Study: COVID-19 forecasting tool allowed hospital to manage patient capacity, resources amid pandemic's third wave During the peak of the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, the health-care system's capacity was stretched and hospitals across Canada relied on each other to share resources and provide care. Marzena McDonald Medical Xpress

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WHO: COVID-19 pandemic reversed decade of life expectancy gains The World Health Organization (WHO) published a new report suggesting the COVID-19 pandemic undid a decade of life expectancy at birth and healthy life expectancy gains (HALE), with global expectancy levels now matching those last seen in 2012. CIDRAP

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"Not only has the pandemic set back healthy longevity worldwide by years, it also reversed the previous trends of shifting disease burden to noncommunicable diseases," the report said.

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World Health Assembly hopes to reinforce pandemic preparedness after bold treaty project stalls The World Health Organization is beginning its annual meeting with government ministers and other top envoys hoping to reinforce global preparedness for the next pandemic in the devastating wake of COVID-19. AP News

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Bird flu detected in tissue samples of US dairy cow sent to slaughter, USDA says Bird flu virus particles were found in tissue samples taken from one dairy cow sent to slaughter at a U.S. meat processing plant, but none were detected in samples from 95 other cattle, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said on Friday. Tom Polansek,Manas Mishra Reuters

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New experiments confirm milk from H5N1-infected cows can make other animals sick — and raise questions about flash pasteurization | CNN New experiments confirm milk from H5N1-infected cows can make other animals sick — and raise questions about flash pasteurization Brenda Goodman CNN

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US Could See Spike in Bird Flu Cases After Migration Season Birds may have spread the disease while migrating for breeding season over the spring. Jordan King Newsweek

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In spring, birds usually return to their breeding grounds, meaning they are making cross-country journeys, often stopping to take breaks along the way. The stopover locations can act as hotbeds for the spread of bird flu, especially if they are near farmland, where infected birds can leave contaminated saliva and feces, transmitting the disease to poultry animals.

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Explainer-What are the FLiRT COVID variants and are they more contagious? The moniker FLiRT is an acronym for the locations of the mutations the variants share on the virus' spike protein. HOW ARE THE FLIRT VARIANTS DIFFERENT FROM PREVIOUS VARIANTS? The FLiRT variants, which also include KP.2's "parental" lineage JN.1, have three key mutations on their spike protein that could help them evade antibodies, according to Johns Hopkins University. Yahoo News

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Myths incorrectly connecting COVID vaccine to heart defects may be spreading

The American Heart Association warns that false information about COVID vaccination and heart defects attributed to the Association may be spreading. The misinformation is inaccurately and incorrectly connected to a recent scientific paper on cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome.

HHS advances plan to produce 4.8 million H5N1 vaccine doses Officials have identified a fill-and-finish opening on a production line at a vaccine company partner and said the activity won't disrupt the supply of seasonal flu vaccine. CIDRAP

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Dawn O'Connell, JD, said health officials have identified a manufacturing line at one of its manufacturing partners for fill-and-finish steps, without disrupting production of seasonal flu vaccine. Currently, the vaccine is in bulk form and will be produced in multidose vials.

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Wastewater testing specifically for bird flu virus will scale up nationally in coming weeks Specific testing for H5 flu virus in wastewater is scaling up nationwide through a partnership between universities, Verily, and philanthropies. Megan Molteni STAT

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