Separate WHO reports describe widening dengue and chikungunya activity in the Americas and the expansion of cholera outbreaks to four more countries.
Impacts from the earthquake and crowded living conditions could worsen Syria's situation, as outbreaks in multiple countries put a heavy burden on children.
So far, nearly 37,000 cases have been reported, with about 1,200 deaths, for a case-fatality rate above 3%.
This year, 29 countries have reported cholera outbreaks to the WHO, including 16 with protracted activity.
The outbreak has grown to more than 13,000 suspected cases, plus 283 deaths, for a case-fatality rate of 2.1%.
Eight infections in travelers returning from affected areas have been reported in the US.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), the most commonly used class of antidepressants in the United States, don't appear to prevent severe COVID-19 or death among outpatients, according to a study presented this week at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions in Chicago.
The World Health Organization (WHO) monkeypox emergency committee met for the third time on Oct 20 to discuss the latest developments, concluding that the situation still warrants a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).
Among a group of vaccinated college athletes who tested positive for COVID-19 and underwent rapid antigen testing 7 days later, 27% were still positive—a proportion that climbed to 35% in symptomatic athletes and 40% in those infected with the Omicron BA.2 subvariant.
COVID-19 vaccination may protect pregnant women and their fetuses against virus-related placentitis (inflammation of the placenta) and stillbirth, concludes a review study published today in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. The research will also be presented next week at ID Week in Washington, DC.
