Category: Health News

New program may reduce rehospitalizations after discharge

Throughout her career, Lori Popejoy provided hands-on clinical care in a variety of health care settings, from hospitals and nursing homes to community centers and home health care agencies. She became interested in the area of care coordination, as patients who are not properly cared for after being discharged from the hospital often end up

Halep looking to be a little less negative after Melbourne exit

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Simona Halep said she would leave the Australian Open with her head held high despite a quarter-final exit but was a little frustrated at her negativity on court during the tournament.Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 16, 2021 Romania’s Simona Halep in action during her quarter final match

Researchers find disease-related gene changes in kidney tissue

Researchers from Indiana University have identified key genetic changes in the interstitial kidney tissue of people with diabetes, a discovery that signifies the potential for a revolutionary new genetic approach to the treatment of kidney disease. They will contribute their findings to the Kidney Precision Medicine Project’s (KPMP) “cell atlas,” a set of maps used

French health insurance company MNH hit with ransomware attack

French health insurance company Mutuelle Nationale des Hospitaliers (MNH) has experienced a ransomware attack that has disrupted the company’s healthcare operations.  Ransomware operation, RansomExx, a rebranded version of Defray777 ransomware is behind the attack. Some of the group’s high-profile attacks include Brazil’s government networks, Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and Tyler Technologies.   The mnh.fr website now displays

CDC says vaccinated individuals can skip COVID quarantines

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic's global case toll has surpassed 109 million globally. Of these infections, 2.4 million people have already succumbed to the disease. As the pandemic continues to spread, many countries have rolled out vaccinations. Now, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued updated guidance that people who have

New NHS unit to bring together transformation teams at NHSE and NHSX

NHS England plans to create a new transformation directorate which will incorporate NHSX, according to HSJ. The new body would bring together digital and operational improvement teams within NHS England and NHS Improvement, with the aim of continuing the rapid transformation achieved during the COVID-19 crisis, HSJ [paywall] reports. It adds that four specialities have

Researchers report a new SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern in Uganda

The etiological agent of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) – severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – was first identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. Since then, the virus has infected more than 107 million people worldwide and caused over 2.4 million deaths. Due to its high transmissibility, it has been difficult to

UK tightens virus controls as New Zealand hunts source of outbreak

Britain on Monday began mandatory hotel quarantine for arrivals from high-risk countries as New Zealand identified its first cases of the UK strain from the outbreak that forced its largest city into lockdown. Peru’s foreign minister meanwhile became the latest senior figure to resign in a growing scandal over top officials jumping the queue for

Israeli study shows Pfizer vaccine 94 percent effective

Israel’s largest healthcare provider said Sunday a study of more than half a million fully vaccinated Israelis indicated the Pfizer/BioNTech jab gave 94 percent protection against COVID-19. Clalit Health Services said that in a groundbreaking project its researchers tested 600,000 subjects who had received the recommended two doses of the US-German Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine and the

New Zealand locks down Auckland after 3 new local COVID-19 cases

WELLINGTON (Reuters) – New Zealand Prime Minsiter Jacinda Ardern on Sunday announced a three-day lockdown in the country’s biggest city Auckland, after three new local COVID-19 cases were reported, the first local infections since late January.Slideshow ( 2 images )Ardern said the level 3 restrictions, which require everyone to stay home except for essential shopping

Melbourne starts snap virus lockdown, no crowds at Australian Open

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Australia’s second most populous state Victoria entered a five-day lockdown on Saturday as authorities raced to prevent a third wave of COVID-19 cases sparked by the highly infections UK variant.Slideshow ( 5 images )One new locally acquired case was confirmed in the past 24 hours, health authorities said on Saturday, taking the