Month: April 2021

Massachusetts expanded its list of comorbidities that qualify for early vaccine eligibility Friday, just a few days before residents in the state with just one of the conditions can begin signing up for an appointment. The new additions —which align with recently updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines on underlying conditions that put individuals at increased risk of hospitalization or death due to COVID-19 — include cystic fibrosis, dementia, Type 1 diabetes, HIV infection, hypertension, all conditions resulting in a weakened immune system, liver disease, thalassemia, and substance use disorder. Currently, Massachusetts residents with two or more qualifying medical conditions, along with those over the age of 60 and certain essential workers, are eligible...

A salmonella outbreak among wild birds has spread to humans in a handful of states, including Oregon. The illness has hit at least 19 people in eight states, causing fever, stomach cramps and in some cases more severe symptoms, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a public notice Thursday. The sickness has caused eight hospitalizations so far. The salmonella outbreak started over the winter. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife says that activity at feeders increases in cold weather, and this pile-up of birds can lead to infection at feeders that are not regularly cleaned. “When you feed birds, be sure to start with clean feeders and to disinfect feeders periodically,” ODFW state wildlife veterinarian Dr. Colin Gillin said in a statement. Pine siskins, nuthat...

VACCINE. PFIZER NUMBER TWO AND TAVEL AND DAVID UMLAW FOR HEADING INTO THE HEINZ CONVENTION CENTER FOR THEIR FINAL LAP TOWARDS THE VACCINATION FINISH LINE. YES. WE’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING ALL OUR FRIENDS WHO ARE VACCINATED IN TWO WEEKS. YOU KNOW, IT’S BEEN A VERY DIFFICULT YEAR FOR EVERYONE. I’LL BE GLAD TO GET IT OVER WITH AND KIND OF GET BACK TO NORMAL. WE CAN HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS WILL BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR THE VACCINE MONDAY THOSE 55 AND OLDER AND ADULTS WITH A DESIGNATED. HEALTH CONDITION TODAY THE STATE ADDED SEVERAL COMORBIDITIES TO THE QUALIFYING DEMENTIA TYPE 1 DIABETES HIV INFECTION OVERWEIGHT WHICH IS A SEPARATE CATEGORY FROM OBESITY STROKE AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER. WE ARE REALLY PRIORITIZING THOSE PEOPLE IN PART BECAUSE WHEN THEY GET SICK THEY GET REALLY SICK ...

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said an emerging COVID-19 variant known as the South African variant has been identified in Kansas. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment said Friday an individual Finney County was found to have the B.1.351 variant. KDHE said a case investigation is being conducted to determine how the person became infected with this particular variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, as well as if others may have been exposed. No further details are being released concerning the patient, including demographics, according to KDHE.The variant was determined through the whole genome sequencing conducted through the laboratories at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.“The B.1.351 variant was originally identified in South Africa in December ...