50 U.S. medical, science organizations launch group to fight health misinformation - UPI.com Alarmed by the increasing spread of medical misinformation, 50 U.S. medical and science organizations have announced the formation of a new group that aims to debunk fake health news. UPI

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35 years of US investment in research led to development of mRNA COVID vaccines CIDRAP

In the three decades leading up to the pandemic, the US government invested $31.9 billion in research that supported the development of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in 2020, $337 million of which was invested before the pandemic, finds a Brigham and Women's–led study published yesterday in The BMJ. ...

Patients with long COVID may have lower levels of brain oxygen, cognitive problems - UPI.com People who have long COVID -- lingering symptoms after a COVID-19 infection -- may also have lower brain oxygen levels, cognitive problems and psychiatric troubles, such as anxiety and depression. UPI

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COVID call centers and testing sites close in further sign US is moving past the pandemic COVID-19 call centers and testing sites across the U.S. are shutting down as Americans look to move past the pandemic. ABC News ABC News

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In Rockland County, New York -- just north of New York City -- the call center closed Tuesday after three years in operation.

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Leaked texts allege former British health secretary ignored COVID-19 advice for elderly care homes - UPI.com Britain's former health secretary allegedly rejected critical advice from the country's top medical officer to test elderly people for COVID-19 and keep them segregated prior to admitting them to care homes. UPI

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Vaccine may limit long-COVID impact, studies show, but controlled trials needed CIDRAP

Two new observational studies suggest that COVID-19 vaccination lowers long-COVID incidence and severity, although the authors of a related commentary say trials comparing vaccination with a placebo are needed. The research was published yesterday in BMJ Medicine.

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WHO urges assistance to African nations facing cholera KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — A World Health Organization official in Africa is urging more support to countries facing cholera outbreaks, saying the disease has the potential to "quickly explode" as rainfall persists in some areas. AP NEWS

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Cholera has been reported in 12 of Africa’s 54 countries. South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe are the latest to detect cases. Malawi, with hundreds of cholera deaths, faces its worst outbreak ever.

Biden pushes for $1.6B funding for pandemic fraud measures President Joe Biden's administration is asking Congress to approve more than $1.6 billion to help clean up the mess of fraud against the massive government coronavirus pandemic relief programs . AP NEWS

...In a strategy announced Thursday, the administration called for money and more time to prosecute cases, to put into place new ways to prevent identity theft and to help people whose identities were stolen. ..

81% of toilet samples from US-bound planes had Omicron RNA CIDRAP

Two new studies from Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report highlight new findings about air travel amid COVID-19, with one showing that 81% of wastewater samples from airplane restrooms had SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant genetic material in fall 2022, and the other suggesting that predeparture testing of international travelers was tied to a 52% lower positivity rate at arrival in the United States.

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