Bird flu pushes US dairy farmers to ban visitors, chop trees Dairy farmers in the United States are raising their defenses to try to contain the spread of bird flu: banning visitors, cutting down trees to discourage wild birds from landing, and disinfecting vehicles coming onto their land. Tom Polansek Reuters

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Here's what worries scientists about bird flu's spread among cattle Avian influenza is still spreading among dairy cattle. Scientists are paying close attention to how the virus is changing and what that means for its pandemic potential. NPR

The unlikely spread among cattle and one dairy worker has scientists looking through the data to better understand this spillover. They say the risk to humans hinges on whether the virus can evolve in key ways to better infect mammals.

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Surveys spotlight pregnant women's drop in confidence over COVID vaccines Spanish-speaking Hispanic women had the highest self-reported rate of any COVID-19 vaccination. CIDRAP

A new study details dramatically lower confidence in COVID-19 vaccine safety in pregnant and recently pregnant women in 2023 compared to 2021, despite evidence to the contrary, according to findings published yesterday in JAMA Network Open.

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Did political shaming shape who got the COVID vaccine? A new poll shows most consider vaccines safe, but fewer than half of Republicans think so. Yahoo News

While most people believe COVID-19 vaccines are safe and their side effects are now clear, a new HarrisX poll conducted for the Deseret News finds a big partisan difference in how people view COVID-19 vaccine safety and effectiveness.

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Those not vaccinated against COVID-19 more likely to be poorer, immigrants, study shows Physicians with the largest proportion of unvaccinated patients were more likely to be male. CIDRAP

A study today in CMAJ describes the characteristics of family practice physicians who see the largest share of patients unvaccinated against COVID-19, and reveals that the largest percentage practice in marginalized, lower-income neighborhoods. 

EPA to crack down on toxic emissions from more than 200 chemical plants The Biden administration will require more than 200 chemical plants to cut their emissions of toxic chemicals as part of a broader effort to reduce cancer cases. The Environmental Protection Agency… rfrazin The Hill

The Biden administration will require more than 200 chemical plants to cut their emissions of toxic chemicals as part of a broader effort to reduce cancer cases.

Pfizer’s RSV vaccine shows potential to protect high-risk adults ages 18-59, widening possible use

A vaccine from Pfizer showed the potential to protect adults ages 18 to 59 who are at increased risk of getting severely sick from respiratory syncytial virus in a late stage clinical trial, the company said Tuesday.

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€500B remains unspent from EU’s Covid recovery fund Capitals urge European Commission to slash red tape fearing that huge amounts of money won’t ever be used. POLITICO

BRUSSELS — Governments have received less than a third of the EU's original €723 billion pot to help boost post-Covid economic recovery and are now heaping pressure on the European Commission to speed up payments.

Climate-warming gases being smuggled into Europe, investigation says Large amounts of climate-warming refrigerant gases from China and Turkey are being smuggled illegally into Europe, undermining a global pact to phase them out, a report by the London-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) said on Monday. David Stanway Reuters

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FDA Authorizes COVID Drug Pemgarda for High-Risk Patients A Yale Medicine expert explains the significance of a new preventive medication to protect certain immunocompromised people against COVID-19. Yale Medicine

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted an emergency use authorization (EUA) to a medicine meant to protect certain immunocompromised people against COVID-19.