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West Nile virus is leading cause of viral disease spread by insects in U.S,, CDC study says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:30 GMT

By Jacqueline Howard | CNNThis summer has brought a flurry of warnings about cases of mosquito-borne illnesses, including malaria, dengue and Eastern equine encephalitis.But West Nile virus, transmitted primarily through the bite of an infected mosquito, continues to be the leading cause of viral disease spread by insects, known as arboviral disease, in the continental United States, according to a report published Thursday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The report summarizes how many infections of West Nile virus and other arboviral diseases occurred across the United States in 2021.RELATED: Person tests positive for West Nile virus in Santa Clara CountyForty-nine states and the District of Columbia reported more than 3,000 cases of arboviral disease that occurred domestically – and 2,911 of those cases were West Nile virus. A total of 2,099 people with West Nile Virus were hospitalized, and 227 died.Nationally, the incidence rate of neuroinvasive West Nile vi...

Clendaniel: 50 years later, Mr. Corfield’s lesson still resonates

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:30 GMT

“Every generationBlames the one before,And all of their frustrationsCome beating on your door.”— Mike and the Mechanics, “The Living Years” As you read this, I on my way to Walla Walla, Wash., for my 50th high school reunion.It’s cause for reflection.In 1973, as with previous generations, we were critical of those who went before us. The Greatest Generation may have won World War II, but they also gave us Vietnam and Watergate. You know there’s work to be done when your president, Richard Nixon, feels a compelling need to tell Americans, “I am not a crook.” And it subsequently becomes evident that he was not only a crook but also a liar.In the midst of the 51-day, must-see Watergate hearings during my senior year at Walla Walla High School, I wrote an essay for Tim Corfield’s innovative “Social, Economic and Political Systems” class. It argued a theory that I still believe: The great thing about America, I ...

Updated Covid-19 vaccines are coming mid-September, officials say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:30 GMT

By Brenda Goodman | CNNCovid-19 vaccines that have been tweaked to teach the body how to fend off the current crop of circulating variants are now expected to land in drugstores and clinics in mid-September, CDC and FDA officials said.The officials spoke Thursday about the US government’s preparations for the fall and winter respiratory virus season on the condition that they not be named.The US Food and Drug Administration is expected to give its nod to the updated vaccines in a few weeks. Then the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, a group of independent experts that advises the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on its vaccination decisions, will weigh the safety and effectiveness of the new shots and make recommendations for their use. After the CDC director signs off on those recommendations, the vaccines can be administered.Officials said ACIP will meet quickly after the FDA decision in order to expedite the regulatory steps and get the vaccines to market...

Walters: California partially walks back decision to muzzle researchers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:30 GMT

As noted in this space recently, there’s been a recent trend in California’s state government toward secrecy — restricting the flow of information to media and the public about what officialdom is doing.A prime example of that trend was a harsh warning from the Department of Education to education researchers that they could be punished if they testified in any lawsuit against the department.A clause in research contracts banned such testimony, even if the researcher was not using data obtained from the department. The warning, which officials partly walked back, was issued because the state was being sued by students whose schooling was interrupted and damaged by shutdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic.Attorneys for the plaintiffs sought expert testimony from academic researchers about the effects of the shutdown and the evidently haphazard efforts to instruct students online, known colloquially as “zoom school.”Several studies have demonstrated that not only did academic achi...

Elias: Contrary to some claims, California friendly to certain businesses

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:30 GMT

In a time of massive criticism of its business climate from inside and outside the state, California steadily continues its many policies of corporate largesse — big handouts to private companies.Related ArticlesLocal News | Simitian: Santa Clara County families should take advantage of transitional kindergarten Local News | Elias: Newsom’s gun control amendment may open Pandora’s box Local News | Saratoga’s State of the City will be family friendly Local News | Opinion: EPA funding will help Valley Water better serve community Local News | Elias: California’s rebellion against housing density mandates has begun Which outfits get the money depends a lot on what a particular company does and who owns it. That makes these gifts political, designed to push the agenda of whomever is governor at any moment.This is nothing unique. Other states do it all the time; in fact, government handouts ...

Opinion: California Medical Board reform would save patient lives

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:30 GMT

My little brother Jose was always at the center of my life — despite and because of his serious developmental disability.In winter 2021, we had just bought him a home where my father planned to live and care for him but had not yet moved him in. He was temporarily living at a long-term care facility the night he was admitted to the emergency room because he was having trouble breathing.With his disability, Jose required constant monitoring. Yet, shortly after he was admitted, Jose was left alone in a room. By the time the nurses returned he had wandered off. Jose was found on the bathroom floor, unconscious, not breathing and with no pulse. He was later pronounced dead.How did the situation take such a rapid turn that I lost my dear brother in a day? I wanted answers and accountability.Soon after reviewing his medical records, I filed a complaint with the Medical Board of California, the state agency charged with doctor oversight. Records indicated that the hospital knew Jose ...

Car crashes into Wells Fargo Bank in Orinda

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:30 GMT

(KRON) -- A car crashed through a Wells Fargo building early Friday morning in Orinda.The crash occurred just after midnight at Moraga Way and Camino Pablo near the Orinda Theatre Square shopping center. Video above, taken by KRON4 Sports Reporter Kate Rooney, shows several first responders at the scene. The cause of the crash is currently unknown.This is developing news. Stick with us for updates.

San Francisco to upgrade public warning system

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:30 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) -- San Francisco is planning to upgrade an abandoned siren system for emergencies or disasters, days after Maui failed to sound a wildfire warning with tragic results. Mayor London Breed and Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin announced plans Thursday to prioritize upgrading the city's Outdoor Public Warning System. The siren system's tests every Tuesday at noon were a familiar part of San Francisco life until 2019, when they were shut off because of fears the system could be hacked and manipulated. Man found dead in car in Los Altos "The recent devastation in Maui was a tragic example of how important emergency notifications to residents, businesses and tourists are," Breed said in a statement. The first phase of the upgrade and implementation is expected to begin within six months and cost about $5 million, according to the mayor's office. In addition to the outdoor warning system, the city can send emergency messages to any cell phone wi...

Belgian cyclist Tijl De Decker dies after crash during training

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:30 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — A 22-year-old Belgian cyclist died Friday following a crash in training earlier this week, the Lotto Dstny team said.“It is with great sadness that we have to announce the passing of our rider Tijl De Decker,” the Belgian team said. “Today Tijl has lost his battle to recover from the severe injuries he sustained after his crash on training last Wednesday.”De Decker, a winner of Paris-Roubaix in the Espoirs category this year, had been brought to the hospital for surgery in the Belgian town of Lier after he collided with a car. He was then transported to Antwerp University Hospital and placed in an induced coma.“Despite the best efforts of the staff at the hospital, Tijl couldn’t make it through and this morning he lost his battle,” his team said.De Decker had joined the Lotto Dstny development team this year.“We are devastated by the loss of our cyclist,” team CEO Stéphane Heulot said. “Tijl showed big progression this year and we believed in his growth margin. Stepp...

Billie Jean King’s push for equal prize money in 1973 will be celebrated at US Open

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:00:30 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — When Billie Jean King won the U.S. Open in 1972, she didn’t make the usual remarks about hoping to win again. Instead, she threatened to not play at all the next year — and added that no other women would, either.That’s because she earned $10,000 for her championship, $15,000 less than what Ilie Năstase won for his.“I said: ‘This really stinks,’” King recalled Thursday. “And, of course, deep down in my heart of hearts, in my brain, I’m going, ‘I haven’t talked to them yet. You sure you’re doing the right thing here?’ This is the other voice in my head: ‘What if they don’t agree with you on this? I think they do, because we talk about it all the time, but we didn’t talk about this move.’ And so I said, ‘The heck with it. I don’t think we’ll be back.’”That led the U.S. Tennis Association to make the 1973 U.S. Open the first sporting event to offer equal prize money to female and male competitors. The 50th anniversary of that achievement will be celebrated this year dur...