disease

Attorneys for Jackson County and other municipalities argued that a judge's ruling last November, which declared "null and void" any unilaterally-issued COVID health orders, is impacting their ability to curb the spread of contagious disease.

This is the first school year in which all ages will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, but so far uptake has been lower for younger age groups.

COVID-19 cases in Kansas City remain at their highest levels since February 2022. But revised guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lifts quarantine requirements and loosens protocols for schools.

The MS Achievement Center, located at the University of Kansas Medical Center, provides weekly therapies and socialization for those with the neurological disease.

COVID cases have increased in Kansas City by nearly 40% in the last two weeks, a surge attributed to the highly contagious variant BA.5.

The state and its partners at the University of Missouri are monitoring 112 sites to see if viral particles are increasing and if new COVID variants are emerging in the region's wastewater.

The BA.2 subvariant is about 30% more transmissible than the original omicron variant and is fueling a surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Europe. However, it does not appear to cause any more severe illness than other forms of the coronavirus.

COVID has killed almost 16,000 Missourians and 7,000 Kansans in total. Experts now warn that the more transmissible omicron variant could bring a new spike in cases and deaths.

Only 18 of Missouri’s 500-plus school districts have signed up for screening testing for COVID-19, even though the program is entirely free thanks to the federal government.

The Food and Drug Administration also gave an OK to boosters that differ from the vaccine originally used to immunize people against COVID-19. A mix-and-match approach could ease the booster rollout.

Doctors want as many people as possible to get the flu vaccine before this year's season begins. Unlike last year, they're predicting a bad flu season now that many people are taking fewer precautions against the coronavirus.

Before COVID-19, the 1918-19 flu was universally considered the worst pandemic disease in human history. Whether the current scourge ultimately proves deadlier is unclear.