National What the CDC is doing to monitor and protect against bird flu CDC director Dr. Mandy Cohen tells NPR that while the risk of bird flu spreading to humans is low, the U.S. government is taking precautions to avoid spread of the virus. Ari Shapiro Erika Ryan Patrick Jarenwattananon
Health Got COVID? CDC says stay home while you're sick, but drops its 5-day isolation rule The agency is replacing its COVID-specific guidance with general guidance for respiratory viruses that says people should stay home when they are sick. Pien Huang Will Stone
National Older U.S. adults should get another COVID-19 shot, health officials recommend The CDC said Americans 65 and older should get another dose of the updated vaccine that became available in September — if at least four months has passed since their last shot. The Associated Press
National Americans who live alone report depression at higher rates, but social support helps The number of people living alone in the U.S. jumped to nearly 38 million. A new study shows people who live alone are more likely to report depression if they didn't have other social supports. Rhitu Chatterjee
National The CDC may be reconsidering its COVID isolation guidance The current guidance advises five days of isolation. Unnamed health officials have indicated that this guidance may soon go away, a move that troubles public health experts. Pien Huang
National Syphilis cases rise to their highest levels since the 1950s, CDC says Cases increased by nearly 80% to more than 207,000 between 2018 and 2022, according to the CDC. Rates increased among all age groups, including newborns, and in all regions of the country. Diba Mohtasham
Food Charcuterie sold at Costco and Sam's Club is being linked to a salmonella outbreak The CDC says there have been at least 47 illnesses across 22 states tied to the outbreak, which officials believe is linked to charcuterie meat trays sold at the two wholesale stores. Diba Mohtasham
Health Respiratory illnesses are on the rise after the holidays Cases of COVID-19 and the flu are high and increasing nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. RSV cases are elevated but have started to fall in some places. Pien Huang
National Avoid cantaloupe unless you know its origins, CDC warns amid salmonella outbreak At least 117 people in 34 states have gotten sick from salmonella infections. U.S. health officials believe two brands of cantaloupe — and dozens of fruit cups and medleys — may have been the cause. Emily Olson
Health A seasonal viral stew is brewing with flu, RSV, COVID and more National data shows COVID-19 levels are moderate. In most of the U.S., levels of other respiratory viruses are low, although RSV is ticking up in some southeastern states. Pien Huang
