Category Archives: News to use

Useful news for all to advance knowledge of the world and how it works

Avian Flu Diary: Pennsylvania To Require Precautionary Bulk Testing of Milk For H5N1

Yesterday, Pennsylvania announced that no later than November 26th, every milk processor in Pennsylvania will be required to collect bi-weekly samples from each compartment of each milk tanker, and submit them for testing.

Source: Avian Flu Diary: Pennsylvania To Require Precautionary Bulk Testing of Milk For H5N1

Antiviral COVID-19 drug molnupiravir tied to large drop in deaths in older patients | CIDRAP

When given early, the antiviral drug molnupiravir (Lagevrio) halved the risk of COVID-19 death and reduced all-cause deaths among older adults in the Czech Republic in 2022, findings published yesterday in Open Forum Infectious Diseases suggest.

Masaryk University researchers analyzed data from all 74,541 adults with a diagnosis of COVID-19 in the national registry infection treated with molnupiravir from January through December 2022, a period dominated by the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. A control group consisted of 1.5 million matched COVID-19 patients not receiving the drug. Follow-up was 1 year.

Patients were eligible for molnupiravir if they were at risk for severe illness (age older than 65 years, being obese, or having underlying illnesses), had mild symptoms, and were within 7 days of a positive COVID-19 test. Average patient age was 56.7 years, and 73% were fully vaccinated against the virus.

Source: Antiviral COVID-19 drug molnupiravir tied to large drop in deaths in older patients | CIDRAP

Report: Most fast-food chains aren’t making the grade on antibiotic policies | CIDRAP

Of the 20 restaurant chains reviewed in the Serving Up Superbugs report, which grades the chains based on antibiotic use policies in the meat they serve, only Chipotle and KFC received A grades for having meaningful policies for all types of meat they serve. Five chains received a C grade, six a D grade, and five received an F.

Source: Report: Most fast-food chains aren’t making the grade on antibiotic policies | CIDRAP

Climate change is making the Swiss and Italians redraw the border – Darcy Hitchcock

Part of the area affected will be beneath the Matterhorn, one of Europe’s tallest mountains, and close to a number of popular ski resorts.

Large sections of the Swiss-Italian border are determined by glacier ridgelines or areas of perpetual snow, but melting glaciers have caused these natural boundaries to shift, leading to both countries seeking to rectify the border.

Source: Climate change is making the Swiss and Italians redraw the border – Darcy Hitchcock