Shortages of antivirals, antibiotics compound stress of a rough season for viral illnesses in kids | CNN Shortages of key medications used to treat common childhood illnesses like flu, ear infections and sore throats are adding to the misery of this year's early and severe respiratory virus season. Brenda Goodman,Raenu Charles CNN

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Just a quarter of Pfizer’s COVID-19 treatment orders will go to developing countries | Oxfam International

Some nations could be paying ten times the price of Paxlovid’s generic equivalent, as WHO chief calls for treatment access to battle acute and long COVID-19

Rich countries have secured almost three times as many courses of a World Health Organisation (WHO)-recommended COVID-19 medicine, Pfizer’s Paxlovid, according to new analysis from Oxfam and the People’s Vaccine Alliance.

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LA County recommends indoor masking after increase in COVID cases Los Angeles County said it is "strongly recommending" residents wear masks indoors due to an increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. ABC News ABC News

On Thursday, the largest county in the United States said it is "strongly recommending" people wear face coverings in indoor public settings but stopped short of requiring them.

China's Guangzhou locks down millions in 'zero-COVID' fight TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — The southern Chinese metropolis of Guangzhou locked down its largest district Monday as it tries to tamp down a major COVID-19 outbreak, suspending public transit and requiring residents to present a negative test if they want to leave their homes. AP NEWS

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COVID variants BQ.1/BQ.1.1 make up nearly half of U.S. cases - CDC The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated on Friday that Omicron subvariants BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 account for nearly half of the COVID-19 cases in the country for the week ending Nov. 19, compared with 39.5% in the previous week. Reuters Reuters

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Ugandan doctors face fear and shortages in Ebola outbreak When Ebola broke out in Uganda in September, 10 doctors immediately stepped forward to work in an isolation unit at Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital, but now only three are left. Tommy Wilkes,Elias Biryabarema Reuters

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Explainer: How the World Health Organization might fight future pandemics Negotiations on new rules for dealing with pandemics are underway at the World Health Organization (WHO), with a target date of May 2024 for a legally binding agreement to be adopted by the U.N. health agency's 194 member countries. Emma Farge Reuters

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COVID-19 fears led to anxiety in pregnant women Threats of COVID-19 caused significant anxiety and depression among pregnant women during the first wave of the pandemic, a new study shows. Gregory Filiano-Stony Brook Futurity

The COVID-19 pandemic has had unprecedented impact on public health, including mental health, and has affected social and economic conditions of people worldwide.

Long-COVID clinics are wrestling with how to treat their patients The clinics have popped up all over the country, but doctors still don't know the best way to treat these patients, whose symptoms can vary dramatically. NPR.org

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Pfizer/BioNTech's updated COVID shot shows strong response against BQ.1.1 Pfizer Inc and its German partner BioNTech SE said on Friday their Omicron-tailored shot produced higher virus-neutralizing antibodies in older adults against the emerging subvariant BQ.1.1 than its original vaccine. Reuters Reuters

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Risk of seizure rises in six months after COVID-19 A bout of COVID-19, even a milder one, may raise the risk of having a seizure in the next six months, a large new study suggests. UPI

...the increased risk was among people who were not hospitalized: Of those who dealt with COVID-19 at home, just over 0.7% were later diagnosed with a first-time seizure or epilepsy. That compared with just under 0.5% of people who were sick at home with the flu.

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