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    Alexandria Hein

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

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    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. Among the most recent cases: a man in Maine who died from a rare virus spread by the bite of infected ticks, the state’s CDC reported in April 2022.

    Tick bites could lead to many dangerous illnesses in humans such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis and others. And while tick bites are typically a concern for hikers or those who spend time in wooded areas, certain species can be found in grassy areas or gardens. Pets that spend time outdoors are also at risk of picking them up. 

    Most bites are usually reported in children ages 0-9. 

    There are several prevention measures the CDC suggests that may help keep ticks away, such as applying pesticides in the yard, removing leaf litter, clearing tall grasses and brush, placing a 3-foot barrier of wood chips or gravel between lawns and wooded areas, mowing the lawn frequently, discouraging unwelcome animals from entering the yard, and removing old furniture, mattresses or trash from the yard. 

    TICK BITE LANDS BOY IN ICU WITH ROCKY MOUNTAIN SPOTTED FEVER DIAGNOSIS, MOM SAYS

    Knowing where to expect ticks can also help, as can treating clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin. EPA-registered insect repellents can also help keep you protected, as can avoiding wooded or brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter. Walking in the center of trails while in wooded or high grassy areas can also help lower your risk. 

    Once inside, check clothing for ticks any found quickly, the CDC advises. Tumble dry clothing on high heat for 10 minutes to kill off any you may have missed. Showering within two hours of coming indoors may also help wash off any unattached ticks and is a good chance to do a tick check. It is especially important to check under the arms, in and around the ears, inside the belly button, back of the knees, in and around the hair between the legs and around the waist. 

    If you do find a tick, don’t panic. Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible, pull upward with stead, even pressure and don’t twist or jerk the tick. If you are unable to remove the mouth of the tick easily leave it alone and let the skin heal. Wash the bite area thoroughly and your hands with rubbing alcohol, soap and water. 

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    Once removed, do not squish the tick with your fingers, the CDC warned. Dispose of it by putting it in alcohol, placing it in a sealed bag, wrapping it tightly in tape, or flushing it down the toilet. If a rash or fever develops within several weeks of removing the tick, see a doctor and mention the bite. 

    Dogs are also susceptible to tick bites and they may be hard to detect. Checking for ticks daily, especially after time outdoors can help, the CDC advises. 

    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. The child, who was not identified by name, had not received a COVID-19 vaccine, although it was not clear whether he was of eligible age. 

    CLICK HERE TO FIND A COVID-19 VACCINE NEAR YOU

    Currently, COVID-19 vaccines are available to children as young as 12 through emergency use authorization.  His death marks the seventh pediatric COVID-19 fatality in Houston, although all previous cases involved underlying conditions.

    “On behalf of the City of Houston, I extend my condolences to the boy’s family during their time of grief,” Mayor Sylvester Turner said, in a news release posted by the Houston health department. “The death of a loved one under any circumstance is heartbreaking, especially when we have the power to slow the spread and save lives. I encourage all eligible Houstonians ages 12 and older to get vaccinated and wear a face mask in large crowds or areas where you cannot socially distance.” 

    Nationwide hospitals are reporting increasing pediatric COVID-19 cases compared to rates seen during previous surges. Health officials have urged those who are eligible to get vaccinated to protect others who cannot. 

    1 IN 3 AMERICANS HAD COVID-19 BY END OF 2020, STUDY SAYS

    “This tragedy serves as a reminder that children, even without underlying health conditions, can get seriously ill and die from COVID-19,” said Dr. David Persse, chief medical officer for the City of Houston. “Getting vaccinated is not only about protecting you, it’s about protecting everyone close to you, especially your family, from serious illness and death.”

    CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE

    Houston’s tragic news comes as Louisiana announced the death of a child under 1, and amid reports of a high school freshman’s passing. 

    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. The child, who was not identified by name, had not received a COVID-19 vaccine, although it was not clear whether he was of eligible age. 

    CLICK HERE TO FIND A COVID-19 VACCINE NEAR YOU

    Currently, COVID-19 vaccines are available to children as young as 12 through emergency use authorization.  His death marks the seventh pediatric COVID-19 fatality in Houston, although all previous cases involved underlying conditions.

    “On behalf of the City of Houston, I extend my condolences to the boy’s family during their time of grief,” Mayor Sylvester Turner said, in a news release posted by the Houston health department. “The death of a loved one under any circumstance is heartbreaking, especially when we have the power to slow the spread and save lives. I encourage all eligible Houstonians ages 12 and older to get vaccinated and wear a face mask in large crowds or areas where you cannot socially distance.” 

    Nationwide hospitals are reporting increasing pediatric COVID-19 cases compared to rates seen during previous surges. Health officials have urged those who are eligible to get vaccinated to protect others who cannot. 

    1 IN 3 AMERICANS HAD COVID-19 BY END OF 2020, STUDY SAYS

    “This tragedy serves as a reminder that children, even without underlying health conditions, can get seriously ill and die from COVID-19,” said Dr. David Persse, chief medical officer for the City of Houston. “Getting vaccinated is not only about protecting you, it’s about protecting everyone close to you, especially your family, from serious illness and death.”

    CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE

    Houston’s tragic news comes as Louisiana announced the death of a child under 1, and amid reports of a high school freshman’s passing. 

    COVID-19 saw millions miss childhood vaccinations, WHO warns

    As many as 23 million children worldwide missed routine vaccinations last year due to COVID-19-related disruptions in health care, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned Thursday. The number marks an increase of 3.7 million from 2019, and a high not seen since 2009. 

    “Concerningly, most of these – up to 17 million children – likely did not receive a single vaccine during the year, widening already immense inequities in vaccine access,” WHO warned. “Most of these children live in communities affected by conflict, in under-served remote places, or in informal or slum settings where they face multiple deprivations including limited access to basic health and key social services.” 

    The agency said disruptions in childhood immunizations were greatest in Southeast Asian and Eastern Mediterranean regions. India saw the starkest decline in immunizations, followed by Pakistan, Indonesia, Philippines and Mexico. Millions missed first doses of a measles, diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine. 

    DROP IN ROUTINE CHILDHOOD VACCINATIONS DURING CORONAVIRUS MAY SPUR INCREASE IN PREVENTABLE ILLNESSES, CDC WARNS

    While COVID-19-related disruptions in health care contributed to the declines, officials noted that the trends in childhood vaccination were concerning prior to the pandemic. While WHO recommends a 95% vaccination rate to prevent a resurgence of measles, the average had been hovering around 86% for several years. 

    “Even as countries clamor to get their hands on COVID-19 vaccines, we have gone backwards on other vaccinations, leaving children at risk from devastating but preventable diseases like measles, polio or meningitis,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO director-general. “Multiple disease outbreaks would be catastrophic for communities and health systems already battling COVID-19, making it more urgent than ever to invest in childhood vaccination and ensure every child is reached.” 

    MISSISSIPPI REPORTS 7 KIDS IN ICU, 2 ON LIFE SUPPORT AMID COVID-19 SURGE

    The report is not the first published to note a dip in childhood vaccines, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned last month that in the U.S. there was a marked decline during early pandemic months. 

    The agency said that while there was a marked decline between March and May 2020, the was an increase during the June-through-September months, but “not sufficient to achieve catch-up coverage.” 

    CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE

    “This lag in catch-up vaccination might pose a serious public health threat that would result in vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks, especially in schools that have reopened for in-person learning,” the CDC stated. “During the past few decades, the United States has achieved a substantial reduction in the prevalence of vaccine-preventable diseases driven in large part to the ongoing administration of routinely recommended pediatric vaccines.” 

    COVID-19 saw millions miss childhood vaccinations, WHO warns

    As many as 23 million children worldwide missed routine vaccinations last year due to COVID-19-related disruptions in health care, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned Thursday. The number marks an increase of 3.7 million from 2019, and a high not seen since 2009. 

    “Concerningly, most of these – up to 17 million children – likely did not receive a single vaccine during the year, widening already immense inequities in vaccine access,” WHO warned. “Most of these children live in communities affected by conflict, in under-served remote places, or in informal or slum settings where they face multiple deprivations including limited access to basic health and key social services.” 

    The agency said disruptions in childhood immunizations were greatest in Southeast Asian and Eastern Mediterranean regions. India saw the starkest decline in immunizations, followed by Pakistan, Indonesia, Philippines and Mexico. Millions missed first doses of a measles, diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine. 

    DROP IN ROUTINE CHILDHOOD VACCINATIONS DURING CORONAVIRUS MAY SPUR INCREASE IN PREVENTABLE ILLNESSES, CDC WARNS

    While COVID-19-related disruptions in health care contributed to the declines, officials noted that the trends in childhood vaccination were concerning prior to the pandemic. While WHO recommends a 95% vaccination rate to prevent a resurgence of measles, the average had been hovering around 86% for several years. 

    “Even as countries clamor to get their hands on COVID-19 vaccines, we have gone backwards on other vaccinations, leaving children at risk from devastating but preventable diseases like measles, polio or meningitis,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO director-general. “Multiple disease outbreaks would be catastrophic for communities and health systems already battling COVID-19, making it more urgent than ever to invest in childhood vaccination and ensure every child is reached.” 

    MISSISSIPPI REPORTS 7 KIDS IN ICU, 2 ON LIFE SUPPORT AMID COVID-19 SURGE

    The report is not the first published to note a dip in childhood vaccines, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned last month that in the U.S. there was a marked decline during early pandemic months. 

    The agency said that while there was a marked decline between March and May 2020, the was an increase during the June-through-September months, but “not sufficient to achieve catch-up coverage.” 

    CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE

    “This lag in catch-up vaccination might pose a serious public health threat that would result in vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks, especially in schools that have reopened for in-person learning,” the CDC stated. “During the past few decades, the United States has achieved a substantial reduction in the prevalence of vaccine-preventable diseases driven in large part to the ongoing administration of routinely recommended pediatric vaccines.” 

    Mississippi reports 7 kids in ICU, 2 on life support amid Delta surge

    Mississippi’s top health official said Tuesday the state has seven children in the intensive care unit due to COVID-19, including two who are on life support. Dr. Thomas Dobbs had said a day earlier that nearly all COVID-19 cases in the state are due to the Delta variant, with the majority of infections, hospitalizations and deaths among unvaccinated residents. 

    Dobbs noted that 7% of COVID-19-related deaths that occurred between June 7 and July 5 were among vaccinated individuals, which he called “worrisome.”

    “We are allowing too much circulating Delta to reach our most vulnerable,” Hobbs tweeted. 

    NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY LAUNCHES ‘DOSES TO DOORS’ VACCINE CAMPAIGN

    Last week, Dobbs said the state has seen “pretty much an entire takeover” by the Delta variant in virus circulation. He noted outbreaks among youth, summer activities and nursing homes, and reiterated the health department’s guidance that people 65 years and older or those who are immunocompromised should avoid mass indoor gatherings even if they’ve been vaccinated. 

    Just over 1 million residents in the state are fully vaccinated, with the state’s rate of administering 68,915 shots per 100,000 people ranked lowest in the U.S. About 31% of the state’s residents are fully vaccinated. 

    US COVID-19 CASES RISING AGAIN, DOUBLING OVER THREE WEEKS

    For weeks, federal health officials have warned that communities with low vaccination rates would remain susceptible to the virus variants, with Delta estimated to be 40-60% more transmissible than the Alpha strain, which had dominated the U.S. by April. 

    In a bid to tackle vaccine hesitation among some residents, Mississippi’s health department began this week blocking comments on its Facebook posts due to a “rise of misinformation.” 

    CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE

    “The comments section of our Facebook page has increasingly come to be dominated by misinformation about COVID-19,” Liz Sharlot, a health department spokesperson, said, adding that allowing them could “mislead the public about the safety, importance and effectiveness of vaccination.” 

    The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

    Overall cancer death rates declining in US, report finds

    Overall cancer death rates continue to decline in the U.S., a National Cancer Institute report found, with the most notable decreases found among lung cancer and melanoma. For other cancers, the news was not as promising, as the report found previous declining trends in death rates for prostate, colorectal and female breast cancers had slowed or disappeared. 

    Still, data reflected a decrease in death rates for 11 of the 19 most common cancers in men and for 14 of the 20 most common cancers among women between 2014 and 2018. It also saw that, while overall cancer incidence rates were slightly lower among Black people than White people, they had higher death rates. 

    SUGARY DRINKS LINKED TO INCREASED COLON CANCER RISK 

    “It is encouraging to see a continued decline in death rates for many of the common cancers,” said Karen Hacker, M.D., M.P.H., director of CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. “To dismantle existing health disparities and give everyone the opportunity to be as healthy as possible, we must continue to find innovative ways to reach people across the cancer care continuum — from screening and early detection to treatment and support for survivors.”

    Experts involved in the report noted that the deceleration of previous declining trends in colorectal cancer and female breast cancers are likely to due to outside risk factors, such as obesity. 

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    “I believe we could achieve even further improvements if we address obesity, which as the potential to overtake tobacco use to become the leading modifiable factor associated with cancer,” Norman E. Sharpless, M.D., director of the National Cancer Institute, said in part. 

    US hospitals not ‘adequately’ prepared for next pandemic, study finds

    A 10-year analysis of hospitals’ preparedness for pandemics and other mass casualty events in the years prior to COVID-19 is warning that the nation’s health care system may not be adequately prepared for the next one. For the study, a team of researchers from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Maryland Medical Center used a surge index tool called Hospital Medical Surge Preparedness Index (HMSPI) to score data from more than 6,200 hospitals nationwide. 

    The hospitals had partaken in the American Hospital Association annual surveys. The team also used census data to determine population estimates in various cities and geographic service area and combined it with the survey information to calculate the HMSPI score. 

    Metrics evaluated in the HMSPI included staff, supplies, space such as the total number of beds that staff can handle, and systems, including a framework for enabling electronic sharing of information. 

    DELTA COVID-19 VARIANT NOW DOMINANT IN US

    While the team found varying degrees of improvement in some areas over the years, they also said that the scores indicated “ideal readiness had not yet been achieved in any state before the COVID-19 pandemic.” 

    Between 2005 and 2014, Montana experienced the largest increase in HMSPI scores, with the smallest increase noted in Nevada. The improvements across the country appeared to plateau in the final year of data. 

    HOSPITALS PRESS WORKERS TO GET VACCINATED AS COVID-19 VARIANTS SPREAD

    The team concluded that “after more than $5 billion of federal investments in disaster preparedness since the 9/11 attacks, the nation’s hospitals and health care systems continue to struggle with disaster readiness.”

    The full results were published last month in the Journal of Healthcare Management, according to a news release.

    “This is just the starting point,” David Marcozzi, M.D., professor of emergency medicine at UMSOM and chief clinical officer/senior vice president at UMMC and study lead author, said. “We need to better understand the ability of our nation’s hospitals to save lives in times of crisis.” 

    Marcozzi said follow-up research could involve data from the COVID-19 pandemic to see how hospital preparedness impacted patient outcome. 

    CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE

    “This pioneering work is a needed advancement that could allow for a transparent assessment of a hospital’s ability to save lives in a large-scale emergency,” Marcozzi said. “The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that there is still plenty of room for improvement in the ability of our nation’s health care system to triage and manage multiple patients in a crisis and that translates into lives lost, unnecessarily. Our research is dedicated to those who lost their lives in his tragedy and other mass casualty events. We can do better.” 

    US heat wave turns deadly: How to stay safe

    About a dozen deaths may be tied to an intense heat wave blanketing the Northwest, officials said, with several fatalities involving heat stroke and hyperthermia. 

    Temperatures are expected to remain high in the interior West and some areas in the East Coast will experience spikes, which is why health departments and the medical community are warning about signs of heat-related illness to be on the lookout for. 

    President Biden, who met with West Coast governors on Wednesday, said the heat is “a threat in and of itself.” 

    NORTHWEST TO COOL OFF AS NORTHEAST REMAINS HOT

    “People are hurting, it’s more dangerous for kids to play outside, roads are buckling under the heat,” Biden said. “Again, I need not tell all of you – we need people to check on their neighbors especially seniors who may need a helping hand.” 

    He also called for frequent water breaks and shade for outdoor laborers, and thanked local officials for setting up cooling centers which can help provide relief. 

    Salem Fire Department Capt. Matt Brozovich and Falck Northwest ambulance personnel help treat a man experiencing heat exposure at a cooling center during a heatwave in Salem, Oregon, on June 26, 2021. 
    (AP Photo/Nathan Howard)

    Anyone can develop a heat-related illness, especially those who are not acclimated to high temperatures, Dr. Lane Tassin, FastMed’s chief medical officer, western region, told Fox News.

    “What you’re seeing in the Pacific Northwest, lots of people don’t have air conditioning they never needed it before, plus they’re not acclimated to the heat so the body is not accustomed to heat stress,” he said. 

    RECORD TEMPERATURES GRIPPING NORTHWEST LINKED TO AT LEAST 2 DEATHS IN WASHINGTON

    People with underlying heart disease, elderly people, children and those on certain medications may also be at increased risk for heat-related illness, he said. People with disabilities are also at an increased risk, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

    Tassin, who described the body as a bag of water covered by a thin envelope on the outside, explained that there is a narrow window of internal temperature that humans need to maintain in order to keep it working well. When the air temperature is greater than the internal body temperature, the body temperature will start to rise, setting off a physiological response to the heat that includes sweating, accelerated heart rate and dilated blood vessels as the body attempts to cool off. 

    “It’s a cascading event, with an increasing heat load there’s more and more demand on your cardiovascular system and some people just can’t respond to the increased demand,” he said, adding that they may slowly slip into a heat-related illness. 

    WHAT IS A HEAT DOME?

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises being aware of signs of heat stroke, heat exhaustion and heat cramps and knowing what to do in the event of an emergency. The agency compiled a list of symptoms to look for and actions to take for the following: 

    Heat stroke: A heat stroke may cause body temperatures to spike to 103 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. It can cause hot, red, dry or damp skin; a fast, strong pulse, headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion or even passing out. In the event of possible heat stroke, you should call 911 right away and move the person to a cooler place. Place the person in a cool bath or use cool cloths to lower their temperature. You should not give the person anything to drink. 

    Heat exhaustion: Heat exhaustion can cause heavy sweating, cold, pale and clammy skin, fast, weak pulse, nausea or vomiting, muscle cramps, tiredness or weakness, dizziness, headache or passing out. In the event of possible heat exhaustion, the person should be moved to a cool place, loosen clothes, take a cool bath or place cool cloths on body, sip water, and get medical help if symptoms progress, last longer than one hour or cause vomiting. 

    Heat cramps: Heat cramps may cause heavy sweating during intense exercise and can result in muscle pain or spasms. In the event of heat cramps, stop physical activity and move to a cool place. Drink water or a sports drink and wait for cramps to go away before resuming physical activity. Get medical help if cramps last longer than an hour, you’re on a low-sodium diet or you have heart problems. 

    Tassin stressed that heat-related illnesses often land in a “gray zone,” so it’s not “one minute you’re totally normal, you have heat exhaustion and then the next minute you have heat stroke.” 

    He described it as more of a continuum but cautioned that it’s not well-defined. Heat illness can occur quickly, within a half-hour, or it could develop over a period of several days. He said recognizing the early signs, which staff like coaches and athletic directors should be trained on, can help prevent a dangerous situation before it escalates. 

    While at-risk groups have additional safety measures they can take, the CDC advises that everyone stay cool by wearing appropriate clothing, stay in air-conditioned spaces, schedule outdoor activities carefully, pace yourself, wear sunscreen, avoid hot and heavy meals and never leave children in cars. 

    CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

    The agency also recommends staying hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids, staying away from sugary or alcoholic drinks, replacing salt and minerals lost through sweat with a sports drink, and remembering to keep pets hydrated as well. 

    Tassin advised monitoring the color of urine to check for adequate hydration as well. 

    “The darker the urine gets, the more and more concentrated it is because the kidneys are working double time,” he said. 

    He also said reducing exposure to heat load, like planning exertional activities for first thing in the morning or after the sun goes down, can help lower your risk.

    Which COVID-19 variants are circulating in US?

    Public health officials are urging Americans who haven’t yet been vaccinated against the coronavirus to seek out a shot amid concern regarding the Delta variant which is spreading rapidly in some parts of the U.S. Early data on the AstraZeneca and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines suggest receiving two doses offers a higher level of protection against variants than one, but a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advisory committee recently said there isn’t enough data to predict if, when or even who might need an eventual booster shot. 

    The CDC is monitoring several variants circulating in the U.S., which were recently given Greek Alphabet names for easier identification. Here is a look at what we know about each: 

    Alpha: The Alpha variant, which is also referred to as the B.1.1.7 variant and was initially detected in the U.K., was identified in the U.S. in December 2020. It’s classified as a Variant of Concern (VOC) by the CDC, and is estimated to be about 50% more transmissible than the original SARS-CoV-2 strain detected in the U.S., and has the potential for increased severity but has minimal impact on vaccine efficacy. 

    Beta: The Beta variant, which is also referred to as the B.1.351 variant and was initially detected in South Africa, was first identified in the U.S. at the end of January 2021. It’s classified as a VOC by the CDC, and is estimated to be about 50% more transmissible than the original SARS-CoV-2 strain detected in the U.S. Health officials said it significantly reduces impact of certain monoclonal antibody treatments, but remains susceptible to others. It may reduce vaccine efficacy. 

    AS VARIANT RISES, VACCINE PLAN TARGETS ‘MOVABLE MIDDLE’ 

    Delta: The Delta variant, which is also referred to as the B.1.617.2 variant and was initially detected in India, was identified in the U.S. in March 2021. It’s classified as a VOC by the CDC, and has shown increased transmissibility and the potential to reduce efficacy of monoclonal antibody treatments and vaccines. 

    Gamma: The Gamma variant, also referred to as the P.1 variant, was initially detected in Brazil and first identified in the U.S. in January 2021. It’s classified as a VOC by the CDC, and significantly reduces the impact of certain monoclonal antibody treatments, but remains susceptible to others. It also may reduce vaccine efficacy. 

    Epsilon: The Epsilon variants, also referred to as B.1.427 and B.1.429 variants, were first identified in California in February 2021. The variants are labeled VOC by the CDC, and are associated with about a 20% increase in transmissibility, and reduce efficacy of some monoclonal antibody therapies. They are also associated with reduced vaccine efficacy. 

    CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE

    The CDC has made note of several others, currently classified as Variants of Interest (VOI), but notes there is limited prevalence or expansion in the U.S. or other countries. The Eta, Iota, Kappa and Zeta variants all fall within the VOI category.