How contagious is the second new Covid-19 strain? Here is everything we know about this variant so far
British health secretary Matt Hancock says the South African strain is 'yet more transmissible and appears to have mutated further' than the variant that was discovered in the UK
Dec 24, 2020
Pregnant women infected with Covid-19 are not likely to pass the virus to their newborns, reveals study
Mother-to-child transfer of anti-coronavirus antibodies through the placenta was significantly lower as compared to the transfer of anti-influenza antibodies
Dec 23, 2020
UK's Covid-19 strain has probably reached US, says Anthony Fauci but advises against travel ban for now
The likelihood of testing individuals before they board a plane to the US is under active consideration
Dec 23, 2020
Is 2020 the deadliest year for the US? Covid-19 pandemic may cut American life expectancy by 3 years, says CDC
For comparison, around 659,041 people died of heart disease in the US in 2019 and around 599,601 from cancer. The third-leading cause of death, accidents, killed an estimated 173,040.
Dec 23, 2020
Sleep, diet or physical activity, what's most important for good mental health? Study reveals the key
Researchers suggest that getting good quality sleep, rather than sleep quantity, is the strongest predictor of better mental health and well being in young adults
Dec 22, 2020
Not a myth! Healthy younger adults with no underlying medical conditions can develop severe Covid-19, warns CDC
Between March-August, 22% of Americans in the 18 to 49 age group were admitted to the ICU, 10% required mechanical ventilation and three patients died
Dec 22, 2020
Why you should get BP checked in both arms? Reading difference linked to higher risk of heart attack, death: Study
The CDC estimates that one person dies every 36 seconds in the US from cardiovascular disease
Dec 22, 2020
Deadly 'brain-eating amoeba' has spread northward in US, CDC warns rising temperatures could be a reason
While the incidence of reported cases of the rare but fatal infection has remained stable, it has expanded northward
Dec 21, 2020
What are US parents’ top concerns for kids amid Covid-19? Social media overuse, poor eating, suicide, says poll
According to researchers, 8 of the top 10 issues most commonly rated by all parents as a 'big problem' are frequently associated with changes in lifestyle
Dec 21, 2020
Andrew Cuomo slams US for negligence, says UK's mutant Covid variant is ‘getting on a plane and flying to JFK’
120 countries demand that before people get on a flight in the UK to come to their country they have to test negative for coronavirus, but the US does not require one
Dec 21, 2020
Who will get Covid-19 vaccine next? Frontline essential workers and Americans 75 and older, says CDC panel
First responders, those who work in the education sector, food and agriculture, manufacturing, corrections workers, US postal service, public transit and grocery store workers are in line
Dec 21, 2020
Can wildfire smoke spread infectious diseases? Study says it's possible and stresses upon need for investigation
It contains living microbes such as bacteria and fungi, which are aerosolized from burning materials like soils, detritus, and wild woods and transported in smoke plumes
Dec 19, 2020
Did astronomers detect a radio signal from an alien world about 51 light-years away? Here’s what we know
A separate team of researchers is examining radio wave emission that may be coming from the direction of our Sun’s nearest known neighbor, Proxima Centauri
Dec 19, 2020
Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine approved for emergency use in US, 5.9 million doses to be shipped to states
US officials have said that between the two vaccines, Pfizer and Moderna, there will be enough doses to immunize 20 million Americans by the end of December 2020
Dec 19, 2020
Oral birth control pills may protect women from ovarian and endometrial cancer even after decades, says study
The protective effect remains significant up to 35 years after discontinuation of the pills
Dec 18, 2020
Drug overdose deaths in US spike amid Covid-19 pandemic as country records largest numbers ever in a year
Synthetic opioids are the main culprit, with 10 western US states reporting a 98% increase in deaths involving them
Dec 18, 2020
New study reveals why having a clown by your child's hospital bed can help
Children in the presence of hospital clowns reported significantly less anxiety during medical procedures and improved psychological well-being
Dec 18, 2020
Emergency room visits for child abuse in US may be down but injury severity has not decreased, finds CDC
Implementation of strategies to prevent child abuse and neglect, including strengthening household economic supports and creating family-friendly work policies, is important, particularly during public health emergencies, suggest experts
Dec 17, 2020
Waterborne illnesses sicken more than 7 million Americans and kill over 6,600 every year, warns CDC
The estimates are based on not just water that people in the US drink, but also the water in swimming pools, waterparks, water playgrounds and hot tubs
Dec 17, 2020
Alaska healthcare worker suffers serious allergic reaction to Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine, first such case in US
The worker, who is middle-aged and had no previous history of allergies, is now in a stable condition
Dec 17, 2020