Credits: Canva
Quademic 2025: Hospitals in the United States are dealing with a surge in patients admission, the reason is the quademic it is dealing with at this moment. This has led to an influx of patients. It is all caused by seasonal infections, including common flu, Covid-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) that dominate the winter season in the US. This year, norovirus also joined the list, which has further increased the load on the healthcare.
The healthcare company founded in academics M Health Fairview, confirmed that their hospitals are overflowing due to the quademic.
The hospitals of M Health Fairview's volume is up by 30% and as a results, patients are being treated in the hallways and in alternative care areas. There is also a longer wait time and shortages for resources that are required to treat these emergencies. This has also impacted other life-threatening emergencies like heart attacks and strokes, as the healthcare resources and caregivers are occupied with the surge in seasonal cases.
ALSO READ: Birmingham Struggles With 4 Different Virus Hits, Know What They Are
Common cold and flu: The common cold and influenza (flu) are perhaps the most well-known illnesses that peak during the fall. As temperatures drop and humidity levels fluctuate, viruses that cause colds and the flu become more active. The flu, in particular, can be more severe than a common cold, leading to complications such as pneumonia, especially in vulnerable populations like the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions. Symptoms include a runny nose, sore throat, coughing, fever, and body aches.
Covid-19: As per the World Health Organization, Coronavirus disease or COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Most people infected with this virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment, However, there could be some cases of seriously ill patients who may require medical attention. It is also because of the other existing medical conditions like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, cancers, or older age.
The best way to protect against this virus is by following social isolation form those who are infected, using mask to prevent droplets from infecting others when you cough or sneeze and to wash your hands for 20 seconds frequently.
RSV or Respiratory Syncytial Virus: As per the Centers of Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC), RSV is a common respiratory virus that infects nose, throat and lungs. Though symptoms are similar to the viruses like flu or COVID-19, the disease in itself is different. It also peaks during the winter season, especially between December and January.
However, the main difference between RSV and other respiratory illness, above mentioned is that RSV can cause pneumonia or bronchiolitis, especially for those who are over the age of 50 or with an existing heart or lung disease.
Norovirus: It is a number 1 cause of foodborne illness in the US and this happens when virus gets into the food and then it accidentally enters your mouth. These particles are from faeces or vomit from infected people, or can be transmitted via contaminated food and water. It could also spread by touching unclean surfaces like door handles or cutlery.
For most people, having norovirus is unpleasant, but mild and recovery could be made in 1 to 2 days. However, it could be more serious for babies, older people and anyone with any existing health condition.
Credit: Penn State
A team of US scientists is beginning a human trial of a new form of proton therapy that could potentially deliver cancer-killing radiation in less than a second.
Known as FLASH proton therapy, the treatment requires fewer sessions — just five over about 10 days — and could potentially reduce the risk of treatment-related side effects.
FLASH Proton Therapy: The First Human Trial
The Phase I clinical trial at the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania represents the first time the “conformal,” or precise 3D-targeting, version of the technique is being tested in human patients in the United States.
According to the University, the study will enroll 10 patients with recurrent head and neck cancer who have previously received radiation treatment and are not candidates for surgery.
Patients with recurrent head and neck cancer typically face a difficult prognosis. While radiation therapy can help treat the cancer, it can also cause side effects in areas involved in important functions such as eating, drinking and swallowing.
Patients in the trial will receive FLASH proton therapy five times in total, with each exposure lasting less than a second. They will complete all five sessions in less than two weeks.
Penn Medicine recently completed a FLASH proton therapy clinical trial in pet dogs with cancer. The canine study used the same technology for head and neck cancer that will be used in the human trial.
How Does FLASH Proton Therapy Work?
Proton therapy is an advanced form of radiation therapy that uses high-energy protons, or positively charged particles, to damage the DNA of cancer cells and destroy them.
Conventional radiation therapy is typically delivered in smaller doses, or fractions, over several weeks to target the tumour while limiting exposure to healthy tissue.
For patients with head and neck cancer, this typically means 25–35 radiation fractions, delivered once a day, five days a week, over five to six weeks.
Constantinos Koumenis, Professor of Radiation Oncology at Penn Medicine, explained that FLASH uses a larger dose and reduces the amount of time the patient is exposed to radiation.
The total effective radiation dose remains the same, but it is divided into fewer fractions, with each delivered in a large, lightning-fast dose.
What Is ConformalFLASH Proton Therapy?
The type of FLASH proton therapy being tested in this clinical trial is known as ConformalFLASH proton therapy.
The Penn clinical trial is designed to test the safety and feasibility of the approach. Researchers hope it could improve patients’ quality of life by reducing the time they spend in hospitals and travelling for treatment.
If successful, the approach could be expanded to other cancer types and studied in larger Phase II and Phase III clinical trials focused on treatment outcomes, the researchers said.
Credit: AI
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is showing no signs of slowing down. Without an approved vaccine or course of treatment, the number of deaths due to the disease has reached 3,007, with 6,186 confirmed cases as of August 31. The mortality rate remains close to 50%.
Declared in mid-May, the outbreak has now spread across 60 health zones in six provinces. Ituri, the epicenter of the outbreak, accounts for 81.9% of confirmed cases.
The gravity of the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo has sparked a fresh alert from the World Health Organization (WHO) after its Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the response has to move faster than the outbreak to contain or slow the transmission.
Speaking in Geneva, Tedros said the biggest challenge still remains in identifying every chain of transmission.
He said, “Until every chain is found and broken, the epidemic will continue and will continue to pose a threat to DRC, its neighbours and the region as a whole,” he said.
Many people who have died were not known contacts of previously identified Ebola patients. This suggests that some chains of transmission are still going undetected, increasing the risk of further transmission.
The CDC has also warned that the response efforts needed to contain the outbreak remain below established targets. It said that 80% of new cases are occurring outside known contact networks.
Also read: Ebola Bundibugyo Virus: American Health Worker Had 10x Higher Viral Load In Throat Than Blood
The response is currently being affected by internal conflict, poor infrastructure, attacks on health facilities and healthcare workers, and difficulties in carrying out safe burials. More than 40 health workers have reportedly died from Ebola during the response.
The WHO and DRC government are also facing a major shortfall in funding. The Congolese response plan is seeking $1.3 billion in international funding.
WHO said it has shipped 320 tonnes of supplies and increased testing capacity to about 3,000 tests a day, but additional funding is needed. It said that the capacity of treatment centres also needs to be expanded.
UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher similarly warned that the response is being outpaced by the epidemic. “Unless we scale up urgently, more lives will be lost and the threat will grow,” Fletcher said.
Also read: Ebola Outbreak In DR Congo Records Its Highest Weekly Death Tolls Yet, With More Than 300 Deaths
The outbreak is also affecting the country's education system and children's safety. More than 1,000 schools in Ituri are classified as being in Ebola “red zones”, meaning areas with active transmission or high risk.
Authorities had initially planned to replace classroom teaching with worksheets and radio and television lessons in these areas. But schools have reopened this week after authorities argued that prolonged remote learning could affect the students' aptitude.
Officials said distance learning would be introduced if a case was detected in a school. Additionally, precautionary measures are being taken to keep the children safe.
The Ervebo vaccine, licensed against Zaire ebolavirus, not Bundibugyo, is being deployed among frontline workers. WHO says it is not yet known whether the vaccine provides clinically meaningful protection against Bundibugyo.
An initial 70,000 doses of Ervebo have been approved for release to the DRC. Of these, 20,000 are intended for a Phase 3 clinical trial examining its efficacy on Bundibugyo, while 50,000 are intended for frontline and healthcare workers.
Apart from that, more than 300 Ebola patients have been enrolled in trials of two treatments, while the antiviral drug obeldesivir is being studied among high-risk contacts to determine whether it can prevent illness after exposure.
Two new vaccines specifically targeting Bundibugyo virus are also being tested in safety trials in the UK and Canada. WHO hopes efficacy trials in the DRC could begin in October or November.
Credit: iStock
Leading US medical organizations and experts have issued recommendations on COVID-19, flu and RSV vaccines ahead of the 2026–27 winter season.
Developed with the University of Minnesota’s Vaccine Integrity Project and the American Medical Association (AMA), the recommendations were published in JAMA.
The guidance aims to help doctors and patients make vaccination decisions and reduce the risk of severe respiratory illness.
What Do The 2026 Recommendations Say?
Flu Vaccine
RSV Vaccine
COVID-19 Vaccine
CDC Has Not Issued New COVID, RSV Guidance
The recommendations come as the CDC has not issued new guidance for RSV or COVID-19 vaccination for the 2026–27 season.
The CDC updated its COVID-19 guidance last year, moving away from a broad recommendation and advising patients to consult a healthcare provider about vaccination.
For flu, the CDC updated its clinical guidance on Tuesday but said recommendations from the July 2025 immunisation schedule remain in effect for the 2026–27 season.
The updated flu guidance does not mention the first mRNA flu vaccine, which was approved by the FDA last month for older adults.
Respiratory Viruses Continue To Pose Risks
What Did The Vaccine Evidence Show?
Experts Call For Clear Vaccine Guidance
Bruce Gellin of the Vaccine Integrity Project said Americans should have access to the latest scientific evidence and recommendations from medical experts to make informed vaccination decisions.
“Whatever happens to the federal vaccine policy process, we cannot lower that scientific standard,” he said.
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