World News Random, Random

[dryrunguy]

(My apologies for interrupting the current conversation. Please carry on.)

Here's the latest from the Johns Hopkins Health Security Newsletter:

Global COVID Activity Increases; U.S. Vaccine Policy Shift Fuels Concern, Confusion

Global COVID-19 activity continues to rise, primarily in parts of Asia and the Middle East, with the new NB.1.8.1 subvariant increasingly being detected in the UK and the U.S. NB.1.8.1 accounts for nearly 11% of globally sequenced cases as of mid-May, according to WHO. While the Omicron derivative appears more infectious than the currently predominant LP.8.1, symptoms are similar to previous SARS-CoV-2 strains, and vaccines and antivirals are still expected to offer protection. Despite an uptick in hospitalizations in some countries, NB.1.8.1 is still considered a low overall risk to public health.

Typical process upended

In the U.S., questions and confusion remain over HHS’s unprecedented decision to rescind federal recommendations for routine COVID-19 vaccination in healthy children and pregnant women. Neither the CDC, which typically sets policy for who should receive vaccines, nor the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which advises the agency on those decisions, was consulted on or alerted to the decision.

CDC urges shared decision making

Last week, CDC issued updated advice that appears to counter the new HHS policy, stating that children “may receive” COVID-19 shots through shared decision-making between parents and doctors. COVID-19 vaccines during pregnancy—a well-documented risk factor for more severe COVID-19 complications—are now listed as "No Guidance/Not Applicable," where they were previously recommended for all pregnant adults. These changes, which bypassed the usual advisory process and provided no new data underlying the rationale, have led to widespread confusion among healthcare providers and families and may make access to COVID vaccines more difficult due to uncertain insurance coverage or fewer providers who stock doses.

Experts disagree with new guidance

Many public health and infectious disease experts dispute the new recommendations, emphasizing that pregnancy remains a significant risk factor for severe COVID-19 complications. Additionally, the lack of clear federal guidance could further undermine public trust, they argue. A top COVID vaccine adviser to CDC stepped down this week, citing concerns she could no longer support the most vulnerable populations under the new recommendations. At least one state health department has issued a statement continuing to recommend COVID vaccination for children and during pregnancy.

Opinion pieces address COVID vaccine decisions

CIDRAP: Viewpoint: Eroding trust by making COVID vaccine decisions with no transparency (opinion)

STAT: HHS Secretary Kennedy told us not to listen to him. We agree (opinion)

STAT: RFK Jr.’s stance on Covid vaccines for pregnant women is profoundly unethical (opinion)


U.S. Measles Cases Continue Rise, Driven by Falling Vaccinations, Travel-Associated Infections

This year is on track to be the worst U.S. measles year in more than 30 years, fueled by declining vaccination and ongoing outbreaks worldwide, including in neighboring Canada and Mexico. Around 1,160 measles cases in 33 states have been reported in the U.S. this year, with the largest outbreak centered in West Texas. Most infections are among individuals who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown.

Vaccination rates decline

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, childhood vaccination rates against measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) have declined in nearly 80% of the more than 2,000 U.S. counties in 33 states with available data, according to Johns Hopkins University research. The county-level mean MMR vaccination rate in these counties now sits at 91.26%, well below the 95% threshold needed for measles herd immunity.

Travel-associated cases

CDC this week updated its warning about the risk of contracting measles while traveling, recommending all travelers be fully vaccinated against measles before international trips. So far this year, the agency has recorded at least 62 reports of travelers who were contagious with measles while flying into or within the U.S. Recent cases in Colorado, New Mexico, and Minnesota were linked to domestic airports and flights, prompting public health alerts for exposed passengers.

Wastewater surveillance program

For the first time, measles is being tracked in U.S. wastewater. The WastewaterSCAN network developed the first national wastewater monitoring program for measles, with the new tool available for use in nearly 150 wastewater treatment facilities across 40 states. So far, the virus has been detected in three sites in Maryland, California, and Connecticut.

[ti-amie]

People from seven countries will have partial restriction: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.

I don't know about the other countries, but for Venezuela the ban is for holders of visa types B1, B2, B1/B2, F, M and J. Basically we are all banned from entering the USA.
Because of those pesky Vennie terrorists, bringing arepas and rum to the USA.

Since this is a tennis forum... B1 includes athletes.

I thought athletes were excluded! Aren't the Olympics and World Cup going to be held here?

[dryrunguy]

The NY Times piece I read about the subject stated athletes were excluded. But even good journalists can make mistakes, so...

[ponchi101]

Because you can't believe anything these days, there are some news going around in Vennieland that the order (for Venezuela) is that this applies to NEW visas. People with visas already issued are not included.
Which makes no sense because the WH page says explicitly that visas are SUSPENDED; not that they will not issue new ones.

[mmmm8]

I was just going by visa type and didn't read any other sources, so probably athletes are a special exclusion.

[ti-amie]

Colombian presidential candidate shot in Bogota
By Mauricio Torres and Fernando Ramos, CNN
Updated 8:17 PM EDT, Sat June 7, 2025

CNN
—
Colombian presidential candidate Miguel Uribe has been shot at an event in Bogota, according to Colombian national police.

The mayor of Bogota, Carlos Galán, said Uribe was receiving emergency care after being attacked in the Fontibon district and that the “entire hospital network” of the Colombian capital was on alert in case he needed to be transferred.

The mayor added that the suspected attacker had been arrested.

Colombia’s government has issued a statement condemning the Saturday attack on Uribe.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/07/americas ... intl-latam