Situation Report

Paxlovid cuts COVID hospitalization, death risk and speeds symptom relief, studies find Overall, the risk of developing 28 out of 36 long-COVID symptoms lessened when vaccines were effective. CIDRAP

New findings from two studies have tied use of the antiviral drug nirmatrelvir-ritonavir (Paxlovid) to a reduction in COVID-19 hospitalizations and death, as well as to faster resolution of symptoms and less use of healthcare resources.

Benefit seen only in older patients

As H5N1 bird flu continues to spread around the US, health officials recently found that 7 percent of dairy workers tested on farms in two states had evidence of recent infection — and some had signs of infection even when they didn’t feel sick.

CDC reports slight flu rise in children, first kid's flu death of season Meanwhile, COVID activity remained low amid a shift in variant proportions and RSV levels rose in 3 US regions. CIDRAP

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Trump’s reelection casts a shadow over the start of global climate negotiations Trump’s return to the White House raises questions about whether the country will continue working on global climate initiatives. NPR

Global climate talks started today in Baku, Azerbaijan, a major oil and gas producing country that borders Russia and Iran on the Caspian Sea.