Respiratory illness season is over, but new risks are emerging in Central Texas. Here’s what to watch as summer approaches.

Public health officials are monitoring a new strain of COVID-19, now called cicada because of its long incubation period. The BA.3.2 variant was identified in South Africa in November 2024, according ...

"Cicada" is trending, but not because it's the season for the noisy insects to appear. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization are both monitoring a COVID-19 ...

A new COVID-19 variant is spreading across the United States — and health experts say it can evade the immunity built up from vaccines and previous infections. The variant, officially known as BA.3.2, ...

A new COVID-19 variant is now being monitored by the CDC, and East Texas health officials say cases are starting to rise. Leaders with the Northeast Texas Public Health District say the variant—part ...

Helen Branswell covers issues broadly related to infectious diseases, including outbreaks, preparedness, research, and vaccine development. Follow her on Mastodon and Bluesky. You can reach Helen on ...

An emerging COVID-19 variant nicknamed "Cicada" is drawing attention from health officials across the country, as it's been detected in about 25 states, including Texas, through wastewater ...

Hantaviruses do not spread easily, which makes health officials confident the recent outbreak on a cruise ship that has ...