The rising number of H5N1 infections among mammals is elevating concern about the threat the bird flu strain poses to humans, and countries should take more action to improve disease surveillance and hygiene practices at poultry farms, three global health agencies warned July 13.

North Carolina researchers say they have detected an infection in larval trombiculid mites — sometimes called 'chiggers' — caused by bacteria that has not previously been in the U.S., according to a July 12 news release.

Researchers have uncovered the first gene linked to long COVID-19, according to early findings from a study involving 6,450 patients, Nature reported July 11. The findings could spearhead larger studies to develop treatments for the complex condition tied to more than 200 symptoms. 

After identifying a new COVID-19 omicron subvariant, — EU.1.1, a descendant of XBB.1.5 — in late June, its growth has slowed, according to the CDC. 

The CDC is cutting funding for child vaccination programs by 10 percent or more per state, KFF Health News reported July 5.

A Wisconsan woman died July 5 after developing blastomycosis —  a rare infection caused by a fungus found in soil and decaying wood called blastomyces, according to a report from FOX affiliate WITI. 

Kidney stones — once an issue primarily affecting middle-aged men — are becoming more common in children and teen girls specifically, according to a July 8 report from NBC News.

Infectious disease experts are warning that Bicillin L-A, the penicillin needed to treat syphilis, is scarce. The shortage could cause the disease to spread in the U.S. more quickly, The New York Times reported July 7.

EU.1.1, the new SARS-CoV-2 subvariant the CDC started tracking in June, ticked up slightly over the past two weeks, federal data shows. 

In an effort to prevent a repeat of last winter's "tripledemic" of respiratory illnesses, public health officials are encouraging Americans to get not only a flu shot but also a COVID-19 vaccine and a new vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus, The New York Times reported July 5. 

The Colorado Health Department identified a new case of bubonic plague contracted by an individual in Montezuma County.

The CDC will start tracking cronobacter infections in 2024 following a recommendation from a national epidemiologist council, The Washington Post reported June 29. 

The death toll from fungal meningitis outbreaks at two clinics in Matamoros, Mexico, now stands at seven, according to a June 29 updated CDC advisory. 

The Joint Commission is working to improve access to healthcare for people who reside in rural areas of the country by helping hospitals to better meet CMS requirements.

The CDC advised older adults to receive a newly approved respiratory syncytial virus vaccine June 29 after a panel voted on a watered-down recommendation. 

Health experts are cautiously monitoring EU.1.1, a new SARS-CoV-2 subvariant the CDC started tracking this week. So far, experts said they have not seen anything that raises red flags. 

A recent study found poor air quality led to longer hospital stays for children with asthma.

As COVID-19 variant XBB.1.5 declines in prominence, the CDC began tracking new omicron variants June 23, including XBB.1.5 descendant EU.1.1. 

New estimates predict more than 1.3 billion people worldwide will have diabetes by 2050, up from about 529 million in 2021, according to research published in The Lancet. 

The Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade June 24, 2022. Since then, healthcare workers have been hesitant to provide some services, hospitals in states with abortion bans struggled to hire and pharmacies navigated confusion over which products they could dispense.