Viruses spread

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin And then there were three. That’s three reported cases of monkeypox within a week in London. And three more than you typically see in a year in England. The first case was confirmed about a week ago, which I covered for Forbes on May 8 . And on Friday, May 13, the U.K. Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed two more cases of this rare viral illness caused by the monkeypox virus. These latter two cases appear unrelated to the first case but are closely connected with each other, having come from the same household. One of them is currently hospitalized in the expert infectious disease unit at St Mary’s Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, whereas the other is isolating at home. Obviously, the announcement of two new monkeypox cases shouldn’t be followed with words like “awesome” or “cool.” But it shouldn’t be followed with flapping your arms in a panic. The latest UKHSA announcement quoted Colin … [Read more...] about Monkeypox Update: 2 New Cases In London, England, Unrelated To First Case

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Topline Covid-19 cases in Shanghai continued to decline, prompting authorities on Monday to announce plans for a phased reopening of the city after it endured six weeks of stringent lockdowns that left a bruising impact on China’s economy. Key Facts According to China’s National Health Commission, Shanghai reported a total of 938 new cases—all inside areas with the most stringent quarantine restrictions—and four deaths. The city’s vice mayor Zong Ming said 15 out of Shanghai’s 16 districts have achieved “zero Covid” status, which implies three days of no new cases among people who are not already under quarantine within a district. For the first time since the initial lockdown, authorities on Monday offered a clear timetable for Shanghai’s reopening which would take place in phases, with restrictions on movement staying in place till May 21. As long as cases don’t rebound, something Zong said … [Read more...] about Shanghai’s Strict 6-Week Lockdown Nears End As Covid Outbreak Eases

Stocks fell, with the three major U.S. indexes poised to close lower for the week, as major banks kicked off the fourth quarter earnings season with mixed results and December retail sales were lower than expected. Key Takeways Stocks are lower with the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq poised to drop for the week. Retail and food sales sank 1.9% in December, the biggest drop in 10 months. Banks reported mixed earnings, and JPMorgan is the worst-performing Dow and S&P 500 stock after it reported trading revenue fell. Banks and Retail Stocks Fall, Energy Gains The Dow is down more than 300 points, nearly a full percent, and the S&P 500 is about 0.5% lower. The Nasdaq's earlier gains have reversed and that index is down about 0.2%. JPMorgan Chase & Co. ( JPM ) is the worst-performing stock in both the Dow and S&P 500 after reporting a fourth-quarter loss, and net interest margin that came in below analysts' consensus estimates. Shares of … [Read more...] about Stocks Fall as Bank Shares Drop and December Retail Disappoints

U.S. equity markets are continuing their rally as solid corporate earnings boost investor optimism. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. ( CMG ) and Yum! Brands, Inc. ( YUM ) gained, as the Dow and Nasdaq are both up about 200 points. Key Takeaways U.S. stocks are higher, with the Nasdaq and S&P 500 each gaining more than 1% as solid corporate earnings boost investors' confidence. Investors are awaiting an earnings report from The Walt Disney Company ( DIS ). Crude oil reversed its earlier decline and is back above $90 per barrel. Bond yields declined. Better-than-expected financial reports from restaurant chains Chipotle and Yum!, along with food sciences firm FMC Corporation ( FMC ), are sending their shares higher. Shares are rising for media companies after Omnicom Group Inc. ( OMC ) reported profit that beat forecasts, and its shares are trading near all-time highs. Tech stocks are powering the Nasdaq's 1.5% gain. Meta Platforms, Inc. ( FB) shares … [Read more...] about U.S. Stock Surge Continues as Chipotle, Tech Shares Drive Gain

- A + A (May 16): For evidence of just how tight Shanghai’s lockdown has been, consider this: not a single car was sold in the city last month. The majority of the city’s 25 million residents were mostly confined to their homes or residential compounds in April, as part of a sweeping lockdown to stamp out the nation’s worst Covid outbreak since the virus emerged in Wuhan more than two years ago. Almost all dealerships in the city were closed during the month, the Shanghai Automobile Sales Association said in a statement Monday, when it highlighted the zero sales figure. In April last year, 26,311 vehicles were sold in the city, according to the association, which represents about 300 companies. Nationwide, car sales fell the most in two years in April, down almost 36% from a year earlier to 1.06 million units, China Passenger Car Association data released last week showed. The financial hub is finally on the verge of reaching a goal of three days of zero … [Read more...] about Not a single car was sold in Shanghai last month

Boulder County, Colorado announced Thursday that it is banning all gatherings of young adults between the ages of 18-22 for 2 weeks. The order, which went into effect Thursday at 4 p.m., prohibits both indoor and outdoor gatherings and includes a list 36 addresses where residents “have repeatedly violated orders,” NBC reported. Those who violate the order could be fined $5,000 or receive a jail sentence of up to 18 months. “We must take stronger action to stop the spread of this virus in our community,” Boulder County public health director Jeff Zayach said in a news release . “We have researched the actions we can take that would be effective while minimizing the burden on those who have not been the source of increased transmission. We believe this strategy can achieve both goals.” The order applies to all people within the age group regardless of whether they attend the University of Colorado. Under the order, they are allowed to study and exercise if they are alone, and … [Read more...] about Boulder Bans Young Adult Gatherings For Two Weeks

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Topline North Korean leader Kim Jong Un blamed his own government officials for failing to tackle the country’s surging Covid-19 outbreak and ordered his military to step in as the number of suspected cases surged past 1.2 million in just four days since the outbreak was first reported. Key Facts According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the country reported 392,920 new people with “fever” and eight new deaths linked to Covid-19 on Monday. The state media is only reporting the number of cases with fever—one of many symptoms of Covid—as North Korea is believed to lack adequate supplies to carry out large-scale testing. Since the start of the current outbreak, North Korea has reported 50 deaths linked to the virus. At a Politburo meeting of the ruling party on Sunday, Kim blamed the “irresponsible work attitude” of his government and health officials for the country’s botched … [Read more...] about Kim Jong Un Slams ‘Irresponsible’ Government And Health Officials As North Korea’s Covid Outbreak Surges

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Topline North Korea reported 15 new Covid-19 deaths along with hundreds of thousands of new patients with “fevers,” as the country pledges to mobilize millions of health and other workers to fight its first officially acknowledged coronavirus outbreak. Key Facts According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the country reported 296,180 new infections on Sunday, pushing the country’s official case count to 820,620. The staggering surge in new cases has come after North Korea reported its first-ever Covid-19 outbreak on Thursday. Since the start of the current outbreak, North Korea has reported 42 fatalities linked to the coronavirus. The speed of the outbreak has raised concerns of a humanitarian catastrophe in the country as most of its residents are believed to be unvaccinated and its public health system is reportedly in a poor state. To help tackle the outbreak, all … [Read more...] about Covid Rips Through North Korea As 15 More Deaths And Nearly 300,000 New Cases Reported

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin When something goes from being of interest to being a concern, it’s usually taken a turn for the worse. That would apply to a date, something in your refrigerator, and Covid-19 variants and subvariants. On May 12, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reclassified the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants of the Covid-19 coronavirus as variants of concern (VOC), up from being variants of interest (VOI). This shouldn’t be a cause for panic, as public health authorities will rarely say, “OK, everyone, it’s time to panic. Here’s how you should flap your arms.” However, as the label implies, these new variants should indeed be of concern and a reminder to maintain Covid-19 precautions such as wearing face masks while in indoor public areas. This recent leveling up of BA.4 and BA.5 occurred because these two Omicron sub-lineages seem to be spreading more readily and rapidly than earlier versions of the … [Read more...] about European CDC Calls Omicron BA.4, BA.5 Covid-19 Variants Of Concern

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Monkeypox is not the type of thing that you see every day. Or even every year for that matter. It’s a very rare viral infection that can spread from person-to-person via close contact and could result in severe illness, even death. That’s why someone recently being diagnosed with monkeypox in England has prompted the U.K. Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to issue an announcement on Saturday . And the UKHSA tends to reserve such announcements for significant news that the general public needs to know rather than things like, “Person has pimple, can’t go to prom.” So before you try to use, “sorry I have monkeypox,” as an excuse to get out of work or a date, keep in mind that others may then call the public health authorities to get you placed in isolation. The infected person is indeed currently under isolation and receiving treatment at the expert infectious disease unit at the Guy’s and St Thomas’ National Health Services … [Read more...] about Monkeypox Case Confirmed In United Kingdom, Here’s What This Rare Infection Can Do