The U.S. is now monitoring BA.2.87.1, a new SARS-CoV-2 variant with more than 30 changes in the coronavirus spike protein. 

An older adult in Alaska died after contracting 'Alaskapox' — a form of orthopox virus which was discovered in 2015. It is the first reported death due to the virus, according to a Feb. 9 news release from the Alaska Division of Public Health.

The CDC's latest update shows flu activity increased in Central and Midwestern states in the week ending Feb. 3. 

The quantity and risk of fungal infections continues to grow worldwide, particularly as global temperatures warm, creating new environments for fungus to thrive, but drugs to treat these new and emerging infections haven't kept the same pace.

Respiratory syncytial virus is the leading pathogen for infant hospitalizations, but a second contender is close behind in prevalence: human rhinovirus. 

A 29-year-old Michigan man died Feb. 3 after a severe blastomycosis infection, according to CBS News. The infections are caused by the fungus called Blastomyces.

After 12 patients died from a meningitis outbreak in 2023, researchers discovered the cause was an epidural contaminated with the fungus Fusarium solani, according to findings published Feb. 8 in The New England Journal of Medicine. 

Amid a yearslong increase in syphilis cases, the CDC published new recommendations for syphilis testing in labs Feb. 8. 

On Feb. 5, the CDC, FDA and local health officials released their findings on a recent outbreak of bacteria and fungi stemming from contaminated eye drops.

The U.S. government has unveiled a National Public Health Strategy to Prevent and Control Vector-Borne Diseases in People, which 17 federal departments and agencies jointly worked to develop.

Delivering multiple vaccines in both arms, rather than just one, substantially increases antibody responses, new research suggests. 

As key indicators of COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus continue to fall, the number of states reporting high levels of virus activity is also decreasing. 

For the first time since 2010, the National Association of Epilepsy Centers has updated its guidelines for care.

In 2022, 22 states and the District of Columbia reported clinical cases of Candida auris, a fungus deemed an urgent public health threat due to its resistance to multiple antifungal treatments. 

Since Feb. 1, new measles cases have been reported in two new states — Ohio and Maryland.

While COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus metrics continue to decrease, flu activity remains high and is rising again in some parts of the country, especially in the Midwest and South-Central regions.

California's San Mateo County has declared loneliness a public health emergency, making it the first county in the nation to do so. 

The beta variant was the most deadly of all the COVID-19 strains that the World Health Organization deemed variants of concern, according to a meta-analysis published Jan. 31. 

Early trials for a vaccine to prevent dengue infections, responsible for more than 5 million cases and 5,000 deaths in 2023, are underway and showing success, according to data published Feb. 1 in The New England Journal of Medicine.

The updated COVID-19 vaccines can reduce the risk of symptomatic infection by 54% among healthy adults, according to early estimates from the CDC.