On Wednesday, September 28, 2022, Elsie M. Taveras, MD, MPH , Mass General Brigham Chief Community Health and Health Equity Officer, will attend the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health . The last and only time the White House held a similar conference was in 1969, more than 50 years ago.
Pekic/iStock(NEW YORK) Since the first case of the new Omicron variant was detected last month, early anecdotal reports indicate people infected seem to be experiencing mild illness leading some scientists to wonder if this version of the virus could be less dangerous than prior variants. But scientists have cautioned it's too soon to know for sure. It "looks less severe in really early data," Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky told ABC News Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton in an interview from CDC headquarters in Atlanta. "We're certainly following and very interested in disease severity." Omicron was dubbed a "variant of concern" due to its many mutations. As a result, scientists are scrambling to determine if these changes lead to increased transmissibility or weakened response from vaccines. The World Health Organization said several studies are underway and that more information will