge was one of only two lab techs working alternate 24-hour shifts. “I think I was the one on duty at that time," she recalled. The situation at the airport grew chaotic as the Taliban took over the area and thousands of Afghans, in their desperation to flee the Taliban, flocked to the airport to make it onto an outbound flight before the Aug. 31 deadline for the U.S. troop departure. Confusion and chaos turned into horror as a suicide bomber attacked the crowds, setting off an explosion that killed more than 150 Afghans and 13 U.S. service members. The attack forced troops to adapt their drawdown plans and respond to the mass casualty. “Prior to the attack, teams were preparing to leave the area," Hodge said. “Suddenly, everything changed, and our main goal shifted from COVID-19 support to blood supply and triage." She remembers the sound of pagers as everyone received the emergency alert. “When patients arrived, it didn't matter who you were," said Hodge. “We helped anyone who needed it." Hodge, along with a team of lab workers from several other NATO countries, supported the trauma cases however they could, even providing toiletries, clothes, snacks, and other supplies the United Service Organizations had sent for the deployed troops. “We were able to help a lot of people," she said. “And I'm glad we were there when that happened because if we hadn't been there, a lot more people would have died." A lab tech's job during a mass casualty incident involves managing traumas, “making sure we have whole blood for the patients that need it, and taking blood samples for testing," Hodge explained. Health.mil
NY National Guard wraps up federally-funded COVID-19 mission
1 July- Eight hundred and forty-three days after the first Soldiers and Airmen went on duty to stem an outbreak of the COVID-19 virus in the Westchester County city of New Rochelle, the New York National Guard's federally supported COVID -19 mission came to an end on June 30. A force of 269 personnel will remain on state active to assist with logistics support and resolve outstanding financial accounts. But no Soldiers and Airmen will remain on federal duty. The mission, which ran for almost two-and-a -half years, is the most extended domestic operations mission ever conducted by the New York National Guard. The next longest was during World War I. At that time, 2,000 New York State Guard members were on duty from April 5, 1917, until the war's end on November 11, 1918—585 days-- to guard railroads, the Erie Canal, and the New York City water system. From March 2020 to the end of June 2022, 7,077 uniformed men and women performed 1,717,742 man-days of work. They did everything from delivering 112,707 gallons of New York State Clean hand sanitizer to assisting the Medical Examiner of New York City in recovering the remains of 5,641 New Yorkers. The latter died in their homes during the pandemic. "I have been amazed by our service members and their work for New York State and our fellow citizens since March 2020 as we responded to the most significant pandemic in more than 100 years," said Major General Ray Shields, the adjutant general of New York. "As I traveled across the State and spoke with our members, I was always impressed by their professionalism and dedication and equally impressed by the civilian employees they were working with who to a person praised the support from the National Guard and our State Defense Forces," Shields said. “All I can say to the 7,000 plus service members who served on the COVID mission over 28 months is - thank you," he added. DVIDS
Operational readiness training a littoral away for NMRTC bremerton corpsmen
26 June- With operational readiness the priority of the Navy surgeon general, it's up to all Navy Medicine Readiness Training Commands to ensure that's a core mission. NMRTC Bremerton has formed a unique partnership to help ensure there's a ready medical force capable of supporting fleet mission – and medical - readiness. Under coordination from Cmdr. John M. Miyahara, Pastoral Care department head, NMRTC Bremerton has teamed up with Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron 11 to temporarily assign hospital corpsmen for operational platform training and familiarization exercises. Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Don Wilwayco and Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Jose Deras spent several weeks in May with MSRON 11, which operates ashore, at sea and in harbors, rivers, bays and littorals of Puget Sound. The squadron conducts maritime security operations by providing port and harbor security for the third largest fleet concentration in the U.S. In his role as NMRTC Bremerton command/clinical chaplain, Miyahara attests that readiness is a crucial issue based upon the principle of syncing body, mind and spirit for good health and wellness, as well as building the necessary toughness to wage and sustain a fight. “Readiness is about resilience. Readiness is about grit. Being in an operational setting helps our corpsmen get into the rhythm and routine of prioritizing readiness in all they do when on the job," explained Miyahara, citing Adm. Harry B. Harris, former commander of U.S. Pacific Command as an direct influence in understanding the importance of operational readiness. “We worked under former PACOM Commander Harry Harris and his mantra was, “We are ready to fight tonight." In order to be able to do that, we need to work on ourselves as much as we do our job skills," Miyahara related from his duty assignment with Destroyer Squadron 31 out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. When Miyahara arrived at NMRTC Bremerton, his operational experience and training capability provided a foundation from which to build upon in providing opportunities for Sailors with minimal Navy fleet experience. DVIDS
Teams working to care for Veterans exposed to burn pits
1 July- After leaving the corps, a 35-year-old Marine Corps Veteran decided to pursue his dream of becoming a police officer. The burning pain in his chest, shortness of breath, and painful, persistent cough were overwhelming. He never thought he'd be forced to withdraw from the academy for not keeping up, but there he was: embarrassed about his physical state and without answers. He sought care at a VA pulmonary clinic where a doctor initially diagnosed and treated him for asthma, gastroesophageal reflux disease and rhinitis. But none of these treatments provided relief. A comprehensive physical exam showed he didn't have a neuromuscular disorder or diaphragmatic weakness (a weak diaphragm is typical of these disorders). Further tests ruled out the original diagnosis of asthma, and a CT scan showed mild air trapping, but no evidence of interstitial lung disease. Fortunately, further in-depth evaluation of his case (and others like it) is happening at the VA Airborne Hazards and Burn Pits Center of Excellence (AHBPCE), which is co-located with the War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, and their associated Post-Deployment Cardiopulmonary Evaluation Network (PDCEN). VAGov
GLOBAL
Covid-19 reinfections may increase the likelihood of new health problems
5 July- Repeatedly catching Covid-19 appears to increase the chances that a person will face new and sometimes lasting health problems after their infection, according to the first study on the health risks of reinfection. The study, which is based on the health records of more than 5.6 million people treated in the VA Health System, found that, compared with those with just one Covid-19 infection, those with two or more documented infections had more than twice the risk of dying and three times the risk of being hospitalized within six months of their last infection. They also had higher risks for lung and heart problems, fatigue, digestive and kidney disorders, diabetes and neurologic problems. The findings come as a fresh wave of coronavirus variants, notably Omicron's BA.5, have become dominant in the United States and Europe, causing cases and hospitalizations to rise once again. BA.5 caused about 54% of cases nationwide last week, doubling its share of Covid-19 transmission over the past two weeks, according to data posted Tuesday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. BA.5 carries key mutations that help it escape antibodies generated by both vaccines and prior infection, leaving many people vulnerable to reinfection. Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, a clinical epidemiologist at Washington University in St. Louis, led the research, which was posted as a preprint ahead of peer review. He said he decided to do it after watching reinfections become more and more common among his own patients. "If you asked me about reinfection maybe a year and a half ago, I would tell you that maybe I have a patient here or there, but it's really, really rare," Al-Aly said. That's not true anymore, though. CNN
New mobile kit can detect early cervical cancer, when will the device roll out?
6 July- Cervical cancer has affected millions of women globally. However, early detection of the disease can help save lives. Therefore, there are HPV vaccines that can reduce the number of death and women getting cervical cancer. Besides that, a new mobile kit is being introduced to the market to help fight against the fourth most common cancer in women. ELEVATE has developed a mobile kit that is designed for communities with limited access to medical care, as reported by the European Commission. It works by health workers explaining the importance of cervical cancer screening and then offering the test to and giving women the results within the day. ELEVATE's mobile kit is easy to use and requires little training. Women will need to collect a sample themselves and the health workers will run the sample through the battery-powered analysis unit. It works by using DNA to check for the presence of high-risk HPV infections that can lead to cervical cancer. The results come out in minutes. Tech Times
New York City first to offer Paxlovid at COVID-19 testing sites
2 July- New York City's Mayor Eric Adams announced Thursday that the city has launched the first-of-their-kind mobile COVID-19 testing units that will also dispense the antiviral drug Paxlovid to those who test positive for the virus. The "Test-to-Treat" program is part of federal and city efforts to catch and treat infections early and be ready for new waves of the pandemic. Health officials also want to expand access to Paxlovid, especially for people who don't have a regular doctor or insurance, the New York Times reported. "New York City may have been at the epicenter of the pandemic at the start, but now we are leading the way in prevention and mitigation," Adams said in his announcement. "By getting lifesaving medications into the hands of New Yorkers minutes after they test positive, we are once again leading the nation to quickly deliver accessible care to those who need it," Adams said. Adams, who took office in January, tested positive for the virus in April and has said that his infection was mild in part because he took Paxlovid. White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha told the Times there had been a major increase in the use of Paxlovid across the country over the last three months, and that 240,000 new prescriptions were reported last week, the highest weekly total so far. UPI
PTSD may accelerate cognitive decline over time
1 July- The Cogstate Brief Battery, a validated and self-administered online cognitive assessment, was completed by participants between October 3, 2014, and July 30, 2019. The researchers measured cognitive function with two composite scores: psychomotor speed and attention, and learning and working memory. Covariates potentially associated with cognitive decline included demographic, educational, and behavior-related health factors such as body mass index, physical activity, cigarette smoking, diet quality, and alcohol consumption. The researchers additionally conducted secondary analyses that adjusted for symptoms and history of depression as well as the consequences of potential practice effects of taking the test multiple times. Behavior-related health factors "did not substantially differ by PTSD symptom level," the investigators note. However, compared with women who did not have PTSD symptoms, those who had such symptoms had higher depressive symptom scores and higher rates of clinician-diagnosed depression. Both cognitive composite scores improved through the follow-up period, "likely because of practice effects," the researchers write. But after adjusting for practice effects, they found a decline over time in both composite scores. Medscape
The abortion ruling has troops and veterans speaking out, some for the first time
4 July- For the first time in her life, Marine Corps Capt. Meleah Martin is refusing to wear American flag attire this Independence Day. Instead, she told her family that she will only wear pride colors and apparel. Not because she's unpatriotic – she's spent approximately 16 months deployed overseas as an F-18 pilot. But because she believes her constitutional rights are under attack. Martin said it's been disheartening to witness liberties such as the right to protest or to cast a ballot come under attack in recent years. Those frustrations turned to devastation for her with the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, stripping away the constitutional right to an abortion. Martin hopes to someday start a family, but as someone who identifies as a lesbian, she's scared her right to marry and have children may also be in danger. As a result of these fears and frustrations, she said she doesn't look at the American flag the way she used to. "We swear an oath, 'To support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic' ... Well, it's time to start worrying about the domestic, because clearly we have more of a problem here than we do anywhere else," Martin said, noting that her views are her own, and not a reflection of her unit or the Marine Corps. "It's really disappointing when something like this happens, because, like, how do I defend that?" NPR
The ever-evolving message about eggs and heart health
1 July- Is an egg a day really okay for heart health? Maybe not, according to the latest study to look at this question, published April 1, 2022, in Circulation. For part of the study, researchers looked at egg and cholesterol consumption in more than 27,000 men who were part of a long-running cancer study that followed participants for up to 31 years. They also pooled and reviewed data from 41 similar studies on eggs, dietary cholesterol intake, and blood cholesterol levels. Over all, they found that egg consumption — about one a day — and greater dietary cholesterol was linked to a slightly higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. The usual caveat applies, however: observational research like this can't prove cause and effect. Still, the findings support what many preventive cardiologists recommend for people who have heart disease or are at risk for it: if you like eggs, limit your consumption to a few per week, and have them with other healthy foods, such as a scrambled egg with vegetables and whole-grain toast. Health.harvard.edu
INFLUENZA
Which flu shot is best for seniors
3 July- Even though the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has stated that the 2022-2022 influenza season is ending, a new suggestion highlights vaccine preferences for the 2022-2023 flu season. In recent years, the CDC has not recommended any flu vaccine over another for any age group. On June 30, 2022, CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, M.D., M.P.H., adopted a committee recommendation to preferentially recommend the use of specific flu vaccines for seniors, including higher dose and adjuvanted flu vaccines. While flu season severity can vary each year, the CDC says that people 65 years and older bear the most significant burden of severe disease, accounting for the majority of flu-related hospitalizations and deaths. This recommendation was based on a review of available studies, which suggests that, in this age group, these vaccines are potentially more effective than standard-dose unadjuvanted flu vaccines. This preference applies to Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent, Flublok Quadrivalent, and Fluad Quadrivalent flu vaccines. People 65 and older should try to get one of the three preferentially recommended vaccines. Precision Vaccinations
VETERINARY/FOOD SAFETY
Canadian agency posts recall of king oyster mushrooms because of Listeria
2 July- Kam Ding Investment Ltd. is recalling King Oyster Mushrooms sold under the TWA Fungi brand because of possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The recall comes after the Canadian Food Inspection Agency tested a sample of the mushrooms and found the pathogen. The agency is recommending that consumers and businesses do not use, sell, serve, or distribute the recalled mushrooms...Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled but can still cause serious and sometimes life-threatening infections. Anyone who has eaten any recalled mushrooms and developed symptoms of Listeria infection should seek medical treatment and tell their doctors about the possible Listeria exposure. Also, anyone who has eaten any of the recalled products should monitor themselves for symptoms during the coming weeks because it can take up to 70 days after exposure to Listeria for symptoms of listeriosis to develop. Symptoms of Listeria infection can include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache, and neck stiffness. Specific laboratory tests are required to diagnose Listeria infections, which can mimic other illnesses. Pregnant women, the elderly, young children, and people such as cancer patients who have weakened immune systems are particularly at risk of serious illnesses, life-threatening infections, and other complications. Although infected pregnant women may experience only mild, flu-like symptoms, their infections can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn, or even stillbirth. Food Safety News
FDA warns against using Plug Heist Trap House 'homemade' infant formula
1 July- The FDA has sent out an alert for parents and caregivers of infants who consume infant formula advising them to stop using “homemade" infant formula from Plug Heist Trap House. The manufacturer was marketing this product as an infant formula with no product labeling and did not submit the required pre-market notification to the FDA. Homemade infant formulas have not been evaluated by the FDA for safety and may lack nutrients vital to an infant's growth. The FDA has determined that this product was not manufactured in compliance with infant formula regulations, was not tested to determine if it meets the nutritional requirements for infant formula, has the potential to cause nutrient deficiencies in infants, and may be contaminated with harmful bacteria...The FDA conducted an investigation earlier this week at the location of the firm, a home residence. The firm committed to no longer manufacturing and selling the product. Parents and caregivers of infants who have purchased this product should discontinue use and throw it away. Parents and caregivers of infants who have used this product and are concerned about the health of their child should contact their health care provider. Food Safety News
WELLNESS
Sunscreen helps prevent premature aging and skin cancer: How to pick the best one
5 July- Don't get burned this summer. As many Americans enjoy the summer outside in the hot sun, experts remind that sunscreen protects the skin from the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays, but which one to choose? "Seeking shade, wearing protective clothing — including a lightweight and long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses with UV protection — and using sunscreen are all important behaviors to reduce your risk of skin cancer," according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). "In fact, it is estimated that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. Sunscreen can also help prevent premature skin aging, such as wrinkles and age spots, caused by too much unprotected UV exposure." The American Academy of Dermatology recommends sunscreen with broad-spectrum protection that protects against UVA and UVB rays, one that is SPF 30 or higher and is also water resistant. "SPF" stands for sun protective factor, but many people think the number relates to the time of solar exposure, but this is not correct, said Dr. Darrell Rigel, clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine and a former president of the American Academy of Dermatology. "For example, many consumers believe that, if they normally get sunburn in one hour, then an SPF 15 sunscreen allows them to stay in the sun 15 hours (i.e., 15 times longer) without getting sunburn. This is not true because SPF is not directly related to time of solar exposure but to amount of solar exposure," the Food Drug and Administration (FDA) said. Fox News
The Democratic Republic of the Congo declares 14th Ebola outbreak over
4 July- The Democratic Republic of the Congo today declared the end of the Ebola outbreak that erupted less than three months ago in Mbandaka, the capital of Equateur Province in the northwest. It was the third outbreak in the province since 2018 and the country's 14th overall. With greater experience in Ebola control, national emergency teams, with the support from World Health Organization (WHO) and partners, mounted a swift response soon after the outbreak was declared on 23 April, rolling out key counter measures including testing, contact tracing, infection prevention and control, treatment and community engagement. Vaccination – a crucial protective measure – was launched just four days after the outbreak was declared. In all, there were four confirmed cases and one probable case – all of whom died. In the previous outbreak in Equateur Province that lasted from June to November 2020, there were 130 confirmed cases and 55 deaths. “Thanks to the robust response by the national authorities, this outbreak has been brought to an end swiftly with limited transmission of the virus," said Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “Crucial lessons have been learned from past outbreaks and they have been applied to devise and deploy an ever more effective Ebola response." The just ended outbreak saw a total of 2104 people vaccinated, including 302 contacts and 1307 frontline workers. To facilitate the vaccination rollout, an ultra-cold chain freezer was installed in Mbandaka which allowed for vaccine doses to be stored locally and safely and be delivered effectively. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has now recorded 14 Ebola outbreaks since 1976, six of which have occurred since 2018. “Africa is seeing an increase in Ebola and other infectious diseases that jump from animals to humans impacting large urban areas," said Dr Moeti. “We need to be ever more vigilant to ensure we catch cases quickly. This outbreak response shows that by bolstering preparedness, disease surveillance and swift detection, we can stay a step ahead." WHO supported the Democratic Republic of the Congo in implementing a strong national strategy developed early to guide response coordination; decentralizing operations to the lowest level to work closely with communities; basing the response on evidence; and regularly analyzing the epidemiological risk to rapidly adjust the response. WHO
Egypt travel bans, asset freezes choking civil society -rights groups
6 July- Years-long travel bans and asset freezes against some of Egypt's most prominent activists are being used to muzzle civil society and are exacting lasting damage on the personal lives of those targeted, according to two reports by human rights groups. Researchers say it is impossible to estimate the number of people affected by the measures, which are often open-ended and imposed without official notification. There has been a sweeping crackdown on Islamist and liberal dissidents in Egypt under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who as army chief led the overthrow of the Muslim Brotherhood's Mohamed Mursi in 2013 and was elected to the presidency a year later. Egypt's state information service did not respond to a request for comment. Sisi and his supporters say security measures taken over the past nine years were necessary to stabilize Egypt and that they are working to provide basic rights such as jobs and housing. Reuters
E.U. proposes ban on flavored heated tobacco products as sales rise
30 June- The European Union is proposing to extinguish the use of flavored heated tobacco products across its 27 member states, in a bid to tackle cancer rates. Its executive arm, the European Commission, announced a proposal Wednesday to ban their sale in response to a “significant" increase in popularity across member states. Heated tobacco products have exceeded 2.5 percent of overall sales in the E.U., a report by the commission found. The ban would cover only heated tobacco products — which work by heating processed tobacco leaf at a lower level than that of traditional cigarettes, letting smokers inhale nicotine — not electronic cigarettes that use flavored liquids containing nicotine derived from tobacco. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heated tobacco products are “harmful" and have not been proved to help smokers quit. Scientists are also still learning about their short- and long-term health effects, the CDC said, especially for young people. The E.U. is working to create a “Tobacco Free Generation," aiming to have less than 5 percent of the population using tobacco by 2040. “With nine out of ten lung cancers caused by tobacco, we want to make smoking as unattractive as possible to protect the health of our citizens and save lives," Stella Kyriakides, E.U. commissioner for health and food safety, said in a statement. “Stronger actions to reduce tobacco consumption, stricter enforcement and keeping pace with new developments to address the endless flow of new products entering the market — particularly important to protect younger people — is key for this," she added. The ban would include components such as filters and capsules but not affect traditional cigarettes, roll-your-own tobacco or water pipes, according to the proposal. The Washington Post
Shanghai, Beijing order new round of mass COVID-19 testing
6 July- Residents of parts of Shanghai and Beijing have been ordered to undergo further rounds of COVID-19 testing following the discovery of new cases in the two cities, while tight restrictions remain in place in Hong Kong, Macao and other Chinese cities. Shanghai has only just emerged from a strict lockdown that confined most of its 24 million residents to their homes for weeks and the new requirements have stirred concerns of a return of such harsh measures. The latest outbreak in China's largest city, a key international business center, has been linked to a karaoke parlor that reopened without authorization during lockdown and failed to enforce prevention measures among employees and customers, including the tracing of others they came into contact with, according to the city health commission. All such outlets have been ordered to temporarily suspend business, the city's department of culture and tourism said. “The virus spreads quickly because such entertainment venues are mostly indoor and closed, with frequent movement of people, high concentrations of people and inadequate personal protection measures," said Zhao Dandan, deputy director of Shanghai's municipal health commission. Apartment blocks where cases are discovered continue to be isolated, while mass testing in the majority of the city's 16 districts has been ordered at least through Thursday. A negative test result obtained within the previous 48 hours is required to enter residential compounds and public venues under the “two tests within three days" program. ABC News
U.S.: Iowa health officials say first probable case of monkeypox in the state has been reported
3 July- A man in Iowa is infected with the state's first probable monkeypox case, according to health officials. The man was likely infected during a recent international trip and is isolating, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health. Officials are contact tracing to track possible exposure to other individuals. The virus originates in wild animals but occasionally is transferred to humans, and most cases have been confined to central and west Africa. Recent monkeypox cases have traveled well beyond Africa, and are being reported in the U.K., Spain, Italy, the United States, and more. Symptoms from monkeypox include fever, intense headache, back pain, muscle aches, a lack of energy, and skin eruption, according to the World Health Organization. On June 28, U.S. health officials expanded the guidelines for people who should get vaccinated against monkeypox to include men who recently had sex with other men at parties. In the United States, around 460 cases of monkeypox in 32 states have been reported. Fox News
Costa Rica reports increase in malaria in 2022
5 July- The Costa Rica Ministry of Health reported last week that from Jan. 1 to June 18 this year, 256 cases of malaria have been recorded. This is more at the same time during the past five years–2018 109 cases were reported, in 2019 a total of 140 cases, 138 cases in 2020 and 228 cases in 2021. The three regions with the most cases at the national level are the Huetar Norte Region with 226 cases, the Huetar Caribe Region with 22 cases, and the Central Pacific Region with 8 cases. The Ministry of Health and the Costa Rican Social Security Fund constantly carry out house-to-house visits to detect people with symptoms, take blood samples, supply medicines to suspicious people, deliver tarpaulins and fumigate areas near the home. However, it calls on the population to also take measures such as using repellent, placing mosquito nets and covering their skin. The symptoms of this disease are: chills, abdominal pain, fatigue, fever, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, headache, rapid breathing, rapid heart rate, cough and muscle pain, it is important to visit the doctor in case of presenting these symptoms in especially if people live in or have traveled to an area where there is a high risk of malaria. Malaria or malaria is a disease caused by a parasite of the genus Plasmodium and transmitted to people mainly by the bite of a female mosquito of the genus Anopheles and has been present in the country with endemic characteristics since the eighteenth century, reestablishing transmission in broad regions of the Caribbean slope and dispersing to other areas of the country. Outbreak News Today
