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Monkeypox spread ‘unusual,’ top doc says After the illness was first reported in Europe, Canada confirmed this week its first two cases of monkeypox in the country. Late Thursday, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) said two individuals in Quebec had tested positive for the disease. And on Friday, Canada’s top doctor Theresa Tam confirmed a "couple dozen of people" are under investigation for monkeypox in the country. Monkeypox is a zoonotic infectious disease that results in occasional human infections usually associated with exposure to infected animals or contaminated materials, according to PHAC. Tam noted Friday that the global spread of monkeypox was “unusual” but said the risk to Canadians is “low.” Aaron D’Andrea has more on what you need to know about monkeypox here. 
Pfizer’s COVID-19 booster gets U.S. approval for kids 5-11 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave the green light to single booster doses of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for children ages five to 11 on Tuesday. Kids in that age group will be eligible for a booster dose five months after their first two doses of the Pfizer vaccine. "While it has largely been the case that COVID-19 tends to be less severe in children than adults, the Omicron wave has seen more kids getting sick with the disease and being hospitalized, and children may also experience longer-term effects, even following initially mild disease," FDA commissioner Robert M. Califf said in a statement. As it stands, only about only 28.8 per cent of kids five to 11 are fully vaccinated in the U.S., according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There’s been no word yet on when a COVID-19 booster for that group will be approved in Canada. 
Q: It seems like my seasonal allergies have been getting worse. They are especially bad this year and started earlier than usual. Why is this? “Our immune systems are constantly adjusting and changing, and allergy symptoms can fluctuate over time,” says Dr. Samira Jeimy, an allergist and immunologist at St. Joseph's Health Care in London, Ont., and assistant professor at Western University. “Pollen seasons are getting longer, with higher pollen counts, due to an effect of climate change. Warmer temps and increased carbon dioxide levels contribute to this.” Jeimy said she believes pollution also contributes to allergies, as the particulates from materials like diesel likely compromise the linings of our noses and airways. “As well, these particulates can sometimes bind with pollens and make them more allergenic to the immune system,” she said. Jeimy says if your symptoms are worse over time, it’s worth getting checked by a physician to ensure no new allergies have come up. | 
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