Shanghai hospital warns of 'tragic battle' as COVID spreads The hospital expects half of the city's 25 million people will get infected by the end of next week, as the virus sweeps through China unchecked. Zoey Zhang,Bernard Orr Reuters

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Uganda gets Ebola vaccine doses for trial on Sudan strain KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Uganda’s government says it has received more than 5,000 doses of Ebola vaccines for a clinical trial to assess their protection against the Sudan strain of the virus that caused an outbreak with over 50 deaths. AP NEWS

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This outbreak, the first in a decade of the less common Sudan strain, is a chance for clinical trials of the three vaccines donated by the U.S.-based Sabin Vaccine Institute, University of Oxford and Merck.

India steps up Covid surveillance after China surge The government has instructed states to ensure genome sequencing of all positive cases in the country. BBC News

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Bivalent Vax Adds Protection Against COVID Hospitalization, CDC Says Effectiveness against COVID-19 hospitalization north of 70% in seniors Ingrid Hein medpagetoday

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Potential China wave is 'wild card' for ending COVID emergency - WHO advisors It may be too early to declare the end of the COVID-19 pandemic emergency phase because of a potentially devastating wave to come in China, several leading scientists and World Health Organization advisors told Reuters. Jennifer Rigby Reuters

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Community-led responses ‘essential for ending pandemics’ – UNAIDS Communities must be empowered and appropriately resourced to lead the fight against HIV/AIDS and other pandemics, UNAIDS, the UN agency dedicated to tackling HIV/AIDS, stressed at an international meeting held in Thailand. UN News

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COVID-19 still Spain's leading cause of deaths this year The number of deaths associated with the COVID-19 pandemic fell by almost a third in Spain in the first half of this year from a year ago, but the illness provoked by the virus remained the leading cause of fatalities, official data showed on Monday. Reuters Reuters

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China reports first COVID deaths in weeks as official count questioned China reported its first COVID-related deaths in weeks on Monday amid rising doubts over whether the official count was capturing the full toll of a disease that is ripping through cities after the government relaxed strict anti-virus controls. Martin Quin Pollard,Liz Lee Reuters

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Health Care — New CDC data backs up bivalent booster potency If you ever feel like your dog is judging, they just might be. New research found dogs can determine human aptitude, and they will look to people who they think are more competent.  Today… jbyrnes The Hill

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New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show the bivalent COVID-19 booster shot was effective at reducing the risk of hospitalization and emergency room visits by at least 50 percent. 

Flu and RSV hit hard and early; now, Covid-19 is starting to rise | CNN Just when you thought it was safe for a holiday visit with your Auntie Mary and her fragile health, RSV and the flu reared their heads -- and now Covid-19 numbers are creeping up again. Jen Christensen CNN

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Losing Smell and Taste to COVID-19 Linked to Lower Reinfection Risk After a mild COVID-19 infection, people who lost smell or taste were twice as likely to have antibodies that may protect against reinfection. EverydayHealth.com

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It’s the End of the House COVID Panel As We Know It The majority of the panel has released its final report on the lack of preparations ahead of the pandemic, blunders by the Trump administration and recommendations for reform. Courtney Bublé Government Executive

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US deaths fell this year, but not to pre-COVID levels NEW YORK (AP) — The number of U.S. deaths dropped this year, but there are still more than there were before the coronavirus hit. Preliminary data — through the first 11 months of the year — indicates 2022 will see fewer deaths than the previous two COVID-19 pandemic years. AP NEWS

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If the decline does hold, it will still be a far cry from where the nation was before the coronavirus appeared. This year’s count is likely to end up at least 13% higher than what it was in 2019.

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