Alexandria Hein

INFECTIOUS DISEASE April 21, 2022

Tick bites on the rise: How to stay safe as you head outdoors

Tick bites are on the rise in the U.S. with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reporting that the majority of cases typically occur in the warmer months.

Coronavirus November 8, 2021

Coronavirus in the US: State-by-state breakdown

In the U.S., all 50 states plus the District of Columbia have reported confirmed cases of COVID-19, tallying more than 46,487,857 illnesses and at least 754,431 deaths.

Cold and Flu September 10, 2021

How coronavirus differs from influenza: Symptoms to watch for this flu season

With another flu season just around the corner and COVID-19 variants continuing to spread across the U.S., health officials are warning Americans to take caution.

Coronavirus August 27, 2021

Houston reports COVID-19 death in child with no underlying conditions

A boy in Houston between the ages of 10 and 19 died from COVID-19 last month, marking the city’s first such death in a child with no underlying health conditions.

Coronavirus August 26, 2021

Louisiana high school football player dies from COVID-19: local reports

A Louisiana community is mourning the loss of a young high school player who died after contracting COVID-19, according to local reports.

Coronavirus August 26, 2021

Louisiana reports COVID-19 death in child under 1

Louisiana health officials on Wednesday announced the death of a child under 1 due to COVID-19, marking the 11th pediatric fatality in the state since the beginning of the pandemic.

Coronavirus August 26, 2021

Pediatric COVID-19 hospital admissions hitting record highs, CDC data shows

Pediatric COVID-19-related hospitalizations have hit all-time highs in the U.S., with the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reporting over 50,660 admissions through the month of August thus far.

Coronavirus August 20, 2021

AstraZeneca antibody therapy prevents COVID-19 in trial, company says

AstraZeneca released Phase 3 data showing promising results for a combination antibody therapy that prevents COVID-19, possibly opening the door to an alternative option for people who may not see the full protective benefits from the currently authorized vaccines.

Coronavirus August 20, 2021

Over 121,000 new pediatric COVID-19 cases reported over week span

Over 121,000 children tested positive for COVID-19 last week, data revealed, marking a 5% increase in cases since the beginning of the month.

Coronavirus August 19, 2021

Unvaccinated mom of 4 dies from COVID-19 weeks after husband, family says

The cousin of a Texas mother of four who died this week following a month-long battle with COVID-19 told news outlets that she asked relatives to make sure her children get vaccinated before she was intubated.

Coronavirus August 19, 2021

Will Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine recipients need booster too?

The plan for booster shots laid out by health officials on Wednesday applies to Americans who received both doses of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, but for the nearly 14 million who received Johnson & Johnson’s one-dose jab, the details are not yet clear.

Coronavirus August 18, 2021

Data behind US COVID-19 booster plan shows waning vaccine effectiveness

The data behind health officials’ plan to offer COVID-19 vaccine booster shots to fully vaccinated Americans showed waning effectiveness against infection for both authorized mRNA jabs.

Coronavirus August 18, 2021

US COVID-19 vaccine boosters ready for September rollout, health officials say

In a joint statement released Wednesday, the nation’s top health officials said the U.S. is prepared to begin offering COVID-19 vaccine booster shots to Americans beginning Sept. 20, pending FDA review.

Alabama August 18, 2021

Alabama out of ICU beds amid COVID-19 surge

The president of the Alabama Hospital Association told a local news outlet that as of Tuesday there were 1,568 ICU patients, but only 1,557 beds.

Coronavirus August 17, 2021

Kids under 3 with COVID-19 more likely to spread virus within household than teens, study finds

Younger children may be more likely to transmit COVID-19 to caregivers and other siblings in the house than older kids, a new study out of Canada found, with researchers pointing to their behavior while sick as a possible driving factor.

Coronavirus August 17, 2021

Dozens of kids hospitalized with COVID-19 and RSV, Texas pediatrician says

A top doctor at a Texas children’s hospital said they are treating dozens of children who were admitted for both respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID-19, and that many others have tested positive for both viruses but did not require hospitalization.

Afghanistan August 17, 2021

WHO 'extremely concerned' about Afghanistan crisis

The World Health Organization (WHO) said it is “extremely concerned” over the “evolving security and humanitarian situation” in Afghanistan and called for health workers to be “respected and supported.”

Coronavirus August 17, 2021

'Concerning' levels of COVID-19 detected in Florida county wastewater, officials say

Health officials in Florida’s Orange County said there has been a 600% increase in the levels of COVID-19 RNA concentration detected in the area’s wastewater since sampling began in mid-May.

Coronavirus August 16, 2021

Pfizer says COVID-19 vaccine booster dose effective, safe

Pfizer and BioNTech said a booster or third dose of its COVID-19 vaccine is safe and elicits an antibody response at levels that “significantly exceed” those seen in individuals who receive two doses of the jab.

Coronavirus August 16, 2021

Surge in new COVID-19 cases amid delta spread 'going very steeply upward'

The surge of coronavirus spread in the U.S. is driving case totals to highs last seen six months ago.

Coronavirus August 3, 2021

NIH director backs away from suggestion that parents wear masks at home to protect kids

The head of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) tried to walk back his comments suggesting that parents wear masks at home to protect unvaccinated children.

Coronavirus August 3, 2021

COVID-19 hospitalizations in Louisiana to hit record-high

Louisiana is on track to set a record-high for the number of COVID-19 patients hospitalized amid a rapid rise in the delta variant.

Coronavirus August 3, 2021

Does delta COVID-19 variant raise risk of reinfection?

With the emergence of the delta variant driving new breakthrough infections, some are wondering what impact the strain may have on reinfection rates.

Coronavirus August 3, 2021

Delta COVID-19 variant is 'way more dangerous' than original strain, expert says

Amid an uptick in COVID-19 hospitalizations nationwide, officials have pointed to the delta variant as a driving factor in new cases.

Coronavirus August 3, 2021

Lilly's COVID-19 drug reduces death risk in patients on ventilator

Eli Lilly and Co. said new data from a Phase 3 trial showed its COVID-19 drug, baricitinib, was shown to reduce deaths in patients receiving mechanical ventilation.

Lung Cancer August 2, 2021

Kathy Griffin lung cancer diagnosis: Are nonsmokers at risk?

Comedian Kathy Griffin informed fans on Monday of a recent lung cancer diagnosis and immediate plans to undergo surgery to remove half of her left lung.

Florida August 2, 2021

Florida family sees 3 COVID-19 deaths in matter of days

A Florida woman is grieving the loss of her grandmother, mother, fiancé and future father-in-law who all died within days of each other after contracting COVID-19.

INFECTIOUS DISEASE August 2, 2021

NJ man dies following West Nile diagnosis, officials say

A New Jersey man who died last month had tested positive for West Nile virus, health officials confirmed.

Coronavirus July 30, 2021

Data on pediatric COVID-19 deaths in US remains unclear

Health officials in some areas of the country have sounded the alarm over increasing rates of hospitalizations among pediatric COVID-19 patients, but whether the risk for this population has changed due to emerging variants like delta remains unclear.

Coronavirus July 30, 2021

Israeli president kicks off COVID-19 vaccine booster campaign

Israeli President Isaac Herzog received a booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on Friday, a day after reports emerged that the country would begin offering a third jab to those over 60.