Strep A cases are rising in Canada. What symptoms to watch for  – National

In the midst of the respiratory virus season in Canada, government data shows strep A cases have been on the rise in the past year, with invasive disease resulting in hospitalizations and some deaths among children. “Early data indicates that iGAS disease activity in 2023 is higher compared to pre-pandemic years, particularly in children under … Read more

Eli Lilly starts website to connect patients with new obesity treatment, Zepbound, other drugs

Eli Lilly has launched a unique website to connect U.S. patients seeking obesity treatment to doctors, dieticians and its new weight-loss drug, Zepbound. The drugmaker said Thursday it will use the site, called LillyDirect, to pair visitors with third-party mail-order pharmacies for prescriptions and to care providers through a virtual medical weight-loss clinic. The site … Read more

ER doctors say Canadians shouldn’t avoid seeking care despite crowding

The Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians says it is “concerned” about comments made by Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé in December suggesting that unnecessary emergency department visits significantly contribute to ER overcrowding. If patients feel they need emergency health care, they shouldn’t hesitate to go to the ER, the association told The Canadian Press on … Read more

Striking doctors in England at loggerheads with hospitals over calls to return to work

LONDON — The longest planned strike in the history of Britain’s state-funded National Health Service entered its second day of six on Thursday with doctors in England at loggerheads with hospitals over requests for some to leave the picket line to cover urgent needs during one of busiest times of year. The strike is the … Read more

A Gel Injected Into the Scrotum Could Be the Next Male Contraceptive

The purpose of the current trial is to assess the gel’s safety and longevity, not how well it prevents pregnancy. Participants were asked to use a back-up form of birth control while being enrolled in the trial. The gel is designed to dissolve at the end of its lifetime, so the men will be followed … Read more

Pfizer’s RSV vaccine for older adults, pregnant people approved by Health Canada – National

Descrease article font size Increase article font size Health Canada on Thursday approved another respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine for adults over the age of 60 and pregnant people. Pfizer’s bivalent RSV vaccine, Abrysvo, has been authorized for the use of pregnant individuals from 32 through 36 weeks gestational age for the prevention of lower respiratory … Read more

Successful evacuation from burning Japan Airlines jet highlights dogged devotion to safety

BANGKOK — The swift and safe evacuation of a Japan Airlines jet that caught fire after hitting a Coast Guard aircraft while it was landing Tuesday at Tokyo’s Haneda airport reflects a dogged dedication to safety and training by the airline, and hard experience from past disasters. JAL set up a Safety Promotion Center at … Read more

Alzheimer’s drugs might get into the brain faster with new ultrasound tool, study shows

WASHINGTON — Scientists have found a way to help Alzheimer’s drugs seep inside the brain faster — by temporarily breaching its protective shield. The novel experiment was a first attempt in just three patients. But in spots in the brain where the new technology took aim, it enhanced removal of Alzheimer’s trademark brain-clogging plaque, researchers … Read more

Why the Ridges in Your Nails Might Suddenly Be More Prominent

In rare cases, a nail ridge can have an underlying cause and be a sign of a larger health issue. “Other less likely causes of vertical ridges are anemia or arthritis, but in those cases [there are usually] other systemic or accompanying nail signs, like nail bed discoloration,” Dr. Gohara says. “Horizontal ridges, or Beau’s … Read more

Oregon police confirm investigation into medication theft amid report hospital patients died

PORTLAND, Ore. — Authorities are investigating the theft of medication prescribed to patients at a southern Oregon hospital, police and state medical officials confirmed Wednesday, following a local news report that two people died and others were sickened after a nurse replaced fentanyl intravenous drips with tap water. Officials at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center … Read more