1st US case of bird flu in a pig raises concerns over potential human threat A pig at an Oregon farm was found to have bird flu. It’s the first time the virus has been detected in U.S. swine and raises concerns about bird flu’s potential to become a human threat. AP News

...finding bird flu in a pig raises worries that the virus may be hitting a stepping stone to becoming a bigger threat to people, said Jennifer Nuzzo, a Brown University pandemic researcher.

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Shortage of IV fluids leads to canceled surgeries IV fluids used in hospitals remain in short supply, after Hurricane Helene shut down a key North Carolina factory. The closure has hospitals scrambling to stretch supplies and prioritize care. NPR

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You may not need to throw out those ‘expired’ Covid-19 home tests | CNN Four free home Covid-19 antigen tests are available to order at COVIDTests.gov, the seventh round of the federal government’s test-distribution program. Sam Tupper CNN

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U.S. death from Lassa fever, an Ebola-like virus, is reported in Iowa A person from Iowa who recently returned to the United States from West Africa has died after contracting Lassa fever, a virus that can cause Ebola-like illness in some patients. Helen Branswell STAT

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Paxlovid tied to fewer COVID-19 hospitalizations, reduced risk of long COVID Paxlovid was associated with a 61% lower risk of hospitalization. CIDRAP

A new retrospective cohort study conducted in Dubai shows that the antiviral nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir, sold as Paxlovid, is tied to a 61% reduction in COVID-19 hospitalization and a 58% lower rate of long COVID.

Why protective antibodies fade after COVID-19 vaccines New findings could help explain why the immune protection generated by COVID-19 vaccines tends to decline over time. National Institutes of Health (NIH)

• Researchers found that current COVID-19 vaccines fail to generate mature and durable antibody-producing cells in the bone marrow.
• The findings could help explain why protection tends to decline over time.
• Better understanding of long-term immune responses could lead to improved vaccines that provide enduring protection.
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Tuberculosis returns as top infectious disease killer, WHO says

Adding up the Public Health Costs of Using Coal to Make Steel - Inside Climate News A new report found connections between the American steel industry’s few remaining coal-based facilities and increased rates of asthma, cancer and premature deaths. Derek Harrison Inside Climate News

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Vance Wrongly Blames Rural Hospital Closures on Immigrants in the Country Illegally - KFF Health News Experts disputed the claim by Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance, noting that a range of other issues — from low reimbursement rates to declining patient use — combine to cause these facilities to shutter. khnkytjaw KFF Health News

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Biden administration announces $3 billion in grants for clean port projects - UPI.com The Biden administration announced the distribution of $3 billion in grants to 55 applicants to address environmental issues at ports, including infrastructure improvements and reducing diesel air pollution. UPI

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The administration said the funds, made available through the Inflation Reduction Act, will be distributed through the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Ports program. The 55 approved applications were from 27 states.

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