WHO, scientists call for urgent action on mpox strain The spread of mpox in Africa needs to be addressed urgently, the World Health Organization said on Tuesday, as scientists warned separately of a dangerous strain in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Jennifer Rigby Reuters

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US surgeon general declares US gun violence an urgent public health crisis | CNN Gun violence in the United States is an urgent public health crisis that demands the “collective commitment of the nation” to stop it, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy says in a new advisory released Tuesday. Jen Christensen CNN

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Latest XBB COVID-19 vaccine offers protection against hospitalization, deaths Today, JAMA Internal Medicine published a study calculating the protection offered by the latest Pfizer COVID-19 XBB vaccine compared to older vaccines against COVID-associated hospitalization and emergency department (ED) or urgent care (UC) visits.  CIDRAP

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The authors compared outcomes among those who had received an updated XBB vaccine and those who had not received an XBB vaccine of any kind, regardless of prior COVID-19 vaccination or infection history.

Heat & Health Tracker | Tracking | NCEH | CDC The CDC Heat and Health Tracker provides local heat and health information so communities can better prepare and respond to extreme heat events.

Heat poses significant and increasing risks to public health across the United States. Use this dashboard to explore your community’s heat exposure, related health outcomes, and assets that can protect people during heat events.

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USDA finds unusual twist: Bird flu moved from dairy cows to poultry in Michigan LANSING — A team of epidemiologists from the U.S. Department of Agriculture have traced the H5N1 viral spread in Michigan to a single herd of dairy cattle ... The Blade

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Bird flu snapshot: USDA secretary urges farmers to take protective measures Read the second in a series of regular updates on H5N1 avian flu that STAT is publishing on Monday mornings. Megan Molteni STAT

As the H5N1 outbreak in dairy herds approaches the three-month mark, America’s top animal health official is calling on farmers to step up the use of personal protective equipment, limit traffic onto their farms, and increase cleaning and disinfection practices in their barns and milking parlors.

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Pot use seems to contribute to more severe cases of COVID-19, study finds - UPI.com Among patients diagnosed with COVID-19, those who used marijuana had a higher risk of hospitalization and intensive care unit admission, a new study indicates. UPI

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Study Confirms One Type of COVID Mask Is 'Significantly Better' Than Others They're not all the same. David Nield ScienceAlert

Of the four types of masks tested, the duckbill N95 mask came out on top: it blocked 99 percent of large particles and 98 percent of small particles from getting out into the air. Overall, 98 percent of the viral load was blocked by the N95.

Seasonal affective disorder strikes some in the summer. Climate change may make it worse. Story at a glance As climate change brings on hotter and hotter summers, health experts worry a type of depression called summer seasonal affective disorder could become more common.   People … Alejandra O'Connell-Domenech The Hill

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