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YOUR WEEKLY CHECKUP

This week: New cases of polio are just the tip of the iceberg; the average human body temperature may be decreasing; the dangers of extreme heat; what you need to know about monkeypox and your pets.

PHOTOGRAPH BY BSIP, UIG/GETTY IMAGES

Why polio is making a comeback

On April 12, 1955, the world learned that Jonas Salk had developed a vaccine that protected against polio. The news was so big that businesses and schools closed so that Americans could celebrate. In the decades since, wild polio has been eliminated in all but two countries, yet the disease has crept back in countries that believed polio was long behind them—including the U.S. These new cases, experts warn, are just the tip of the iceberg.

SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE

PHOTOGRAPH BY GILES PRICE, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION

The average human body temperature isn't what it used to be

The common belief that human bodies run at 98.6°F (37°C) appears to be wrong—and some evidence suggests our temperatures have actually decreased over time. Because body temperature provides an important tool for studying health, researchers say it's past time to reevaluate the internal heat of the human body.

SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE

PHOTOGRAPH BY DARLYNE A. MURAWSKI

‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ FROM THE ARCHIVES‌ ‌ ‌

Delusions of infestation aren't as rare as you'd think

A few years ago, a man began telling his family members a horrifying tale: There were bugs living inside him. He showed the classic signs of what scientists call delusory parasitosis, or Ekbom syndrome, an unwavering but incorrect belief that the patient’s body has been infested with something. And according to scientists, a surprising number of people are plagued by the condition.

HOW COMMON IS IT?

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE

NG STAFF

Updated boosters could be available in September

The arrival and rapid spread of Omicron and its subvariants, even among vaccinated populations, underscored the urgency for an updated COVID-19 shot.

TRACKING COVID IN THE U.S.

Coronavirus FAQ: Does a faint line on a self-test mean I'm barely contagious? (NPR)

Hospitalization, multiple symptoms linked to long COVID in children (Washington Post)

A spritz instead of a jab? Future COVID-19 vaccines may go up your nose.

Study: Pfizer COVID pill, Paxlovid, showed no benefit in younger adults (AP)

Could tiny blood clots cause long COVID's puzzling symptoms? (Nature)

MORE HEALTH NEWS

PHOTOGRAPH BY TINGSHU WANG, REUTERS

Extreme heat is hurting pregnant women—and their newborns

A growing body of scientific research suggests that hotter-than-usual daytime temperatures and warmer nights may be leading to an increase in adverse outcomes for pregnant women. These range from greater risks of stillbirth to higher chances of a preterm birth.

SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE

RELATED: The overlooked toll of drinking alcohol while pregnant +

PHOTOGRAPH BY ANNE BENTZ, EYEEM/GETTY IMAGES

The first known dog caught monkeypox. What does that mean for our pets?

It’s unclear whether dogs that contract this virus can pass it to other dogs or to wild animals, or whether they might retransmit it back to humans. If it did move from one species to the next, experts say, that could make monkeypox nearly impossible to eradicate. Here's what you need to know to protect yourself, and your pets.

SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE

BEWARE: How dog and cat 'kisses' can turn deadly +

Rabies is still a threat—but experts say it doesn’t have to be that way

You probably have 'forever chemicals' in your body. Here's what that means. (Vox)

Late-stage cervical cancer cases are on the rise (NPR)

What is tomato flu? Viral infection is spreading among children in India. (Washington Post)

Why monkeypox cases are still rising at such an alarming rate

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