As whooping cough cases are surging globally, some may wonder if it’s necessary to get a booster.

Cases of the childhood respiratory disease also known as pertussis are surging internationally and in parts of the U.S., according to a recent report.

Bordetella pertussis is a type of bacteria that causes a very contagious respiratory infection that spreads from person to person through small respiratory droplets, per the CDC.

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“Reports indicate that whooping cough outbreaks are surging across Europe, Asia and parts of the United States, including Northern California, marking the largest uptick since 2012, with cases rising sharply since December,” Maggie Rae, president of the Royal Society of Medicine’s epidemiological and public health section in London, told Fox News Digital.

Prevalence of cases

In the U.K., there were an estimated 555 cases in January of this year and 913 cases in February — compared to 858 cases for all of 2023, according to the UK Health Security Agency.

Cases in China totaled more than 15,000 this January. That’s 15 times higher than the same time period last year, reports stated.

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“Concerns are mounting in Europe, especially in the Netherlands, where 1,800 cases were reported in the first two weeks of April, leading to four deaths, with declining childhood vaccination rates cited as a possible cause by public health officials,” Rae said.

“This is a very important public health issue, and I would urge those members of the public who require a vaccine for pertussis to take this up.”

Whooping cough is mostly controlled in the United States, although “breakthrough cases” can occur in people who are fully vaccinated. 

Cases of the childhood respiratory disease known as whooping cough or pertussis are surging internationally and in parts of the U.S., according to a recent report. (iStock)

Clusters of cases in certain parts of the U.S. are expected for this time of year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

There have been small “clusters” of cases of whooping cough in the U.S., extending from San Francisco to New York City.

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A Catholic high school in San Francisco, California, has reported more than 12 cases since January, according to local reports.

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene estimated 244 cases from Oct. 1, 2023, to Jan. 31, 2024. 

That’s a 200% increase compared to the same time period in the prior year, a recent health advisory stated.

“This is a very important public health issue.”

Most unvaccinated cases involved infants, while most vaccinated individuals were school-aged children. 

A majority of adults had an unknown vaccination history, the advisory noted.

The U.S. typically has approximately 20,000 cases of pertussis per year. Yet as people donned masks and practiced physical distancing during the pandemic, annual cases dropped to 6,124 in 2020 and 2,116 in 2021, according to the CDC.

Symptoms and risk factors

Clusters of cases often occur where there are large groups of young people, such as child care centers and schools.

“The symptoms of pertussis are initially like a cold, with a runny nose, and progress to a cough,” Jennifer Duchon, M.D., hospital epidemiologist and director of antimicrobial stewardship at Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital in New York, told Fox News Digital.

Patients tend to develop a cough that can become severe — sometimes to the point of vomiting, Duchon said.

Health care providers typically test for the disease with a nasal swab. (iStock)

“The characteristic ‘whooping’ sound is a gasp that is made when trying to breathe after a long episode of coughing,” she added.

The cough can linger for weeks after a person catches pertussis.

When outbreaks occur, babies are at a high risk of getting sick and dying from the infection, health officials warn.

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“Pertussis is most severe in infants 6 months of age or less, especially in infants who were born preterm or are not immunized,” Duchon said.

“Young infants can have a severe cough that impairs their ability to breathe, and can lead to episodes where they vomit, struggle to breathe or even cease breathing after bouts of coughing.”

Patients tend to develop a cough that can become severe — sometimes to the point of vomiting, a doctor said. “The characteristic ‘whooping’ sound is a gasp that is made when trying to breathe after a long episode of coughing.” (iStock)

Babies often won’t make that whooping sound, so a warning sign is when their face turns blue as they struggle to breathe, the CDC noted.

The infection can progress to bacterial pneumonia or a condition called pulmonary hypertension, in which heart function is affected by the disease, Duchon warned.

Treatment and prevention

Health care providers typically test for the disease with a nasal swab.

“If pertussis is caught early, patients can take an antibiotic called azithromycin, but this only helps make the disease less severe and does not cure the disease,” Duchon noted.

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“If someone is exposed to pertussis and is at risk for severe disease or had a lot of contact with the ill person, doctors will sometimes recommend a short course of an antibiotic to act as a ‘prophylaxis’ against the disease.”

Currently, there are two kinds of vaccines for whooping cough available in the U.S., according to the CDC.

“The best way to prevent the disease is to make sure that all family members and health care workers are up-to-date on their vaccinations — not only for pertussis, but also other vaccine-preventable diseases,” Duchon told Fox News Digital.

“Children should get their primary series of vaccines at 2 months, 4 months and 6 months, and then at 15 months through 18 months, and at 4 years through 6 years,” a doctor advised. (iStock)

The DTaP vaccine protects against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis.

The Tdap vaccine protects against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis.

The DTaP vaccine is for babies, while the Tdap “booster” vaccine is for pre-teens, teenagers and adults, per the CDC.

“Before vaccination became available, the disease used to be a major cause of mortality in young children,” Duchon noted.

Specific vaccine recommendations

Due to the high risk to babies, the CDC recommends that pregnant women receive the Tdap vaccine during the 27th and 36th week of pregnancy, regardless of their prior vaccination status.

This prevents 78% of cases in infants younger than 2 months old and decreases hospitalization by 90% for infants younger than 2 months old who are infected with pertussis, according to the CDC.

“Everyone in close contact with a very young infant should be vaccinated against pertussis.”

It is recommended that babies get immunized with the DTaP vaccine series, which provides immunity for three separate infectious diseases — diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis.

“Children should get their primary series of vaccines at 2 months, 4 months and 6 months, and then at 15 months through 18 months, and at 4 years through 6 years,” Duchon advised.

The Tdap vaccine protects against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis. (iStock)

Adolescents should receive the Tdap vaccine at 11 to 12 years old to boost their immunity, the CDC recommends.

In children who receive the full series, 98% have full protection against the infection within a year after the last dose, but the response decreases to 71% after five years, the agency states.

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As pertussis immunity wanes from the original vaccination series in childhood, adults should get regular boosters, Monica Gandhi, M.D., professor of medicine and an infectious disease specialist at UCSF/ San Francisco General Hospital, told Fox News Digital.

“Although the exact frequency of the need for booster vaccination has not been precisely worked out, we recommend a tetanus vaccine every 10 years,” she said.

The DTaP vaccine protects against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. (iStock)

As the pertussis vaccine comes formulated with tetanus immunization in the form of the Tdap vaccine, many practitioners recommend a pertussis vaccine every 10 years when the booster for tetanus is provided, according to Gandhi.

Other providers may only recommend routine pertussis boosters in certain circumstances, such as for pregnant women or adults who have never been vaccinated, Duchon added.

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“Everyone in close contact with a very young infant should be vaccinated against pertussis,” she said. 

“We call this strategy ‘cocooning,’ where those around the baby form a protective wall against the disease.”

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Toddler milk products have grown into a multibillion-dollar global business, despite warnings from health authorities that the benefits of this milk formula are unproven.

The products are marketed with claims of improving brain development or immune function, but the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) warned in an Oct. 2023 report that toddler formula is “unnecessary and potentially harmful to young children.”

“For healthy toddlers without a specific medical diagnosis, there is no evidence of a need [for] or benefit from toddler milk,” Dr. Jenelle Ferry, a neonatologist and director of feeding, nutrition and infant development at Pediatrix Medical Group in Tampa, Florida, told Fox News Digital in an interview.

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In spite of these warnings, toddler milk has grown into a $20 billion worldwide business, according to a recent report.  

“It is disappointing that regulations have not been strengthened, given package claims and marketing messages that imply toddler milks are beneficial, or even necessary, for a toddler’s healthy growth,” Fran Fleming-Milici, PhD, director of marketing initiatives at the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health at the University of Connecticut, told Fox News Digital.

Infant formula vs. toddler milk

Most infants in the U.S. receive some or all of their nutrition from formula, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Standard infant formula can be supplemented with appropriate solid foods at around 4 to 6 months of age, ensuring intake of essential nutrients like iron, calcium and zinc, the AAP said in a previous statement.

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Infant formula is regulated under The Infant Formula Act, which requires that the products meet nutritional requirements as the only source for babies through the first 12 months of age, the statement added.

If a toddler beverage is intended for infants younger than 12 months, the product must comply with the FDA’s infant formula regulations in addition to all other applicable food regulations, an FDA spokesperson told Fox News Digital. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) warned in an Oct. 2023 report that toddler formula is “unnecessary and potentially harmful to young children.” Advocates for the formula, however, feel differently.  (iStock)

There are two different types of toddler milk on the market: transition formulas for infants and toddlers 9 months to 24 months old, and toddler milk for children 12 months to 36 months age, according to a previous research report from the NYU College of Global Public Health. 

Unlike infant formulas, toddler milks are not nutritionally complete, experts said.

“A healthy diet for toddlers would limit excess processed foods, salt and sugar.”

Approximately 80% of toddler milks have higher sugar content than whole milk and 100% have less protein, the AAP stated.

After toddlers are weaned off breast milk or infant formula, Ferry recommends that they drink milk and water, with the majority of their nutrients coming from solid foods.

“A healthy diet for toddlers would limit excess processed foods, salt and sugar,” she said.

Regulation of toddler milk

“Toddler beverage products intended for children 1 year and older are regulated as conventional foods and must comply with the FDA’s labeling regulations,” an FDA spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

“This includes providing the Nutrition Facts label, specifically for children 1 to 3 years of age.”

When it comes to marketing toddler milks, manufacturers must adhere to certain rules.

Most infants in the U.S. receive some or all of their nutrition from formula, according to the FDA. (iStock)

“Manufacturers cannot make claims regarding disease conditions, but can use language relating to symptoms, even if they are not supported by evidence,” he told Fox News Digital in an email.

They can claim their product is lactose-free, for example — but cannot claim that it is helpful for lactase deficiency, he said.

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“Nutrient content claims or health claims are not allowed on food products intended specifically for use by infants and children under 2 years of age unless specifically provided for by regulation,” added the FDA spokesperson.

“In general, the product labeling must be truthful and not misleading.”

Cross-promotion in marketing and packaging

Some experts warn that infant formula and toddler milk are often marketed and packaged in a way that may lead parents to believe they are the same in terms of nutritional content.

“The cross-promotion of toddler milks with infant formula … allows for the trust caregivers have for formula brands to be transferred to a product that is not regulated, contains added sugar, and is not recommended by the AAP,” warned Fleming-Milici.

Standard infant formula can be supplemented with appropriate solid foods at around 4 to 6 months of age, ensuring intake of essential nutrients like iron, calcium and zinc, the AAP said. (iStock)

“Research shows that these messages lead caregivers to believe toddler milks are superior to their family meals and plain cow’s milk – which is much less expensive and is what experts recommend.”

A WHO report noted that “formula milk marketing, not the product itself, disrupts informed decision-making and undermines breastfeeding and child health.” 

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Showing parents educational videos to correct misleading marketing can help to reduce sugary drink consumption in the first few years of a child’s life, Fleming-Milici’s research found.

“Exposure to the videos significantly reduced positive attitudes toward toddler milks and fruit drinks, and reduced intentions to serve both,” she told Fox News Digital.

Potential nutritional benefits

Advocates, however, argue that toddler formula is helpful to many young children who don’t get the proper nutrients in their diet.

“In general, the product labeling must be truthful and not misleading.”

“Research demonstrates that nutrient intake for young children often falls below adequate levels for iron, vitamins D and E, calcium, choline, potassium and fiber,” a spokesperson from the Infant Nutrition Council of America (INCA) told Fox News Digital.

INCA is a Washington, D.C.-based association of manufacturers of infant formulas and toddler milks, representing brands including Abbott Nutrition, Gerber Products Company, Perrigo Nutritionals and Reckitt Benckiser.

Advocates argue that toddler formula is helpful to many young children who don’t get the proper nutrients in their diet. (iStock)

“For kids 12 months to 36 months who need nutritional support, toddler nutritional drinks have been shown to contribute to nutritional intake and potentially fill nutrition gaps, as recognized globally in the international Codex Alimentarius standard,” the INCA spokesperson added.

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When children need extra nutrition because of a medical condition — such as failure to thrive or an intestinal or metabolic disorder — they should receive specialty liquid nutrition rather than products marketed as toddler milk, Ferry noted.

A spokesperson from Nestlé, which makes a variety of powdered milk products for toddlers, said in response to an earlier Fox News Digital query that the company “seeks to provide a range of foods and beverages to support consumers at all stages of life.”

“National health studies indicate that U.S. toddlers have nutritional gaps in their diet often related to picky eating,”  (iStock)

The spokesperson added, “Nestlé has consistent standards that apply to our responsible marketing for products intended for babies and young children. Those standards and practices fully comply with the WHO [World Health Organization] code and follow either local law or our own policy — whichever is stricter.”

A spokesperson from Similac also submitted a statement to Fox News Digital in response to an earlier query as well. 

“National health studies indicate that U.S. toddlers have nutritional gaps in their diet often related to picky eating,” the spokesperson said. “When they don’t do well transitioning to table foods, or won’t drink milk, our toddler drinks contain many of the complementary nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, that they may be missing in their diet.”

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The spokesperson also said, “Toddler drinks may be an option to help fill nutrient gaps for these children 12 to 36 months of age. Abbott does not recommend or indicate its toddler drinks for infants under 12 months of age.”

Fox News Digital also reached out to other companies that make powdered milk products for toddlers.

Parents of young children should always check with their pediatricians for the best and latest nutrition advice.

Melissa Rudy of Fox News Digital contributed reporting.  

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health. 

Fox News Digital publishes an array of health pieces all week long to keep you in the know on a range of wellness topics: health care access, innovative surgeries, cancer research, mental health trends and much more — plus, personal stories of people and families overcoming great obstacles.

Check out some top recent stories in Health as your weekend continues — and prep for the week ahead.

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These are just a few of what’s new, of course. 

There are many more to see at http://www.foxnews/health. 

Utah mom fights for her daughter’s access to ‘life-saving’ medication

For Ruby Smart, 15, Levemir is the insulin medication that works best to control her type 1 diabetes — but the manufacturer is discontinuing it. 

Alison Smart is on a mission to protect her daughter’s access to the drug. Click here to get the story.

CDC warns of extreme heat dangers

Is extreme heat a public health threat? 

Fox News Digital reports the findings in the latest Mortality & Morbidity Report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including a spike in emergency room visits due to heat-related illness. Doctors chime in on the potential risk. Click here to get the story.

Many regions across the United States experienced “record-breaking high temperatures” in 2023 due to extreme heat, according to the CDC. (iStock)

Surprising reason for sleep struggles

If you’re having trouble falling or staying asleep, you might be overlooking one important lifestyle factor. 

Two sleep specialists reveal essential ingredients for high-quality sleep. Click here to get the story.

What you eat can have an impact on how well you sleep at night, experts say. (iStock)

The girl who can’t smile

Tayla Clement, 26, was born with a rare disorder that has made it impossible for her to smile — but she says she is grateful for it. 

The New Zealand woman discusses with Fox News Digital how she overcame trauma and learned to celebrate her differences. Click here to get the story.

Tayla Clement, born and raised in New Zealand, has Moebius syndrome, a neurological disease that affects one child out of every 50,000 to 500,000. (Tayla Clement)

‘Forever chemicals’ found in water across US

A new study found that higher amounts of PFAS (perfluoroalkyl substances) were found in drinking water in certain parts of the U.S. 

Public health experts weigh in on the risks of the toxic chemicals. Click here to get the story.

PFAS “hot spots” were concentrated in the Midwest, New England and the West Coast, the researchers found. (iStock)

Pick-me-ups to beat the midday slump

Is the “post-lunch coma” slowing down your productivity? 

A nutritional biologist shares six proven energy-boosters to to prevent post-meal fatigue. Click here to get the story.

This week’s health recap includes stories about heat hazards, a mother’s fight for her daughter’s diabetes medication, and a little-known disruption of healthy sleep. (iStock / Alison Smart)

Drinking pure orange juice is linked to surprising benefits

A new study found that people who drank 100% orange juice consumed fewer calories than those who drank a sugar-sweetened orange beverage. 

Nutritionists reacted to the findings. Click here to get the story.

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Americans need more sleep and less stress

Many U.S. adults are getting too little sleep and have too much stress, according to a new Gallup poll. 

Dr. Marc Siegel of New York and a sleep expert and behavioral scientist discuss the connection between disordered sleep and dangerous stress levels. Click here to get the story.

The poll showed that 63% of Americans who reported wanting more sleep also “frequently experience stress.” (iStock)

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Two new studies have described the ways in which tiny microplastics can end up in humans’ organs and even in the brains of mice.

One of the studies, published in Environmental Health Perspectives April 10, involved feeding healthy mice microplastics over a period of four to eight weeks. Scientists later found that various organs in the mice were contaminated.

“In mice that ingested microspheres, we detected polystyrene microspheres in distant tissues, including the brain, liver, and kidney,” the study’s results section states.

“Additionally, we report on the metabolic differences that occurred in the colon, liver, and brain, which showed differential responses that were dependent on concentration and type of microsphere exposure.”

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Another study published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials April 5 experimented on both humans and mice. Researchers found that patients under 50 years old had significantly higher toxic substances in their gallstones, which are hardened pieces of excess bile in the gallbladder. After being fed microplastics, the gallstones of the mice in the study formed at a faster rate. 

“Our study revealed the presence of microplastics in human gallstones, showcasing their potential to aggravate chololithiasis by forming large cholesterol-microplastic heteroaggregates and altering the gut microbiota,” the paper stated.

The impacts of microplastics on humans is being investigated and has caused widespread concern, especially because most Americans have been exposed to them their entire lives. Dr. Janette Nesheiwat told Fox News Digital microplastics “are everywhere.”

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Many medical professionals are concerned about the impact microplastic ingestion has on humans. (iStock)

“We are consuming them unknowingly at unprecedented levels, ingesting them and inhaling them,” she explained. “Microplastics, especially at high levels, cause inflammation in the body.

“Any foreign body such as a microplastic can cause irritation and inflammation in the body, which can accumulate, disrupt normal cell function and lead to an increase in organ injury.”

Nesheiwat said microplastics have distinctly harmful effects depending on which organ they find their way to. To lower one’s microplastic intake, she recommends choosing glass over plastic products and choosing foods with lower microplastic contamination.

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A biologist looks at microplastics found in sea species at the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research near Athens Nov. 26, 2019. (Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP via Getty Images)

“Microplastics can affect the liver by causing stress and inflammation and impairing liver function,” she said. “In the brain, it causes neuroinflammation and disrupts brain signaling.”

Fox News medical contributor Dr. Marc Siegel, however, told Fox News Digital the effects of microplastics on humans are still unknown.

“Though we need to track this, there is still no direct evidence that microplastics in cells lead to untoward health outcomes,” he explained. “This may be proven wrong as more accumulate, and I am certainly concerned about cancer risks from chemical spills or in contaminated water or areas where waste was poorly stored in the environment.

Mice were tested in recent scientific studies about the impact of microplastics on health. (iStock)

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“At the same time, the greatest health risks still come from sedentary behavior, obesity, untreated high blood pressure, poor sleep and little exercise,” he added.

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Many Americans are getting too little sleep and have too much stress.

A new Gallup poll revealed 57% of adults would “feel better if they got more sleep,” while 42% said they get “as much sleep as they need.”

These findings have nearly reversed in the last decade, Gallup noted in a press release. The last measurement in 2013 found that 56% of Americans got the sleep they needed while 43% did not.

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Overall, however, Americans are getting fewer hours of sleep than they did in past decades.

In 1942, 59% of Americans were getting eight hours or more of sleep per night, while only 3% were getting five hours or less.

In 2024, only 25% of Americans get an average of eight hours of sleep, and 20% reported sleeping for five or less.

Young women are the least likely to get enough sleep, according to the study — with 36% of females versus 48% of males reporting getting enough shuteye.

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Sleep amounts for both men and women showed “significant declines from previous readings in 2013 and 2004,” according to Gallup — and are the lowest measured for each group to date.

The decline was found across all age groups, although young adults between ages 18 and 29 saw the smallest difference.

Stress-sleep connection

Gallup suggested that an uptick in stress could be driving this downward trend in sleep, as the American Psychological Association reports a “strong connection between stress and sleep quality.”

The poll showed that 63% of Americans who reported wanting more sleep also “frequently experience stress.”

Women are most likely to frequently experience stress, the Gallup poll found. (iStock)

“Over the past 30 years, the number of Americans who are stressed has been on a steady incline after a sharp drop in 2003,” Gallup reported.

“The most recent data show that nearly half of all Americans, 49%, report frequently experiencing stress — up 16 points over the past two decades and the highest in Gallup’s trend to date.”

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Young women are also most likely to frequently experience stress, “exceeding men their age by 14 points,” according to Gallup.

Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, confirmed this relationship between sleep and stress, calling it the “cycle of worry” during a Thursday appearance on “America’s Newsroom.”

Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, discussed the relationship between sleep and stress during a Thursday appearance on “America’s Newsroom.” He noted that exposure to the blue light of smartphone screens can keep people awake, among other issues. (Fox News)

“They’re connected,” he said. 

“If you get more stressed, you don’t sleep; if you don’t sleep, you get more stressed.”

Siegel explained that “all of this spirals out of control,” since sleeplessness is often remedied with caffeine — yet caffeine “interferes with your sleep cycle.”

“If you get more stressed, you don’t sleep; if you don’t sleep, you get more stressed.”

The same goes for drinking alcohol before bed to induce sleep, which “wears off and you wake up in the middle of the night,” the doctor warned. 

Exposure to the blue light of smartphone screens can keep people awake, Siegel said.

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“All of this is very bad for health,” he said. “It leads to heart disease, it increases your risk of stroke, it causes you to gain weight.”

For young women in particular, several factors could be causing them to lose sleep, including the use of social media, which can “feed anxiety,” Siegel said.

A potential fix to ending the sleep-stress cycle is practicing “sleep hygiene,” said one doctor, which includes sleeping in a dark room away from your cellphone. (iStock)

A potential fix for the sleep-stress cycle is practicing “sleep hygiene,” Siegel suggested, which includes sleeping in a dark room away from your cell phone.

“I treat stress and sleeplessness as the same thing,” he said. “That’s why I don’t believe in sleeping pills … You’re just covering up the problem.”

He added, “I want to get at why you’re worried and what I can do about the worry.”

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Dr. Wendy Troxel, a Utah-based sleep expert and senior behavioral scientist at the RAND Corporation, told Fox News Digital in an interview that stress levels have remained “very high” since the COVID pandemic.

“[For] populations navigating multiple demands, including young people who are going to school or starting new jobs in this topsy-turvy world, it’s understandable that they are experiencing increases in stress, and that’s manifesting increases in sleep disturbances,” she said.

Dr. Wendy Troxel, senior behavioral scientist at RAND Corporation, is also the author of “Sharing the Covers: Every Couple’s Guide to Better Sleep” and scientific advisor for sleepfoundation.org. “As a culture,” she said, “we’ve become more aware of the importance of sleep over the past 10 years, which is a great thing.” (Diane Baldwin)

In some instances, Troxel pointed out, lack of sleep has been worn as a “badge of honor” to prove that people are busy or productive.

“But I think that that cultural misconception is starting to wane,” she said.

“The reality is, as a culture, we’ve just become more aware of the importance of sleep over the past 10 years, which is a great thing.”

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To break the “vicious cycle” of stress impacting sleep and vice versa, Troxel offered several tips, including maintaining a consistent sleep and wake schedule to ensure that stress doesn’t “invade your life.”

Incorporating a wind-down routine prior to bed can also bring down stress levels, the sleep expert noted.

These routines can involve relaxing activities such as deep breathing exercises, cuddling with a partner, journaling, doing gentle yoga or listening to music.

Wind-down activities before bed can include deep breathing exercises, cuddling with a partner, journaling, doing gentle yoga or listening to music. (iStock)

“It’s just about finding something that you can ritualize and do on a nightly basis to set the stage … to put aside all the demands and stress of the day and prepare for winding down and [going] to sleep,” Troxel said.

For people who wake up in the middle of the night due to stress, she advised getting out of bed, performing a wind-down activity and then returning to bed.

This technique, called stimulus control, prevents the brain from forming the habit of waking up at a certain time to ruminate on stressful thoughts.

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“We all have occasional stress-related sleep disturbances, but if that starts happening night after night, it becomes habit-forming,” she said. 

“And that’s where we see more chronic problems like insomnia. So, if you see that happening, treat it as a habit that your brain is learning — and break it.”

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• The World Health Organization has approved a new version of a widely used cholera vaccine that aims to address a surge in cases.
• The new vaccine uses fewer ingredients and can be made more quickly and cheaply.
• It remains effective at preventing the disease, according to recent research conducted in Nepal.

The World Health Organization has approved a version of a widely used cholera vaccine that could help address a surge in cases that has depleted the global vaccine stockpile and left poorer countries scrambling to contain epidemics.

WHO authorized the vaccine, made by EuBiologics, which also makes the formulation now used, last week. The new version, called Euvichol-S, is a simplified formula that uses fewer ingredients, is cheaper, and can be made more quickly than the old version.

The vaccine was shown to be help preventing the diarrheal disease in late stage research conducted in Nepal.

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WHO’s approval means donor agencies like the vaccines alliance Gavi and UNICEF can now buy it for poorer countries. Leila Pakkala, director of UNICEF’s supply division, said in a statement that the agency will be able to boost supplies by more than 25%.

Gavi estimated there could be about 50 million doses for the global stockpile this year, compared with 38 million last year.

Dr. Derrick Sim of Gavi called WHO’s authorization “a lifeline for vulnerable communities around the world.”

More is still needed, however: Since January, 14 countries affected by cholera outbreaks have requested 79 million doses. In January, the U.N. agency said the global vaccine stockpile was “entirely depleted” until the beginning of March. As of this week, WHO said there were 2.3 million doses available.

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Cholera is an acute diarrhea disease caused by a bacteria typically spread via contaminated food or water. It is mostly seen in areas that have poor sanitation and lack access to clean water. While most people infected with cholera don’t experience symptoms, those with severe cases need quick treatment with intravenous fluids and antibiotics. If left untreated, cholera kills about a quarter to half of people infected.

Since last January, WHO has reported more than 824,000 cholera infections, including 5,900 deaths worldwide, with the highest numbers of cases reported in the Middle East and Africa. The U.N. agency said warming temperatures that allow the cholera bacteria to live longer, have also worsened outbreaks and led to the highest death rates in a decade.

Many regions across the United States experienced “record-breaking high temperatures” in 2023 due to extreme heat, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Emergency room visits due to heat-related illness peaked in several regions in the U.S. and remained elevated for a prolonged duration compared to visits between 2018 and 2022, the agency’s recent Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report noted.

More males went to the emergency room for heat-related illnesses than females – especially those between 18 and 64 years old.

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Americans are experiencing “longer, hotter and more frequent episodes of extreme heat,” the report states.

Is extreme heat a public threat?

“Extreme heat could be considered an invisible killer in so much as many people become exposed and vulnerable to its dangers quickly and often without warning,” Patrick McHugh, M.D., an emergency medicine physician at Cleveland Clinic Akron General in Akron, Ohio, told Fox News Digital.

Although McHugh said Americans “shouldn’t worry,” he emphasized the need to “be aware and prepared for the dangers of heat waves.”

An EPA spokesperson told Fox News Digital, “As average temperatures rise due to climate change, the risk of extreme temperatures, heat waves and record-breaking temperatures increases.”

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Here’s what to know about extreme heat and how to stay safe.

What is extreme heat?

“Extreme heat can be defined depending on a variety of factors, including location, weather conditions (such as cloud cover, humidity and temperature), and the time of year,” said an EPA spokesperson in an email.

It typically occurs when the weather is much hotter and/or more humid than average in a particular area, the agency added.

Emergency room visits due to heat-related illness peaked in several regions in the U.S. and remained elevated for a prolonged duration compared to visits between 2018 and 2022. (iStock)

While summertime temperatures of 100 degrees Fahrenheit might be normal for Phoenix, Arizona, for example — the same temperatures are considered extreme for Boston, Massachusetts.

“Where in the U.S. people are most susceptible to heat depends on what is normal for a given location and the type of infrastructure (such as access to air conditioning),” the EPA spokesperson noted.

“Extreme heat is becoming more common in places that have not historically experienced extreme heat … and don’t have the infrastructure to keep people cool, which has major consequences for health and safety.”

“Extreme heat could be considered an invisible killer … as many people become exposed and vulnerable to its dangers quickly and often without warning.”

A heat wave is typically defined as a “prolonged period of abnormally hot weather, usually lasting more than two days in a row,” the EPA spokesperson said.

Heat waves can occur with or without humidity.

The average global temperature has risen by more than 2 degrees Fahrenheit since the mid-1800s, according to McHugh.

Elderly adults, infants, individuals taking certain medications and people with disabilities are at greater risk of heat-related illnesses. (iStock)

“This results in greater extreme heat temperatures, increased variability in temperatures and an increase in the risk of heat illness,” he told Fox News Digital.

The EPA’s Heat Waves indicator, which monitors trends in heat waves for 50 cities across the U.S. over the past 60 years, shows that heat waves are occurring more often over a longer period of time — both in average number of days and season length — and are also becoming hotter over time.

Risk factors for extreme heat effects

Elderly adults, infants, individuals taking certain medications and people with disabilities are at greater risk of heat-related illnesses, according to McHugh, who has a specialty in wilderness medicine.

These individuals may not have adequate resources to escape the heat and protect themselves, he warned.

“Extreme heat is becoming more common in places that have not historically experienced extreme heat … and don’t have the infrastructure to keep people cool, which has major consequences for health and safety,” an EPA spokesperson said. (iStock)

“Many schools in northern parts of the U.S. do not have air conditioning, so when heat waves happen in May/June or [in] September, students and teachers can be at risk,” the EPA spokesperson noted.

Certain factors can also increase someone’s risk of developing a heat-related illness, including fever, dehydration, prescription drug use, alcohol use or sunburn, according to the CDC.

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Healthy people can be at risk if they engage in strenuous physical activity when it’s very hot outside — which means it’s important to balance activities with actions that cool the body to prevent heat-related illness, the EPA advised.

Certain settings — such as inside cars, construction worksites and homes with little to no air conditioning — can also put people at greater risk, according to the CDC.

Heat island effect

Some urban areas experience higher temperatures compared to outlying areas.

“Structures such as buildings, roads and other infrastructure absorb and re-emit the sun’s heat more than natural landscapes like forests and water bodies,” the EPA spokesperson said.

These highly concentrated areas, which have limited greenery, become “islands” of higher temperatures relative to outlying areas.

It’s important to balance activities with actions that cool the body to prevent heat-related illness, the EPA advised. (iStock)

“Daytime temperatures in urban areas are about 1 to 7 [degrees Fahrenheit] higher than temperatures in outlying areas, and nighttime temperatures are about 2-5 [degrees Fahrenheit] higher,” the agency noted.

People living and working in these areas are at higher risk of heat-related illness and death.

“Prolonged exposure to high temperatures is associated with increased hospital admissions for cardiovascular, kidney and respiratory disorders.”

As people lose control of their internal temperature amid extreme heat, they may experience a range of illnesses, including heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat stroke and hyperthermia, according to the EPA.

“Prolonged exposure to high temperatures is associated with increased hospital admissions for cardiovascular, kidney and respiratory disorders,” the spokesperson said.

A particular setting can also place people at high risk, including inside cars, construction worksites and homes with little to no air conditioning, according to the CDC. (iStock)

Some 1,220 people die of heat-related illness every year in the United States due to extreme heat, per CDC estimates.

“Heat islands also increase energy demand for cooling, which can increase greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution and can be a financial burden for many people — particularly low- or fixed-income households,” the EPA spokesperson said.

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Everyone should have a plan in case of extreme heat, McHugh advised. “Either an air-conditioned home or building where shelter from the heat is easily available should be used.”

Extreme cold is dangerous, too 

Those who counter climate change claims warn of extreme temperatures at both ends of the spectrum.

Most studies have shown that extreme cold causes about 10 times more excess deaths than extreme heat, according to William Happer, PhD, professor emeritus of physics at Princeton University in New Jersey and a prominent critic of climate extremism.

Most studies have shown that extreme cold causes about 10 times more excess deaths than extreme heat, according to a physics professor. (iStock)

A 2015 international study that analyzed deaths between 1985 and 2012 in 13 countries, including the U.S., found that most of the deaths due to adverse temperatures were attributable to cold weather.

The study, which was published in The Lancet, also revealed that most deaths were caused not by extreme temperatures, but by exposure to moderately hot and cold temperatures. 

A more recent study published in The Lancet Planetary Health in 2021 found that for every death associated with heat, nine were connected to cold.

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“No one knows how much of the modest recent warming, around 1 [degree Celsius] over the past century, has been due to greenhouse gases and how much is natural,” Happer told Fox News Digital.

He estimates that less than half of the warming is from increasing greenhouse gases.  

“Whatever the cause, observations clearly show that there has been very little change in daily high temperatures,” Happer noted.

A more recent study published in The Lancet Planetary Health in 2021 found that for every death associated with heat, nine were connected to cold. (Credit: Fox News)

“The warming is almost all due to warmer minimum temperatures at night and in the winter.”

Compared to lives lost due to the extreme heat, the warming should have saved more lives that would have been lost because of the extreme cold, he said.

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For local heat and health information, the EPA spokesperson recommended using the CDC’s Heat and Health Tracker. 

Americans can also visit their local National Weather Service (NWS) Forecast Offices for real-time heat-related warnings.

Fox Weather can also be consulted on a regular basis for up-to-date weather information and news. 

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.

A Utah mother is fighting for her teenage daughter’s access to diabetes medicine.

Ruby Smart, 15, has been taking Levemir (detemir) insulin since she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes more than two years ago.

“Levemir is uniquely suited to her situation,” Alison Smart, the girl’s mother, told Fox News Digital in an interview.

The family was stunned when Novo Nordisk, the Denmark-based manufacturer of Levemir, announced in November 2023 that the drug was being discontinued.

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Smart has now made it her mission to convince Novo Nordisk to continue making Levemir — or to find a pharmaceutical company to create a biosimilar (generic) alternative.

Levemir is a long-acting basal insulin that’s injected once or twice a day to control high blood sugar in adults and children with diabetes, according to Novo Nordisk’s website.

For Smart’s daughter, an active athlete who plays on the tennis team at Woods Cross High School, Levemir has enabled her to continue with her regular activities while controlling her diabetes.

While there are a couple of other types of basal insulin on the market, Smart said Levemir is best suited to her daughter’s needs.

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“Levemir is unique in that it is a relatively shorter-acting basal insulin, making it ideal for those with fluctuating basal insulin needs, including teenagers, menstruating women, pregnant women and athletes,” she said.

“The two remaining insulins also have side effects we don’t worry about when using Levemir.”

“She’s super active and plays tennis almost every day,” Smart said of her daughter, pictured here. “The pump was fine for daily activity, but for tennis tournament days, it didn’t work.” (Alison Smart)

They did try an insulin pump for a few weeks, which is a wearable device that provides a steady flow of insulin to the body. But Smart said it was not compatible with her daughter’s high activity levels.

“She’s super active, and plays tennis almost every day,” Smart said. “The pump was fine for daily activity, but for tennis tournament days, it didn’t work.”

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Smart is advocating for people to be able to choose. 

“The bottom line is that Levemir works for us,” she said. “Our lives are much easier and less complex on a regimen of multiple daily injections using Levemir insulin.”

Reasons for discontinuation

Novo Nordisk provided three main reasons for why it’s discontinuing Levenir.

“After careful consideration, we made this decision because of global manufacturing issues, decreasing patient coverage, and because we are confident that patients in the U.S. will be able to find alternative treatments,” the company said in a press release.

Novo Nordisk announced in Nov. 2023 that Levemir would be discontinued. “During this time, we strongly encourage that health care professionals and patients discuss transitioning to alternative treatment options prior to the discontinuation date,” the company said in a statement. (LISELOTTE SABROE/Scanpix Denmark/AFP)

When contacted by Fox News Digital, Novo Nordisk provided the following recommendation to doctors and patients.

“During this time, we strongly encourage that health care professionals and patients discuss transitioning to alternative treatment options prior to the discontinuation date. Novo Nordisk, along with other companies, provides a number of alternative treatment options for people living with diabetes who require basal insulin.”

The company suggested that patients switch to other basal insulin options, including but not limited to Basaglar, Insulin Degludec, Insulin Glargine U-300, Lantus, Rezvoglar, Semglee, Toujeo and Tresiba.

“The other options for basal insulin are not equal and are not sufficient — they have different side effects and different qualities.”

Many parents, however, say these alternatives are not the same.

“The other options for basal insulin are not equal and are not sufficient — they have different side effects and different qualities,” Smart told Fox News Digital. 

“They’re not as flexible, and not as easy to use with someone who has varying basal insulin needs, like a teenager.”

Alison Smart, far right, is pictured with two other parents of teens with type 1 diabetes in Washington, D.C.  (Alison Smart)

Other parents are also concerned about being forced to switch medications.

Jaime Losinski, a mother in Tampa, Florida, has a 14-year-old son with type 1 diabetes. He’s been taking Levemir for years.

“Levemir is a valuable insulin for children and teens, who have ever-changing insulin needs as they grow,” she told Fox News Digital.

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“Levemir’s action profile makes it perfect for patients who need to make rapid and continual changes,” she went on. 

“An insulin such as Lantus or Tresiba, which the industry tells us to ‘just switch to,’ lasts far too long in the system for someone like him and would be dangerous overnight,” she said. “They also come with side effects, all of which he experienced when we tried them both shortly after his diagnosis seven years ago.”

Smart teamed up with other parents to form the Alliance to Protect Insulin Choice. She has also visited Washington, D.C., twice to meet with senators and congressional representatives. (Alison Smart)

Although Levemir is expected to be available until Dec. 2024, Smart said providers have warned her to “expect supply disruption” in the meantime.

Some insurance companies have already stopped coverage of the drug due to the discontinuation.

Smart received a letter from her insurance company in November saying Levemir would not be on her plan any longer. They later agreed to add it back on — but only if she paid a premium.

‘Not as cut and dry as it might seem’

Erin Palinski-Wade, a certified diabetes educator in New Jersey, said the discontinuation of Levemir is “understandably surprising and frustrating” for patients who rely on this brand of insulin.

“Although there are other forms of long-acting insulin on the market, each has its own slight differences, such as peak times, which can have a significant impact on blood glucose management during the day,” she told Fox News Digital. 

“For children and teens, there may be greater fluctuations in blood sugar.”

“Transitioning from one brand of insulin to another is not as cut and dry as it might seem, and can lead to periods of high blood sugar or hypoglycemia episodes (dangerously low blood sugars) as the adjustment occurs,” Palinski-Wade added.

For parents who rely on Levemir, the expert recommended working with a physician, endocrinologist and/or dietitian to create the “best transition plan possible” to minimize fluctuations in blood sugar while finding an alternative that works best.

“Levemir is a valuable insulin for children and teens, who have ever-changing insulin needs as they grow,” a mother said. (iStock)

When transitioning to a new insulin, increased testing of glucose levels is needed to prevent and correct highs and lows as they occur, Palinski-Wade noted.

“This is especially important for children and teens, as there may be greater fluctuations in blood sugar due to activity, growth and hormone fluctuations,” she said.

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Tanya Freirich, a certified diabetes educator in New York City working as The Lupus Dietitian, agreed that the closest replacement in terms of duration of action is Lantus (insulin glargine). 

“One of the differences is the peak time,” she told Fox News Digital.

“Lantus peaks [or lowers the blood sugar the most] at six hours after administration, while Levemir peaks at eight to 10 hours after administration. This difference would affect the appropriate timing for the medication to prevent dangerous blood sugar lows.”

Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, said he is also disappointed by the news of the discontinuation. (Fox News)

Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, said he is also disappointed by the news of the discontinuation.

“It is based on supply chain and production issues rather than a problem with the product,” he told Fox News Digital.

“We definitely need biosimilar versions to replace it,” he said. “It can be life-saving.”

“It is based on supply chain and production issues rather than a problem with the product.”

“Some patients really need a version of insulin and Levemir may be their best option.”

Although Levemir is “very similar” to Lantus, Siegel said, it has two important differences: “It causes less weight gain and less hypoglycemia (low glucose).”

Advocating for access

After Novo Nordisk’s November announcement of the discontinuation, Smart sprung into action.

She set up an online petition and began contacting the Food and Drug Administration and the World Health Organization.

“This drug is on the World Health Organization’s list of essential medicines,” she said. “I just couldn’t wrap my head around the possibility of this happening and people not being as outraged as I was.”

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Smart also teamed up with other parents to form the Alliance to Protect Insulin Choice. She has visited Washington, D.C., twice to meet with senators and congressional representatives.

“Our goal is to have Novo Nordisk slow down the discontinuation, and produce Levemir insulin for a few years until a biosimilar is widely available,” she said.

“We would like to find a biosimilar manufacturer to make this insulin, so it stays available.”

An insulin pump, a wearable device that provides a steady flow of insulin to the body, was not compatible with her daughter’s high activity levels, said Smart of Utah. (iStock)

While Smart recognizes that the medication may not be available “forever,” she aims to slow down the discontinuation and keep Levemir available for a few more years — “because it will take that long to get a biosimilar up and running.”

Smart’s efforts have also caught the attention of billionaire Mark Cuban, who expressed his willingness to partner with Novo Nordisk to continue producing Levemir.

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When contacted by Fox News Digital, Cuban said that his pharmaceutical company, CostPlus Drug Company, is “trying to figure out a way to source [Levemir].”

“We aren’t there yet, but we are trying,” he said.

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.

• The World Health Organization and 500 experts have established a consensus on the definition of airborne diseases.
• The groups are aiming to prevent confusion similar to that experienced during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The WHO released a document outlining the definition, marking a step toward improving prevention of diseases transmitted through the air.

The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.

The Geneva-based U.N. health agency released a technical document on the topic on Thursday. It said it was the first step towards working out how to better prevent this kind of transmission, both for existing diseases like measles and for future pandemic threats.

The document concludes that the descriptor “through the air” can be used for infectious diseases where the main type of transmission involves the pathogen traveling through the air or being suspended in the air, in line with other terms such as “waterborne” diseases, which are understood across disciplines and by the public.