Flu hospitalizations hit all-time weekly high in densely populated state, officials warn

The New York State Department of Health has announced the highest number of flu hospitalizations recorded in a single week.

The state confirmed the uptick in hospital visits in a press release on Jan. 2, as flu cases continue to rise in the region and nationwide.

New York State, including New York City, has consistently tracked the highest numbers of recorded respiratory illness cases in the country for the last few weeks, according to CDC data. Several other states have climbed to the "very high" category for respiratory activity as well, as of the week ending Dec. 27.

RECORD-BREAKING FLU NUMBERS REPORTED IN NEW YORK STATE, SPARKING WARNINGS FROM OFFICIALS

The most recent data from the New York health department showed a total of 4,546 hospitalizations from Dec. 26, 2025, to Jan. 2, 2026 – a week-over-week increase of nearly 1,000. The prior week, the department announced the highest number of flu cases ever recorded in a single seven-day period.

In a statement, New York's Acting Commissioner of Health Dr. James McDonald noted the severity of this flu season compared to previous years.

"Almost 1,000 more people were admitted to a hospital during this most recent seven-day period compared to the prior week," he confirmed. "There is still time to get a flu shot, and remember, flu can be treated with antiviral medication if started within 48 hours of symptom onset [as] your doctor deems appropriate."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

Health officials are pushing for Americans to consider getting the flu vaccine, as experts consider it to be a top line of defense for preventing viral exposure and spread.

In a previous interview with Fox News Digital, Dr. Neil Maniar, professor of public health practice at Boston’s Northeastern University, emphasized that it's not too late to get the flu vaccine, as peak season typically occurs in January.

"The vaccine still provides protection against serious illness resulting from the subclade K variant that seems to be going around," he said.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

Even healthy individuals can become seriously ill from the flu, Maniar noted, "so a vaccine is beneficial for almost everyone."

"Individuals typically start to develop some degree of protection within a few days and gain the full benefit within about two weeks, so now is the time for anyone who hasn’t gotten the vaccine yet."

Flu symptoms can include fever, chills, headache, fatigue, cough, sore throat and runny nose.

A mutation of influenza A H3N2, called subclade K, has been detected as the culprit in rising global cases, causing more intense symptoms and higher risk of spread.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

"It’s becoming evident that this is a pretty severe variant of the flu," Maniar said. "Certainly, in other parts of the world where this variant has been prevalent, it's caused some severe illness, and we're seeing an aggressive flu season already."

New York State recommends taking preventive actions to avoid flu infection. These include washing hands often; avoiding touching the eyes, nose and mouth; avoiding close contact with sick people; cleaning and disinfecting objects and surfaces; and staying home when feeling sick.

from Health News Today on Fox News https://ift.tt/e9yI1wu

Read More

CDC slashes childhood vaccine schedule in unprecedented overhaul following pandemic trust issues

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Monday a major overhaul of the U.S. childhood vaccine schedule, reducing the number of routine immunizations recommended for children.

According to a CDC release, Deputy Health and Human Services Secretary Jim O’Neill, serving as acting CDC director, signed a decision memorandum accepting the findings of a comprehensive scientific assessment ordered by President Trump in December.

The review examined childhood immunization practices in 20 peer, developed nations and found that the United States is a "global outlier" in both the number of diseases covered by its routine childhood vaccine schedule and the total number of recommended doses.

BIPARTISAN FURY AT CDC: SENATORS DEMAND PROBE, REJECT VACCINE GUIDANCE AS ILLEGITIMATE

The assessment concluded that the U.S. does not achieve higher vaccination rates than countries that recommend fewer vaccines.

"President Trump directed us to examine how other developed nations protect their children and to take action if they are doing better," Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a statement.

TRUMP SIGNS OFF ON NATIONWIDE VACCINE SCHEDULE REVIEW AS CDC WITHDRAWS INFANT HEP B GUIDANCE: 'FAST TRACK'

"After an exhaustive review of the evidence, we are aligning the U.S. childhood vaccine schedule with international consensus while strengthening transparency and informed consent," Kennedy said. "This decision protects children, respects families, and rebuilds trust in public health."

Under the updated framework, the CDC will continue organizing vaccines into three categories: those recommended for all children, those recommended for certain high-risk groups, and those based on shared clinical decision-making.

RAND PAUL CLASHES WITH TOP DEMOCRAT OVER CDC PUSHING VACCINES ON INFANTS

Vaccines recommended for all children include protection against measles, mumps, rubella, polio, pertussis, tetanus, diphtheria, Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib), pneumococcal disease, human papillomavirus (HPV), and chickenpox. All CDC-recommended vaccines will remain fully covered by insurance without cost-sharing.

Senior HHS officials said the changes are intended to rebuild public confidence following a decline in trust during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was accompanied by falling childhood vaccination rates.

Senior officials at the Department of Health and Human Services said the change is meant to rebuild confidence in public health institutions after trust was lost during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. discussed the shift during remarks at the White House, framing it as part of a broader effort to address declining vaccination adherence.

"Public health works only when people trust it," FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary said.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

from Health News Today on Fox News https://ift.tt/F2Xn0qB

Read More

Elon Musk shares plan to mass-produce brain implants for paralysis, neurological disease

Elon Musk’s company Neuralink will start "high-volume" production of its brain implant device in 2026, according to a post on X from Musk.

The Neuralink implant is designed to connect the brain to a computer by reading electrical signals from neurons and translating them into digital commands, with the goal of allowing users to control devices or regain lost functions through the power of their mind.

Electrodes are placed near neurons in the brain to "detect action potentials." This allows the implant to "decode information represented by those cells," as detailed on the Neuralink website.

PARALYZED MAN WITH ALS IS THIRD TO RECEIVE NEURALINK IMPLANT, CAN TYPE WITH BRAIN

"In the movement-related areas of the brain, for example, neurons represent intended movements. There are neurons in the brain that carry information about everything we see, feel, touch or think," the site reads.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

The chip is described as fully implantable and cosmetically invisible, measuring just 1.75 inches thick.

The company began human trials of its brain implant in 2024 after addressing safety concerns raised by the Food and Drug Administration. Its initial application was rejected in 2022.

HOW ELON MUSK'S NEURALINK BRAIN CHIP WORKS

In April, a paralyzed man with ALS, Brad Smith, became the third person to receive a Neuralink implant and is now able to type with his brain, Fox News Digital previously reported.

Smith, an Arizona husband and father, is completely paralyzed and relies on a ventilator to breathe. He created a video using the brain-computer interface (BCI) to control the mouse on his MacBook Pro, he shared in a post on X.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

"I am typing this with my brain. It is my primary communication," Smith, who was diagnosed in 2020, wrote in the post, which was also shared by Musk. He went on to thank Musk.

As of September, 12 people with severe paralysis worldwide have received Neuralink implants. These patients are using them to control digital and physical tools with thought, according to a company post on X.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

Neuralink did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

from Health News Today on Fox News https://ift.tt/VdaHhUB

Read More

Not all cancers should be treated right away, medical experts say — here's why

When someone gets a cancer diagnosis, the initial reaction is usually to undergo treatment as quickly as possible — but for some types of disease, doctors may recommend a more conservative approach.

For certain cancers, immediate or aggressive treatment can cause more harm than good, according to multiple medical experts.

For example, treating slow-growing tumors with surgery, radiation or chemotherapy could create significant side effects without a survival benefit.

PROSTATE CANCER PATIENTS SEE LONGER SURVIVAL WITH NEW COMBINATION DRUG 

"The fact that so many cancers will never kill you is not a justification for not knowing, because there is still plenty of room for 'watchful waiting,' as well as interventions that may improve quality of life even if they don't extend life," Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, told Fox News Digital.

This is especially true as targeted cancer treatments emerge, which are more personalized and less likely to cause severe side effects, according to the doctor.

"The fact that cancers are occurring earlier is a justification for heightened screenings, not the opposite," Siegel added. "Information is power — what you do with that information is based on clinical judgment and the art of medicine."

Below are some types of cancer that may not warrant treatment, according to research and doctors’ guidance.

While some types of prostate cancer should be treated right away, others are better addressed by "watchful waiting," according to Sanoj Punnen, M.D., a urologic oncologist with Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Health System. 

"With respect to prostate cancer, for most low-risk cancers (Gleason 6 or grade group 1), we recommend initial observation and surveillance rather than immediate treatment," he told Fox News Digital.

NEW PROSTATE CANCER TEST PINPOINTS DISEASE BETTER THAN PSA OPTION, STUDY FINDS

The Gleason score is a grading system that ranks prostate cancer cells in terms of how abnormal they are, with 6 being the lowest grade and 10 being the highest grade (barely resembling normal cells).

"For high-grade tumors like Gleason 8, 9 or 10, we believe they progress quickly, so we recommend treatment to prevent the risk of metastasis," said Punnen, who is also vice chair of research and a professor with the Desai Sethi Urology Institute at UHealth. "For low-risk tumors, we think they pose little risk, so we recommend just observation."

"But in the end, we can't be sure, so our approach to observation includes serial monitoring of cancer status with PSA, MRI and occasional biopsy to ensure the tumor isn't progressing."

Also known as stage 0 breast cancer, DCIS is a non-invasive disease marked by abnormal cells in the lining of the breast milk ducts. The "in situ" is Latin for "in the original place," which indicates that the cancer has not spread outside the milk ducts.

For this precancerous, very early-stage breast condition, careful monitoring may be more prudent than immediate surgery, research shows.

A 2024 study by the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute found that active monitoring for DCIS resulted in similar quality of life, mental health and symptom progression over a two-year period compared to a standard surgical approach.

NEW STUDY QUESTIONS WHETHER ANNUAL MAMMOGRAMS ARE NECESSARY FOR MOST WOMEN

"These results suggest that in the short term, active monitoring is a reasonable approach to management of low-risk DCIS," the lead researcher said in a press release. "If longer-term follow-up supports the safety of active management from a cancer outcome standpoint, this approach could be considered as an option for women with this condition."

"But it is also critical that we understand how women feel when they are living with this ‘watch and wait’ approach and how it impacts their overall quality of life."

Other research has suggested that women with low-risk DCIS did not have a higher rate of invasive cancer after two years of active monitoring, although each patient should discuss their individual risk level with an oncologist.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is a type of cancer that starts in the lymphatic system, which includes the lymph nodes, spleen, thymus, bone marrow and other tissues. 

Indolent lymphomas are those that "grow and spread slowly," according to the American Cancer Society.

THE DEADLY CANCER HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT — AND WHY MOST PATIENTS NEVER GET SCREENED

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recommends watchful waiting for asymptomatic, slow-growing follicular lymphoma, as a means of avoiding the toxicity of chemotherapy and immunotherapy until it’s absolutely necessary.

The Lymphoma Research Foundation confirms that doctors recommend "active surveillance" for some patients with slow-growing lymphoma.

"This approach may be started after the initial diagnosis or after relapse, depending on the situation," the foundation states on its website. "Active treatment is started if the patient begins to develop lymphoma-related symptoms or if there are signs that the disease is progressing."

Treatment should be started right away for aggressive (fast-growing) lymphomas.

One of the most common adult leukemias, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) originates in white blood cells (lymphocytes) in the bone marrow and then spreads to the bloodstream, according to the American Cancer Society.

CLL tends to grow slowly, with many patients experiencing no symptoms for years. Eventually, the cancer calls can spread to the lymph nodes, liver and spleen.

BREAKTHROUGH BLOOD TEST COULD SPOT DOZENS OF CANCERS BEFORE SYMPTOMS APPEAR

Some studies have shown that early treatment for CLL does not improve survival rates compared to observation, and that the benefits may not outweigh the risks.

In a 2023 study presented at the European Hematology Association 2023 Congress in Frankfurt, Germany, researchers found that early treatment did not prolong overall survival compared to a placebo in patients with early, asymptomatic CLL.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

"I believe it’s fair to conclude that ‘watch-and-wait’ should remain the standard of care in the era of targeted drugs," said researcher Petra Langerbeins, M.D., when presenting the findings.

For most patients with endometrial cancer, surgery is the first treatment, which entails removing the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries, according to the American Cancer Society.

However, in certain patients with low-grade cancer, such as older people, those with "frailty" and people with major health issues, doctors may recommend deferring surgery, which can pose a high risk.

In cases where the patient has medical comorbidities or wants to preserve fertility, hormone treatment may be used instead of surgery, per the ACS.

"It’s usually also considered for cancer that is lower-grade, low-volume and slow-growing," the above source stated.

In cases of kidney cancer with small tumors (≤3 cm) or benign lesions, doctors may recommend monitoring them instead of undergoing surgery for removal.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

The American Urological Association confirms that active surveillance is an option for some small renal masses (localized tumors).

Deferred treatment is particularly recommended for older patients or those with "significant comorbidities," research shows.

"Shared decision-making about active surveillance should consider risks of intervention/competing mortality versus potential oncologic benefits of intervention," the UAU states in its guidance.

Data from the Delayed Intervention and Surveillance for Small Renal Masses (DISSRM) Registry showed that patients with active surveillance had a 99% or greater cancer-specific survival rate — virtually the same as patients who received immediate treatment.

Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), the most common type of thyroid cancer, may not warrant treatment for small tumors measuring 1 centimeter (10 mm) or less, which are called microcarcinomas.

Research found that when using active surveillance for 10 to 20 years, less than 10% experienced significant growth, only 5% developed lymph node spread and there were no thyroid-cancer deaths.

The American Thyroid Association’s guidelines officially recommend active surveillance for very low-risk microcarcinomas.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

While many patients with low-risk tumors can safely delay treatment, this does not apply to all cancers or all patients. 

As cancer behavior and personal health factors vary widely, patients should consult their doctor to determine the most appropriate course of care based on their individual risk level.

from Health News Today on Fox News https://ift.tt/brmUo41

Read More

Viral New Year reset routine is helping people adopt healthier habits

What if your New Year’s resolution could fit inside a tote bag? Social media users are trying the "analog bag" trend, replacing phones with offline activities.

The trend is widely credited to TikTok creator Sierra Campbell, who posted about her own analog bag — containing a crossword book, portable watercolor set, Polaroid camera, planner and knitting supplies — and encouraged followers to make their own. 

Her video prompted many others to share their own versions, with items like magazines, decks of cards, paints, needlepoint and puzzle books.

CREATIVE HOBBIES KEEP THE BRAIN YOUNG, STUDY FINDS — HERE ARE THE BEST ONES TO PURSUE

"I made a bag of non-digital activities to occupy my hands instead of the phone," said Campbell, adding that the practice has significantly cut her screen time and filled her life with "creative and communal pursuits that don't include doom-scrolling."

"I created the analog bag after learning the only way to change a habit is to replace it with another," she told Fox News Digital.

Research on habit formation supports the idea of the analog bag, according to Dr. Daniel Amen, a California-based psychiatrist and founder of Amen Clinics. 

"Your brain is a creature of habit," Amen said during an interview with Fox News Digital. "Neurons that fire together wire together, meaning that every time you repeat a behavior, whether it’s good or bad, you strengthen the neural pathways that make it easier to do it again."

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

Studies show that habits are automatic responses to specific cues — such as boredom, stress or idle time — that typically deliver some kind of reward, according to the doctor. When no alternative behavior is available, people tend to fall back on the same routine, often without realizing it.

Research suggests that replacing an old habit with a new one tied to the same cue is more effective than trying to suppress the behavior altogether.

"[When] cutting out coffee — you need to have another drink to grab for, not just quit cold turkey. It's how the pathways in our brains work," Campbell said.

By substituting a different routine that still provides stimulation and engagement, people can gradually weaken the original habit and build a new automatic response.

"Simply stopping a behavior is very challenging," Amen said. "Replacing one habit with something that is better for your brain is much easier. That’s how lasting change happens, one step at a time."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

If alternatives are within arm’s reach, people will be more likely to use them, the doctor said. "Your brain does much better with small, simple actions than big, vague intentions."

Instead of saying, "I’ll stop scrolling today," the doctor recommends choosing a small habit you can do in a few moments in specific situations, like knitting 10 rows of a scarf on your commute or reading a few pages of a book while waiting at the doctor's office.

Campbell shared her own examples of how to use an analog bag. At a coffee shop with friends, she said, she might pull out a crossword puzzle and ask others to help with answers when the conversation lulls.

Instead of taking dozens of photos on her phone, she uses an instant camera, which limits shots and encourages more intentional moments.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

In casual outdoor settings, such as a park or winery, she brings a small watercolor set for a quick creative outlet.

"It's brought so much joy," Campbell said of the analog bag trend, "seeing how it resonates with so many."

from Health News Today on Fox News https://ift.tt/NV46uZp

Read More

Deadly 'superbug' is spreading across US as drug resistance grows, researchers warn

A deadly, drug-resistant fungus already spreading rapidly through U.S. hospitals is becoming even more threatening worldwide, though there may be hope for new treatments, according to a new scientific review.

Candida auris (C. auris), often described as a "superbug fungus," is spreading globally and increasingly resisting human immune systems, Hackensack Meridian Center for Discovery and Innovation (CDI) researchers said in a review published in early December.

The findings reinforce prior CDC warnings, which have labeled C. auris an "urgent antimicrobial threat" — the first fungal pathogen to receive that designation — as U.S. cases have surged, particularly in hospitals and long-term care facilities.

DANGEROUS SPIKE IN SUPERBUG INFECTIONS SURGES ACROSS US AS EXPERTS SHARE CAUTIONS

Approximately 7,000 cases were identified across dozens of U.S. states in 2025, according to the CDC, and it has reportedly been identified in at least 60 countries.

The review, which was published in Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews, helps explain why the pathogen is so difficult to contain, and warns that outdated diagnostics and limited treatments lag behind. It was conducted by Dr. Neeraj Chauhan of the Hackensack Meridian CDI in New Jersey, Dr. Anuradha Chowdhary of the University of Delhi’s Medical Mycology Unit, and Dr. Michail Lionakis, chief of the clinical mycology program at the National Institutes of Health.

Their findings stress the need to develop "novel antifungal agents with broad-spectrum activity against human fungal pathogens, to improve diagnostic tests, and to develop immune- and vaccine-based adjunct modalities for the treatment of high-risk patients," the researchers said in a statement.

GROWING ANTIBIOTIC CRISIS COULD TURN BACTERIAL INFECTIONS DEADLY, EXPERTS WARN

"In addition, future efforts should focus on raising awareness about fungal disease through developing better surveillance mechanisms, especially in resource-poor countries," they added. "All these developments should help improve the outcomes and prognosis of patients afflicted by opportunistic fungal infections."

First identified in 2009 from a patient's ear sample in Japan, C. auris has since spread to dozens of countries, including the U.S., where outbreaks have forced some hospital intensive care units to shut down, according to the researchers.

The fungus poses the greatest risk to people who are already critically ill, particularly those on ventilators or with weakened immune systems. Once infected, about half of patients may die, according to some estimates.

FLU BY STATE: WHERE THIS SEASON’S HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS VARIANT IS SPREADING THE MOST

Unlike many other fungi, C. auris can survive on human skin and cling to hospital surfaces and medical equipment, allowing it to spread easily in healthcare settings.

"It is resistant to multiple antifungal drugs, and it tends to spread in hospital settings, including on equipment being used on immunocompromised and semi-immunocompromised patients, such as ventilators and catheters," Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst and clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone, previously told Fox News Digital.

It is also frequently misdiagnosed, delaying treatment and infection control measures.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

"Unfortunately, symptoms such as fever, chills and aches may be ubiquitous, and it can be mistaken for other infections," Siegel said.

In September, he said intense research was ongoing to develop new treatments.

Only four major classes of antifungal drugs are currently available, and C. auris has already shown resistance to many of them. While three new antifungal drugs have been approved or are in late-stage trials, researchers warn that drug development has struggled to keep pace with the fungus’s evolution.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES

Despite the sobering findings, there is still room for cautious optimism.

In separate research published in December, scientists at the University of Exeter in England discovered a potential weakness in C. auris while studying the fungus in a living-host model. 

The team found that during infection, the fungus activates specific genes to scavenge iron — a nutrient it needs to survive, according to their paper, which was published in the Nature portfolio journal Communications Biology in December.

Because iron is essential for the pathogen, researchers believe drugs that block this process could eventually stop infections or even allow existing medications to be repurposed.

"We think our research may have revealed an Achilles’ heel in this lethal pathogen during active infection," Dr. Hugh Gifford, a clinical lecturer at the University of Exeter and co-author of the study, said in a statement.

As researchers race to better understand the fungus, officials warn that strict infection control, rapid detection and continued investment in new treatments remain critical.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

Health experts emphasize that C. auris is not a threat to healthy people.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the CDI researchers and additional experts for comment.

Fox News Digital's Angelica Stabile contributed reporting.

from Health News Today on Fox News https://ift.tt/d3icV1G

Read More

Experimental vaccine could save thousands of lives per year, scientist claims

A vaccine to protect against fentanyl’s deadly effects is headed for clinical trials in humans.

The vaccine, which showed positive results in studies of mice and rats, is designed to block fentanyl from entering the brain, blocking its effects and preventing overdoses.

If approved, it would become the first treatment to prevent overdoses of fentanyl, which is the leading cause of drug overdose death, statistics show. This is different than treatments like naloxone, which reverse the effects after an overdose.

DEADLY DRUG MIX DRIVES STAGGERING RISE IN OVERDOSE DEATHS AMONG SENIORS

The vaccine is designed to create antibodies against fentanyl, which keeps the drug from crossing the blood–brain barrier. It contains a synthetic fragment of fentanyl attached to a protein called CRM197, along with dmLT, an immune-activating compound. 

This combination stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies that capture fentanyl in the bloodstream before it can reach the brain, according to the University of Houston's Colin Haile, co-founder and scientific adviser of ARMR Sciences, which licensed the vaccine.

"In a vaccinated individual, those anti-fentanyl antibodies are in the blood," Haile told Fox News Digital. "So if they consume fentanyl, the antibodies grab onto the drug and prevent it from getting into the brain. They would feel no effects if they ingest fentanyl — absolutely none. And they would not overdose."

Eventually, he said, the fentanyl would be eliminated from the body.

MAJOR CANNABIS STUDY FINDS LITTLE PROOF FOR POPULAR MEDICAL CLAIMS, FLAGS BIG DANGERS

In the mice and rat studies, the animals still had antibodies against fentanyl six months after vaccination, added Haile, who is also a research associate professor of psychology at UH and a founding member of the UH Drug Discovery Institute.

While some have questioned whether such a vaccine would indirectly encourage drug use, Haile pointed out that for vaccinated people, the drug would have "no euphoric effects," so those seeking a "high" would not get it.

The main benefit, according to Haile, is that the vaccine would reduce the potential health dangers of fentanyl.

"Respiratory depression is the primary effect that induces death from this highly potent synthetic opioid," he said.

Following successful testing in mice and rats, the first human clinical trial is slated to begin in early 2026 at the Center for Human Drug Research, which is associated with the University of Leiden in the Netherlands.

The small phase 1 trial will enroll about 40 participants, focusing on safety and immune response.

After the phase 1 trial for safety, a phase 2 trial will test whether the vaccine effectively blocks fentanyl’s effects in humans.

The primary limitation is that data is so far only available for mouse models, and it’s unknown how effective the vaccine would be in humans.

Haile told Fox News Digital that there were no adverse side effects reported in the animal study, likely because the ingredients of the vaccine are proteins that have already been used in other combinations in humans, so their safety profile is already known.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

"Also, unlike other vaccines, we use extremely low doses of the components," he noted. "We have put the vaccine into a lot of animals and have not seen any adverse side effects at all."

Even in a toxicology study, during which the researchers administered 20 times the dose of the vaccine that would be given to humans, they still saw no overt signs of toxicity, according to Haile.

Haile mentioned several different use cases for the vaccine, primarily those with opioid use disorder who want to quit using fentanyl. It could also be used by first responders and healthcare workers who want to reduce the risk of accidental exposure.

Military and national security personnel could also benefit from the vaccine, Haile said, as it could help protect against fentanyl and fentanyl-like compounds that have been used as chemical threats.

Finally, parents may be seeking protection for at-risk teens or young adults, as fentanyl has been known to be mixed with other substances, such as marijuana.

Looking ahead, Haile said this could pave the way for the approval of other anti-drug vaccines, such as cocaine and methamphetamine, which are already in the works.

"If we can tackle the primary ones — fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine — we will be saving hundreds of thousands of lives," he added.

Dr. Marc Siegel, senior medical analyst for Fox News, said the progress of the vaccine is a "very exciting advance with a huge upside."

"I am very glad it is now entering human trials — it is being very well-studied," he told Fox News Digital. "This is likely to prevent many overdoses where a patient is sedated and stops breathing as a result of fentanyl."

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

The antidote for fentanyl (Narcan) is limited because fentanyl lasts for many hours, but the Narcan (an opioid antagonist) wears off after only a few hours and has to be readministered, Siegel pointed out.

"You want to make sure this vaccine is limited to those really at risk for opioid overdoses and addiction, because fentanyl is also a useful pain medication for cancer and a useful agent for anesthesia," the doctor added.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

The vaccine was developed with funding from the U.S. Department of Defense and licensed to biotech startup ARMR Sciences.

from Health News Today on Fox News https://ift.tt/NPfXYya

Read More