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The CDC says COVID is endemic. That doesn't mean the danger is past

At this point, public health officials generally agree that COVID is endemic, meaning it is here to stay in predictable ways. Peter Zelei Images/Getty Images hide caption

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Peter Zelei Images/Getty Images

Short Wave

The CDC says COVID is endemic. That doesn't mean the danger is past

U.S. health officials now say COVID-19 is an endemic disease. That means it's here to stay – circulating fairly regularly like the flu. Even though that changes how public health officials think about managing the virus, they say it doesn't mean being less cautious or vigilant during surges, like the current one this summer. COVID still poses significant risks for older individuals and those with underlying conditions — and anyone who gets COVID is at risk of developing long COVID.

The CDC says COVID is endemic. That doesn't mean the danger is past

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Poliovirus detected in more wastewater near New York City

FILE - This 2014 illustration made available by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention depicts a polio virus particle. The polio virus has been found in New York City's wastewater in another sign that the disease, which hadn't been seen in the U.S. in a decade, is quietly spreading among unvaccinated people, health officials said Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. AP hide caption

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AP

Health

Poliovirus detected in more wastewater near New York City

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said the state is stepping up polio-fighting efforts as the virus was detected in the wastewater of another county in the New York City area.

Under fire, U.S. officials say monkeypox can still be stopped

Healthcare workers with New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene help people register for the monkeypox vaccine at one of the City's vaccination sites, Tuesday, July 26, 2022, in New York. Mary Altaffer/AP hide caption

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Mary Altaffer/AP

Health

Under fire, U.S. officials say monkeypox can still be stopped

The country's monkeypox outbreak can still be stopped, U.S. health officials said Thursday, despite rising case numbers and so far limited vaccine supplies.

How the U.S. case might tie into the global upswing in polio

A child receives a polio vaccine in Kampala, Uganda, on Jan. 14, 2022. Nicholas Kajoba/Xinhua News Agency via Getty Images hide caption

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Nicholas Kajoba/Xinhua News Agency via Getty Images

Goats and Soda

How the U.S. case might tie into the global upswing in polio

Countries in Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia are counting more cases of vaccine-derived polio. Now there's a likely U.S. case. Researchers are looking for ways to stop it.

How the U.S. case might tie into the global upswing in polio

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Ready, Set ... Think! Hackathon Aims To Kill Off Fake Health Rumors

Students around the world were challenged to fight disease rumors in a 24-hour hackathon. From left: A proposed pill package featuring a Tanzanian comic character, designed by a team from Boston University. A board game to help teach kids about schistosomiasis created by students from Sharif University of Technology in Tehran, Iran, and the Complexity Science Hub in Vienna. Caroline Pane and Sina Sajjadi hide caption

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Caroline Pane and Sina Sajjadi

Goats and Soda

Ready, Set ... Think! Hackathon Aims To Kill Off Fake Health Rumors

How do you fight misinformation around neglected tropical diseases? In this competition, teams of college students across the globe had 24 hours to cook up a cool plan.

Public Health Workers In Kansas Walk Away Over Pressure From Pandemic Politics

Wilson County Commissioner Andy Miller says Dr. McKenney created a storm when she criticized President Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Jim McLean/KCUR hide caption

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Jim McLean/KCUR

The Coronavirus Crisis

Public Health Workers In Kansas Walk Away Over Pressure From Pandemic Politics

KCUR

Across the country, they are quitting and the exodus is particularly pronounced in rural Kansas where opposition to mask mandates and other public health edicts remains strong.

Public Health Workers In Kansas Walk Away Over Pressure From Pandemic Politics

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Some States To Out-Of-Towners: If You Come Visit, Plan To Quarantine For 2 Weeks

A sign at Newark Liberty International Airport warns airline passengers about a travel advisory that applies to people arriving in New Jersey from certain states. Visitors from Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Utah should self-quarantine for two weeks. Seth Wenig/AP hide caption

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Seth Wenig/AP

The Coronavirus Crisis

Some States To Out-Of-Towners: If You Come Visit, Plan To Quarantine For 2 Weeks

The 14-day quarantine rule — which in some areas carries fines of up to $10,000 — is meant to help contain the spread of COVID-19, but enforcement varies from state to state.

Some States To Out-Of-Towners: If You Come Visit, Plan To Quarantine For 2 Weeks

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Former Top Health Officials: Do More Testing And Contact Tracing Or Expect Outbreaks

Health care workers place a nasal swab from a patient into a tube for testing at the Brightpoint Health and UJA-Federation of New York pop-up coronavirus testing site on Friday in New York City. Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images

Coronavirus Updates

Former Top Health Officials: Do More Testing And Contact Tracing Or Expect Outbreaks

Former federal health officials Andy Slavitt and Scott Gottlieb tell Morning Edition that more coronavirus testing and contact tracing are needed for U.S. businesses to reopen safely.

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