'Predatory' Vape Makers Fueled Teen Nicotine Addiction Crisis, NY AG's Lawsuit Says
New York is suing more than a dozen leading vape manufacturers, distributors, and retailers, accusing them of fueling vaping among children.
Attorney General Letitia James has filed a lawsuit against 13 companies including brands such as Puff Bar, Elf Bar, Geek Bar, and Breeze, her office said in a news release on Thursday, Feb. 20. The lawsuit claims the companies marketed highly addictive, flavored disposable e-cigarettes to kids, misled consumers about product safety, and violated federal and state regulations.
According to the Office of the Attorney General, the vape make…
New Surge In Flu Cases Reported Nationwide; These States Are Seeing Biggest Spikes
Flu cases are surging across the nation, closing nearly a dozen schools and swamping hospitals in some states.
At least 24 million cases, 310,000 hospitalizations, and 13,000 deaths —including 57 children —have been reported for this flu season, which began in October, according to data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday, Feb. 7.
The two strains of flu circulating this season are H1N1 and H3N2. Both are covered in this year's flu vaccine, but only about 40 percent of Americans have taken the vaccine each of the last two years, compared to 50 percent t…
Flu Cases, Related ER Visits On Rise Nationwide
Flu activity remains high and is increasing across many parts of the country.
For the week ending Saturday, Jan. 18, 25 percent of tests returned positive for flu, up from 19 percent the previous week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
More than five percent of emergency-room visits were flu-related, with notable increases among infants, older children, and teens, nearing pre-holiday surge levels.
"The country is still experiencing elevated influenza activity and that is expected to continue for several more weeks," the CDC said.
Elev…
Bird Flu Found In Goose At Farm In Brewster: Here's Who Is At Risk
A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1), commonly known as bird flu, has been confirmed in a wild goose found in Putnam County, health officials announced.
The deceased goose was discovered at the end of December at the Farm and Wildlife Center at Green Chimneys in Brewster, which promptly ensured the animal was tested, the Putnam County Department of Health announced on Friday, Jan. 17.
While the virus has been spreading globally among wild birds, commercial poultry, and backyard flocks since 2022, the risk to the general public remains low, according to the health department.&n…
'Tripledemic' Threat: Covid-19, Flu, RSV Surging This Season
The United States is experiencing a rise in respiratory illnesses, commonly referred to as a “tripledemic,” involving COVID-19, influenza (flu), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
As of Friday, Jan. 3, the amount of acute respiratory illness causing people to seek healthcare is high and continues to increase nationally, the agency said.
COVID-19 cases are increasing nationwide, with the XEC variant—a mix of earlier Omicron strains—now accounting for about 45 percent of cases.
Symptoms include congestion, cough, fe…
Covid-19: XEC Now Leading Variant in US - Here Are Symptoms
The XEC COVID-19 variant, first identified in Europe, now accounts for 45 percent of cases in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Click here for a new, updated story - COVID-19: Virus Levels Now Surging In These States
As infections tick upward, public health experts are urging vigilance.
The strain, a mix of earlier Omicron subvariants, exhibits symptoms similar to Omicron and its predecessors. These include:
Congestion,
Runny nose,
Cough,
Shortness of breath,
Fever or chills,
Fatigue.
Not…
