Latest Disease outbreaks News
Dominant coronavirus mutant contains ghost of pandemic past
The coronavirus mutant that is now dominant in the United States is a member of the omicron family but scientists say it spreads faster than its omicron predecessors, is adept at escaping immunity and might possibly cause more serious disease. Why? Because it combines properties of...
Alibaba reports slowest growth yet amid COVID-19 outbreaks
HONG KONG (AP) — Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. on Thursday reported a single-digit increase in its fourth-quarter revenue, its slowest quarter yet as its online services and e-commerce businesses took a hit amid COVID-19 lockdowns across China. Revenue increased 9% to 204.05 billion...
Japan to resume tourism in June; only packaged tour for now
TOKYO (AP) — Japan will open its borders to foreign tourists in June for the first time since imposing tight pandemic travel restrictions about two years ago, but only for package tours for now, the prime minister said Thursday. Beginning June 10, Japan will allow the entry of...
Man pleads guilty to fraud in getting COVID-19 work benefits
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A New Hampshire man has pleaded guilty in federal court to defrauding government programs that were intended to provide assistance related to the COVID-19 pandemic. George Adyns, 51, of Sandown, who was chief financial officer of several companies in Plaistow,...
US moves to make antiviral drug more available against COVID
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House on Thursday announced more steps to make the antiviral treatment Paxlovid more accessible across the U.S. as it projects COVID-19 infections will continue to spread over the summer travel season. The nation’s first federally backed test-to-treat...
Gov. Inslee tests positive for COVID, officials urge masking
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has tested positive for COVID-19, his office said Wednesday, the same day state health officials urged people to wear face mask indoors as case counts steadily rise. At a news conference the state's public health leaders said they...
School loses challenge to expired Michigan mask order
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A federal appeals court on Wednesday dismissed a Catholic school's challenge to Michigan's 2020-21 mask order. The Whitmer administration policy during the COVID-19 pandemic was dropped about a year ago, making the lawsuit moot, the court said. ...
Seoul: N Korea fires suspected ICBM and 2 other missiles
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea test-launched a suspected intercontinental ballistic missile and two shorter-range weapons toward its eastern waters Wednesday, South Korea said, hours after President Joe Biden ended a trip to Asia where he reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to defend its allies...
19 diagnosed with Legionnaires' Disease in Bronx; 1 death
NEW YORK (AP) — An outbreak of Legionnaires' Disease in a Bronx neighborhood has sickened 19 people since the beginning of the month, with one person dying, city health officials said Wednesday. The Health Department said cooling towers in the borough's Highbridge section had been...
Bill blocking state, local vaccine mandates defeated
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Legislation that would have kept state or local governments from requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination for entry into public places or private businesses was narrowly defeated Wednesday by a state Senate Committee. Rep. Thomas Pressly of Shreveport had...
