AP Medical Writer

Mike Stobbe

U.S. health officials say Americans with COVID-19 no longer need to stay in isolation for five days. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changed its longstanding guidance on Friday. People can return to work or regular activities if their symptoms are mild and improving and it’s been a day since they’ve had a fever. COVID-19 is no longer the public health menace it once was and most people have some degree of immunity from vaccinations or from infections. And some experts note that many people are not following the five-day isolation guidance anyway.

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COVID-19 no longer means five days in isolation, CDC says

March 1, 2024 at 5:47 p.m.

U.S. health officials say Americans with COVID-19 no longer need to stay in isolation for five days. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changed its longstanding guidance on Friday....

Infectious syphilis cases in the U.S. rose by 9% in 2022. That's according to a new federal government report released Tuesday on sexually transmitted diseases in adults. The rate of new gonorrhea cases fell for the first time in a decade, while chlamydia rates were relatively flat. Total cases of syphilis surpassed 207,000 in 2022. That count includes the most infectious stages of the disease but also latent cases and cases in which pregnant women passed syphilis on to their babies. It is the highest count in the United States since 1950, and is rising in heterosexual men and women.

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U.S. hasn’t seen syphilis numbers this high since 1950. Other STD rates are down or flat.

January 30, 2024 at 9:44 p.m.

Infectious syphilis cases in the U.S. rose by 9% in 2022. That's according to a new federal government report released Tuesday on sexually transmitted diseases in adults. The rate of...

Look for flu and COVID-19 infections to ramp up in the coming weeks, U.S. health officials say, with increases fueled by holiday gatherings, too many unvaccinated people and a new version of the coronavirus that may be spreading more easily.

National News |
Flu and COVID infections are rising and could get worse over the holidays, CDC says

December 22, 2023 at 7:03 p.m.

Look for flu and COVID-19 infections to ramp up in the coming weeks, U.S. health officials say, with increases fueled by holiday gatherings, too many unvaccinated people and a new...

RSV infections are rising sharply in some parts of the country, nearly filling hospital emergency departments in Georgia, Texas and some other states.

National News |
RSV is straining some hospitals, and US officials are releasing more shots for newborns

November 16, 2023 at 4:56 p.m.

RSV infections are rising sharply in some parts of the country, nearly filling hospital emergency departments in Georgia, Texas and some other states.

The proportion of U.S. kindergartners exempted from school vaccination requirements has hit its highest level ever, 3%, U.S. health officials said Thursday.

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US childhood vaccination exemptions reach their highest level ever

November 9, 2023 at 3:11 p.m.

The proportion of U.S. kindergartners exempted from school vaccination requirements has hit its highest level ever, 3%, U.S. health officials said Thursday.

Syphilis cases in U.S. newborns again are on the rise. It has health officials calling for new measures to stop the increase, including encouraging millions of sexually active women of childbearing age and their partners to get tested.

National News |
Syphilis cases in US newborns skyrocketed in 2022. Health officials suggest more testing

November 7, 2023 at 3:54 p.m.

Syphilis cases in U.S. newborns again are on the rise. It has health officials calling for new measures to stop the increase, including encouraging millions of sexually active women of...

In a survey, 10% of high school students said they had used electronic cigarettes in the previous month, down from 14% last year.

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Vaping by high school students dropped this year, says US report

November 2, 2023 at 3:28 p.m.

In a survey, 10% of high school students said they had used electronic cigarettes in the previous month, down from 14% last year.

The U.S. infant mortality rate rose 3% last year — the largest increase in two decades, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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The U.S. infant mortality rate rose last year. It’s the largest increase in 2 decades, the CDC says.

November 1, 2023 at 8:45 a.m.

The U.S. infant mortality rate rose 3% last year — the largest increase in two decades, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A month after federal officials recommended new versions of COVID-19 vaccines, 7% of U.S. adults and 2% of children have gotten a shot.

National News |
2% of kids and 7% of adults have gotten the new COVID shots, US data show

October 27, 2023 at 10:18 p.m.

A month after federal officials recommended new versions of COVID-19 vaccines, 7% of U.S. adults and 2% of children have gotten a shot.

U.S. health officials on Friday recommended RSV vaccinations for moms-to-be, a second new option to protect newborns from serious lung infections.

Health |
RSV vaccine recommended during pregnancy as a second option to protect newborns

September 22, 2023 at 6:27 p.m.

U.S. health officials on Friday recommended RSV vaccinations for moms-to-be, a second new option to protect newborns from serious lung infections.

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