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Lexington has outbreak of whooping cough
BY MELISSA PATRICK KENTUCKY HEALTH NEWS An outbreak of whooping cough has been declared in Fayette County after nine cases have been confirmed by the local health department since late April. Whooping cough, known medically as pertussis, is a highly contagious respiratory illness spread by coughing and sneezing. It affects people of all ages but…
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UK hosts national meeting to raise immunization rate for vaccine against cervical and other HPV cancers, in which Kentucky leads U.S.
BY MELISSA PATRICK KENTUCKY HEALTH NEWS Kentucky leads the nation in the rate of cases of and deaths from cervical cancer, a disease that is largely preventable by a vaccine. The vaccine targets the human papillomavirus, which can cause cancers of the cervix, genitals, anus, neck and head. Kentucky also leads the nation in cancers…
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FDA approves first-ever RSV vaccine for people 60 and older
BY MELISSA PATRICK KENTUCKY HEALTH NEWS People 60 and older now have access to the first approved vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus. The vaccine, developed by GlaxoSmithKline, is called Arexvy and was approved May 3 by the Food and Drug Administration. “Today’s approval of the first RSV vaccine is an important public-health achievement to prevent…