Pandemic News and Research

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A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. During a pandemic, transmission can be anticipated in the workplace, not only from patient to workers in health care settings, but also among co-workers in general work settings. A pandemic would cause high levels of illness, death, social disruption, and economic loss. Everyday life would be disrupted because so many people in so many places become seriously ill at the same time. Impacts could range from school and business closings to the interruption of basic services such as public transportation and food delivery.

Video consultations match physical visits for surgical preparation

A video consultation between patient and surgeon is just as good as a physical visit to the outpatient clinic to discuss a major operation.

16 Jun 2025

Health care employment rebounds after the pandemic but staffing gaps remain

The U.S. health care workforce has bounced back from the massive job losses of early 2020, with employment now matching pre-pandemic projections, according to new research from the University of Michigan.

15 Jun 2025

Cardiovascular deaths surge among less educated Americans

About 525,000 more deaths occurred among US adults in 2023 than would be expected had pre-2010 mortality trends continued. More than 90 percent of these deaths occurred among individuals without a Bachelor's degree and were largely caused by cardiovascular diseases, underscoring how educational attainment can influence individuals' health opportunities and outcomes.

14 Jun 2025

Study highlights the uneven impact of earned sick leave across industries

Earned sick leave-short-term, paid time off for employees who are sick or injured or must care for sick or injured family members-has been found to reduce the spread of infectious diseases in the workplace and increase employee access to preventive care.

13 Jun 2025

Study illustrates a powerful and efficient approach for comparing different standard treatments

A clinical trial led by researchers at The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa and published in the New England Journal of Medicine illustrates a powerful and efficient approach for comparing different standard treatments.

13 Jun 2025

Research highlights the lasting impact of geographic labels in pandemic reporting

"China virus", the Chinese virus - at the start of the 2020 pandemic, you likely often encountered this epithet in the media.

13 Jun 2025

WHO warns of ORVO as outbreaks surge and health risks rise

Oropouche virus poses a growing public health risk, with recent outbreaks in Brazil and Cuba. The WHO report calls for urgent global preparedness measures.

13 Jun 2025

One in five never fully recover quality of life after COVID-like illness

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13 Jun 2025

Kennedy’s HHS sent Congress ‘junk science’ to defend vaccine changes, experts say

A document the Department of Health and Human Services sent to lawmakers to support Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s decision to change U.S. policy on covid vaccines cites scientific studies that are unpublished or under dispute and mischaracterizes others.

13 Jun 2025

AI and film animation tools lead to breakthrough in coronavirus drug discovery

About 30% of all respiratory tract infections are caused by coronaviruses, leading to widespread illnesses and, in some cases, to epidemic and even pandemic outbreaks, as we experienced with the COVID-19 pandemic.

13 Jun 2025

Telehealth does not increase risk of substance use disorder in ADHD patients

Telehealth can make health care easier to access for patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who need treatment, but experts worry about an increased risk of substance use disorder for patients being prescribed controlled medications such as stimulants for ADHD during these appointments.

12 Jun 2025

Survey: Patient satisfaction with hospitals varies widely across U.S. regions

A new study analyzing more than 3,200 hospitals across the United States (U.S.) has revealed stark differences in how patients rate their hospital experiences depending on where they receive care.

11 Jun 2025

What are ‘improper’ Medicaid payments, and are they as high as a Trump official said?

Responding to charges that President Donald Trump's tax and spending bill would cut Medicaid coverage for millions of Americans, Trump administration officials misleadingly counter that it targets only waste, fraud, and abuse.

11 Jun 2025

Four ways Trump’s ‘one big beautiful bill’ would undermine access to Obamacare

Major changes could be in store for the more than 24 million people with health coverage under the Affordable Care Act, including how and when they can enroll, the paperwork required, and, crucially, the premiums they pay.

11 Jun 2025

Large cohort study reassures on mRNA vaccine safety for early pregnancies

A large prospective cohort study in Germany found no statistically significant increase in major birth defects following first trimester mRNA COVID-19 vaccination. While slightly higher rates of some anomalies were observed in vaccinated pregnancies, no consistent patterns or causal links emerged.

11 Jun 2025

Is that evening glass of wine really good for your heart?

A comprehensive AHA review finds overwhelming evidence that heavy alcohol use increases cardiovascular disease risk, while the benefits of low-to-moderate drinking remain unproven and uncertain. The authors recommend prioritizing proven heart-healthy habits over alcohol for cardiovascular protection.

10 Jun 2025