Health

(NEW YORK) — With COVID-19 cases rising across the country, you may be inclined to pull out one of those leftover at-home rapid tests received months ago from the Biden administration.

Even if the box says the tests have passed their expiration date, experts told ABC News you may want to think twice before throwing them away.

They say the expiration date may have been extended by the federal government and they could come in handy if you need them in a pinch.

How is the expiration date determined for an at-home COVID-19 test?

Expiration dates are determined by the manufacturer, typically with a shelf life of about four to six months from the manufacturing date, which is then authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Dr. Matthew Binnicker, director of clinical virology at the Mayo Clinic, told ABC News that earlier in the pandemic, expiration dates were conservatively set due to unknowns about how long they would be effective for.

“Now that we have been in the pandemic for over three years, the manufacturers have had a better opportunity to determine the true expiration dates of those kits,” he said.

“And the FDA has actually published extended expiration dates based on additional data from manufacturers, so the expiration date that’s on a test or on a box of antigen tests may not actually be the true expiration date. People should go on to the FDA website,” Binnicker said.

To check for an extended expiration date, visit the FDA webpage on at-home tests, which indicates the brands that have an extended date, and a PDF for each test with new expiration dates.

You can find the lot number on the package, near the expiration date, and then check the PDF to see if it’s among those dates.

What does it mean if my test is expired?

If you confirm an at-home expired and has not been extended, it is best to find a new COVID test that still has an existing shelf life.

However, it doesn’t mean it can’t be used.

“The further you get from the expiration date, the less likely it is to perform exactly the way that you expected it to perform so you might want to be slightly more suspect,” Dr. Emily Landon, an associate professor of medicine at UChicago Medicine, told ABC News. “But honestly, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with using a test that’s a little bit past its expiration date.”

She said if the test performs strangely — such as the liquids used in the test looking cloudy or a first line not appearing — those tests should be thrown away. But it could be helpful to use in a pinch.

“But if you have old tests, I certainly think that using old tests is better than using no tests,” she said.

Binnicker added, “if you do [used an expired test] and you get a positive result, it’s typically going to be a reliable result. If it’s negative, it might not be reliable.”

Do old tests work against the new variants?

The FDA and experts say that older at-home tests work for detecting COVID infections caused by new variants, most of which are omicron offshoots.

What makes most of the newer variants different is mutations in the spike protein, which is what the virus uses to enter and infect cells, Binnicker explained.

But “the antigen tests typically look for a different protein on the virus called the nucleocapsid protein,” he said. “So the data that are available suggests that the antigen test should continue to be effective in detecting the more recent circulating strains.”

When should I test for COVID-19?

If you are experiencing symptoms, experts recommend taking a COVID test right away.

For those recently exposed to someone who tested positive, take a test five full days after you last interacted with the person, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.

If you plan to come into contact with those who may be at high-risk of severe disease, such as elderly individuals or those with compromised immune systems, you may opt to take a test, the experts say.

“The number one thing to remember is that if you have any symptoms or respiratory virus, you really need to stay away from others or wear a mask when you’re around them,” Landon said.

If positive, try to stay home, isolate yourself from others, and follow-up with your health care provider.

Binnicker said a person with a positive rapid test and symptoms does not need a confirmatory PCR test but that it could help for a person with a positive test who is asymptomatic.

I got a negative test result on an at-home COVID-19 antigen test. Do I need to take another test?

Despite a negative test, you may want to test again in the coming days, as some tests may not detect the virus early in an infection.

Try testing 48 hours after your first negative test if you have symptoms. Those without symptoms should test 48 hours after the first negative test and then 48 hours after the second negative test.

“This is where I think most people make the mistake is they feel that the tests are less reliable because it takes until their second or third day of symptoms for them to have a positive test,” Landon said. “But that is expected…The home tests are not meant to detect the very first signs of COVID. They’re supposed to be able to tell if your respiratory illness is COVID or isn’t COVID.”

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(NEW YORK) — Newly released data from the Guttmacher Institute shows a sharp increase in the first six months of 2023 in estimated abortions performed in states bordering those with abortion bans and in states that have protections for access to abortion.

States that saw an increase in the number of abortions performed over that six-month period included Kansas, New Mexico and South Carolina, which Guttmacher said is likely due in large part to out-of-state patients who traveled to access care.

“The study has documented substantial increases in abortions in many states bordering those where abortion has been banned, indicating that significant numbers of residents of states with abortion bans are traveling to neighboring states for abortion care,” Guttmacher researchers wrote in a policy analysis.

The state with the largest estimated increase in abortions from January to July 2023 compared to the same period in 2020 was Illinois; Guttmacher estimates the state saw 18,300 additional abortions.

California had the second largest increase in abortions, with Guttmacher estimating it had 12,300 additional abortions in the 2023 period compared to the same period in 2020. The third largest increase was in New York, where there were 9,950 additional abortions, according to Guttmacher.

North Carolina closely trails behind New York, with 9,000 additional abortions being performed in the state. A 12-week abortion ban was allowed to mostly go into effect in July, further restricting the limit from 20 weeks. North Carolina borders several states in the south that have ceased nearly all abortion services.

Florida had an estimated additional 4,950 abortions performed in that period. Abortion access could become severely restricted in Florida as the Florida Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on a challenge to the state’s 15-week abortion ban on Friday. If the ban is upheld, a six-week trigger ban will go into effect.

The data collected by Guttmacher only accounts for abortions performed in brick-and-mortar health facilities and medication abortions provided over Telehealth or virtual providers, according to the Institute. The study does not include data on self-managed abortions, which Guttmacher defined as abortions that occurred without in-person or virtual contact with the formal health care system.

The Guttmacher data indicates the magnitude of the disruption caused by the Dobbs ruling. Guttmacher estimates that in 2020, there were 113,630 abortions across the 14 states where abortion services have ceased since Roe v. Wade was overturned last year, indicating that tens of thousands of people may now be traveling for abortion, seeking abortions by other means or unable to obtain an abortion at all.

Guttmacher said it collected data from samples of providers, which it combined with “extensive historical facility-level data on variations in caseloads over time,” according to Guttmacher.

WeCount — a national research project focusing on abortion and contraception led by the Society of Family Planning — released data on abortions that it collected by surveying clinicians providing abortions throughout the country, documenting the total volume of abortions performed in the U.S.

WeCount data revealed a similar trend in an uptick of abortions being performed in states bordering bans.

Guttmacher said it is launching a new study that will track abortions month-to-month to monitor the impact restrictive and protective state laws have on access to abortion care.

“For instance, we now have baseline data for the number of monthly abortions we would expect to see in North Carolina in 2023, which we can use to help estimate the impact of the 12-week ban that went into effect July 1,” Kelly Baden, vice president of public policy at the Guttmacher Institute, said in a statement.

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(NEW YORK) — COVID-19 hospitalizations are continuing to rise in the United States but there is hope that the uptick could be stemmed with the new boosters.

Hospitalizations increased 15.7% for the week ending Aug. 26 from 15,050 to 17,418, according to data updated Monday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

These are similar to levels seen in late March of this year and it marks the seventh consecutive week that hospitalizations have increased.

However, hospitalizations remain relatively low compared to other points during the pandemic. During the peak of omicron, the week of Jan. 15, 2022, there were 150,674 hospitalizations.

Additionally, during the same week over the past three years, weekly hospitalizations have sat at 28,209 in 2020, 85,785 in 2021 and 36,922 in 2022.

What’s more, the overwhelming majority of U.S. are reporting fewer than 10 new COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 people.

Dr. Cameron Wolfe, a professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases at Duke University School of Medicine, said there has been an uptick at his hospital — 50 to 60 COVID patients compared to 20 to 30 earlier in the summer — but there are fewer people who are in the intensive care unit compared to years prior.

“So, I think whilst the numbers have gone up, the intensity is not quite there like it had been in the past,” he told ABC News. “We’ll see what that looks like in a couple of weeks, but I don’t see anything here that points to sort of an imminent or dramatic increase.”

Wolfe added that if the trend reflects previous years, there will be a dip before another spike comes in December and January.

There may be hope that a potential winter wave will not be so severe due to the upcoming COVID booster, which is expected to be available as early as next week.

Recent data has indicated the shot could offer additional protection against currently circulating variants, most of which are related to XBB — which is an offshoot of omicron — and even the newer subvariant BA.2.86.

The updated COVID vaccine booster generated a nearly nine-fold increase in antibodies against BA.2.86, according to early results in a Moderna press release published Wednesday.

It’s a good sign considering the CDC recently warned the new variant “may be more capable of causing infection in people who have previously had COVID-19 or who have received COVID-19 vaccines.” Previous results from Moderna indicated the new booster offered additional protection against the subvariants EG.5 and FL.1.5.1, which are currently dominating in the U.S. and make up an estimated 36% of new cases, according to CDC data.

The updated booster also appears to protect against severe disease and death — the most important metric, particularly for those who are elderly or immune compromised.

“This sort of release of a new booster in late September is actually really well timed because it gives people a good chance to get it ahead of what I would expect will be a wave coming again in January or February,” Wolfe said. “I see no reason to think that that won’t be here. It’s been there for the last three winters.”

He added, “If we’ve had the chance to kind of jack up at-risk patients’ protection ahead of that, then that just seems perfectly logical.”

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(NEW YORK) — A California mom is being remembered for her selflessness, even in death, after she collapsed on the field during her son’s football game.

Lucinda Daniels, a mom of four, ran to the side of her son Dillon, a varsity football player at Mountain View High School in Mountain View, California, when he was injured in game on Aug. 25.

While by Dillon’s side, Daniels collapsed after suffering a stroke, the high school’s principal Kip Glazer told ABC News’ Good Morning America.

She was rushed to a local hospital, where she later suffered a second stroke, according to Glazer.

Less than a week later, on Aug. 30, Daniels died, leaving behind four children ranging in age from 10 to 20, as well as her husband Dale.

Her husband declined to be interview by GMA, authorizing Glazer to speak on his behalf.

Glazer said the family wants to raise awareness of organ donation to honor Daniels’ memory, noting that she helped save the lives of four people through organ donation on the day she died.

In the United States, more than 100,000 adults and children are currently on the waiting list for organ donations, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

“On Wednesday when she passed, she already saved four lives, and she will continue to [save] more with her organ donation,” Glazer said. “[Dale] really wanted to emphasize Lucinda being an organ donor and the number of lives that she saved. He’s very proud of that.”

On Friday, the Daniels family was present at Mountain View High School’s first home football game of the season, where Daniels was remembered as the team’s biggest cheerleader.

Two of her sons currently play on the team, while her oldest son is an alumni of the program, according to Glazer.

“You [knew] Mrs. Daniels was in the stands because she was the most cheerful, loudest spectator,” Glazer said. “The whole family is always there in the stands, cheering for the boys.”

At Friday’s game, the opposing team presented a donation to the Daniels family, with funds raised from the high school as well as the community.

A photo of Daniels greeted spectators at the game, along with information about a GoFundMe account that has already raised over $140,000 for her family.

The GoFundMe was started by four of Daniels’ fellow “football moms,” who all have kids on the team.

“Anyone who knows Lucinda knows that she has one of the biggest hearts you’ve ever seen and in keeping with that spirit, she is an organ donor,” they wrote on the GoFundMe page. “Whilst we are losing Lucinda, we hope you find some solace in knowing that her passing will give the gift of life to numerous others and allow her love to continue to spread through the world.”

Glazer said Daniels worked full-time at a local elementary school and had a second job at a local retail store in order to help support her family.

She described the Daniels’ children as “amazing kids” who are hardworking, just like their mom.

She said it is no surprise to her that both the school and local community have rallied to support them after Daniels’ death.

“As the principal of Mountain View High School, I’m so proud of our staff and families for how much they stepped up,” Glazer said, adding that Daniels’ husband has also told her how appreciative the family is of the support.

“He wanted to express just his enormous gratitude to the school community,” she said.

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(WASHINGTON) — The upcoming COVID-19 booster is expected as early as next week — potentially as soon as Sept. 13 — and is expected to protect against severe disease and death from currently circulating variants. First, the Food and Drug Administration is expected to authorize or approve the shots, which they have signaled they are likely to do within the next seven days. Next, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s independent panel of advisors is set to meet on Sept. 12 to provide a recommendation on who will be eligible for the shots. The CDC Director is expected to sign off, with shots to be available soon after.

It remains to be seen who the advisers will recommend should receive the updated booster. Additional protection is especially important for those most at risk, such as those over 65 years old and those with immunocompromised conditions, experts say.

What is this new vaccine formula?

The updated booster shot is formulated to target XBB.1.5, an omicron subvariant.

It is a monovalent vaccine, meaning it only targets one strain (the previous bivalent booster was formulated with the original strain and BA.4/BA.5).

Will this new vaccine protect against new variants?

So far, data shows this booster will offer additional protection against severe disease and death for all currently circulating variants.

Vaccine manufacturers tell ABC News they continue to test the updated booster on newer variants, including the newer omicron sub-variant BA.2.86.

When will this new vaccine booster be available?

The updated booster shot is expected to be available as soon as September 13, following the CDC Director’s signoff

Should I wait to get this new booster or get a shot now?

Health experts recommend that it is best to wait for the updated booster shot to maximize protection this Fall/Winter.

Should I get a booster shot if I recently had COVID?

You may consider delaying your vaccine by three months from when your symptoms started or a positive test, according to the CDC.

Can I get the flu shot and COVID booster at the same time?

At this time, health officials say getting both shots in the same session is safe and effective.

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(NEW YORK) — At least six people have died on the East Coast this summer after being infected with “flesh-eating” bacteria in warming waters.

Health officials say two people in Connecticut, one person in New York and three in North Carolina died in July and August from Vibrio vulnificus, a potentially deadly bacterium.

The U.S typically sees a handful of deaths in Gulf states, but it’s rare for deaths to be spiking in East Coast states.

In response, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a health advisory to warn doctors, laboratories and public health departments to be on the lookout for these infections.

“The sky is not falling, but be careful, pay attention and take it seriously if you have an infection and get it treated,” Dr. Rita Colwell, a microbiologist and marine expert at the University of Maryland at College Park and at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, told ABC News.

Vibrio bacteria cause an estimated 80,000 illnesses each year in the U.S., according to the CDC.

In particular, Vibrio vulnificus can lead to life-threatening infections. Between 150 and 200 infections are reported to the CDC every year with about one in five people dying — often within a day or two of becoming ill, the agency said.

These bacteria are naturally occurring in saltwater and brackish waters and more abundant in the summer months, between May and October.

“Most often than not, this bacterium is going to have a coastal origin, meaning that somebody would visit coastal waters for recreation, they may have a wound or like exposed skin,” Dr. Antarpreet Jutla, an associate professor in the department of environmental engineering science at the University of Florida, told ABC News. “And then these bacteria basically get into those holes and then a person can get infected.”

Eating raw or undercooked shellfish such as oysters that live in coastal waters can also increase the risk of an infection caused by Vibrio vulnificus.

Symptoms of Vibrio vulnificus infection can include fever, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and watery diarrhea.

For those who have a bloodstream infection, symptoms include fever, chills, low blood pressure and blistering skin lesions, For a wound infection, a patient might have redness, pan, swelling, warmth, fever discoloration, and discharge.

Those with wound infections can suffer necrotizing fasciitis, which is when the flesh around an open wound dies. Treatment involves antibiotics and replacing liquids lost through diarrhea. Necrotizing fasciitis can sometimes lead to limb amputation.

Many of the infections in Connecticut, New York and North Carolina were contracted due to open wounds that were exposed to coastal waters, according to the CDC. Some of the infections were due consuming of raw or undercooked seafood — and other infections had unclear origins.

To reduce the risk, health officials recommend people stay out of saltwater and brackish water if they have an open wound. If an open wound does come into contact with this water, wash the wound thoroughly with clean, running water and soap. Additionally, avoid eating or coming into contact with raw shellfish.

“If you got cut and it’s healed over, that’s not a problem,” Tessa Getchis, an extension educator with Connecticut Sea Grant & University of Connecticut Extension, told ABC News. “If it’s an open wound, they want to wait until that wound is closed.”

She added that it’s not enough to cover the wound with a waterproof bandage and that people with open wounds should avoid the water completely.

Jutla said that with more populations settling along the coasts and warming temperatures making coastal waters warmer for longer, it could be an issue in the future.

He and a team of researchers at the University of Florida sampled water in the Fort Myers region after Hurricane Ian in 2020 and found “extensive sampling” of Vibrio vulnificus, even after four weeks of sampling.

With the recent passing of Hurricane Idalia in southern states, experts say that floodwaters and storm surges may leave an opportunity for people to become infected with Vibrio vulnificus. “If I were in that region, I would not wander around in flooded waters,” Jutla said. “I would be very careful in in in going to sea water coastal waters .”

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(NEW YORK) — In an age of proliferated and accessible mobile gambling, a 19-year-old, who first spoke with ABC News’ Good Morning America last year, said he is still struggling with a gambling addiction despite three months in rehab, and continued work with a gamblers anonymous program.

“I really felt like I had put it behind me,” said the teenager, who asked to remain anonymous.

Steve, as he was pseudonymously referred to on GMA, said despite initially resisting the temptation of sports gambling, he was once again swept up in the activity.

He said the constant stream of advertisements kept gambling as a focus for him.

“It was just the temptation of sports betting, you know, all the ads. I’m not going to say that the ads are the reason I did it, but just constantly being reminded of it,” Steve said.

After decades of restriction, online sports betting is now legal and active in 24 states plus Washington, D.C., and five more states are set to launch it this year.

Dr. Timothy Fong, a clinical professor of psychiatry at the Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA, said the continued acceptance of sports gambling puts young kids at risk.

“We’re introducing a potentially addictive disorder at a very, very early age, and yet it’s designed for 21 and older,” Fong said.

Fong said he is seeing patients as young as 15, 16 and 17 years old with gambling disorders, something he had not seen before the widespread legalization.

Bill Miller, the president and CEO of the American Gaming Association, told ABC News that “the legal gaming industry is committed to protecting young adults through age verification, marketing limitations, and responsible gaming measures.”

“The same cannot be said for the vast illegal, offshore gambling market that does not verify age, targets teens, and offers no protections. Our members continue to call on law enforcement to stop illegal operators and protect vulnerable Americans,” he added.

Steve, who said his addiction started at 15, described “little underground hidden sites” that make gambling accessible for teenagers.

The legal age for gambling in the U.S. is 18 or 21, depending on the state and the types of games.

Steve said after relapsing he has been clean for one month, and plans to work with his sponsor while he is at college.

Steve’s dad, pseudonymously referred to as Martin, said activities like fantasy football led to the normalization of gambling in their home.

“In retrospect, I wouldn’t have normalized it even to the level that we did, which, again, for a lot of people it might have been okay, but in this case, it wasn’t,” he said.

Steve said hiding an illegal gambling addiction from his parents was not a challenge.

“It’s very easy. It’s that one addiction that you can’t necessarily see or smell on them. You really need the addict to be honest about it,” he said.

Experts say having open conversations with kids and teens about the topic of gambling is important. According to Steve, the support from his parents and sponsor has helped him tremendously.

“Encourage them that whatever it is that they’re dealing with, you’re there to listen. You have their back. You’re there to support them,” he said.

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(NEW YORK) — “Margaritaville” singer Jimmy Buffett died on Sept. 1 after a four-year battle with a rare skin cancer.

Buffet’s website revealed he had been diagnosed with Merkel cell carcinoma, but had been able to perform until recently, when his health began to decline.

Here’s what you need to know about MCC, including signs and symptoms, what causes it and how it’s treated:

What is MCC?

Merkel cell carcinoma is much less common than the main types of skin cancer, such as basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma.

MCC is very rare — about 40 times rarer than melanoma — with an estimated 3,000 cases every year in the U.S., according to the Skin Cancer Foundation (SCF).

MCC is a neuroendocrine cancer, meaning it is a cancer of the cells that are connected to nerves, which likely play a role in touch sensation.

It is a rare, aggressive form of cancer that has a high risk of recurring and spreading within two to three years of being initially diagnosed, the SCF says.

What are the symptoms?

The first symptom of MCC is typically a fast-growing, painless tumor on part of the skin that is sun-exposed, according to the National Cancer Institute.

The nodules are usually shiny or pearly and may appear skin-colored in shades of red, blue or purple. However, they may appear dome-shaped or raised, firm or itchy, the Cleveland Clinic says.

A health care provider, such as a dermatologist, may perform a full-body skin exam to look for any abnormal spots as well as an exam of the lymph nodes because the cancer can spread quickly.

If the provider suspects MCC, they may perform a biopsy, which includes removing skin cells so they can be examined for signs of cancer.

What are the stages of MCC?

After a diagnosis is made, a patient’s lymph nodes are often checked because of how quickly MCC can spread to this region, according to the SCF.

The next step is staging to identify how far along the cancer is. For this, the medical team will use the TNM system.

“T” stands for size of the original tumor, “N” for whether it has spread to the lymph nodes and “M” for metastasis, or spread.

Stage 0 indicates MCC cells have been found but not beyond the top layer of skin, the SCF says. Stages 1 and 2 involve smaller and larger tumors, respectively. In stage 2, the tumors may have spread to connective tissue, muscles or bones.

In stage 3, the tumors have spread to the lymph nodes or a lymph vessel between the original tumor and the nodes. In stage 4, the tumors have spread to the lymph nodes, organ or other parts of the body.

How is MCC treated?

Although MCC is rare, it is treatable when found in an early stage.

Depending on the stage of the disease and the patient’s health, treatment involves surgically removing any tumors and potentially chemotherapy, radiation or immunotherapy.

If the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, a patient may undergo a lymph node dissection, which is a surgical procedure in which some or all of the lymph nodes are removed.

How can I prevent MCC?

Males, those older than age 70, those with weakened immune systems and people with light-colored skin are more likely to develop MCC, according to the American Cancer Society.

Although these risk factors cannot be controlled, there are some steps that can be taken to lower the odds of MCC diagnosis.

This includes undergoing annual skin checks with a dermatologist, performing skin checks at home, lowering exposure to ultraviolet rays either from the sun or tanning beds and to practice sun safety when outdoors, such as covering the skin, wearing sunscreen and using hats or sunglasses.

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(NEW YORK) — A 20-month-old boy with a rare genetic mutation was saved earlier this summer by a stranger who donated part of her liver to him.

Logan Salva was diagnosed shortly after his birth with Alagille syndrome, a genetic disorder that causes the bile ducts to be malformed, which can lead to liver failure, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Logan’s family, who live in Ocala, Florida, learned that because of the condition, the toddler would need a liver transplant.

With the waiting list for a liver transplant estimated to be as long as five years, according to the NIH, Logan’s family opted for a living-donor liver transplantation, in which part of a healthy person’s liver is given to a person in need.

Because no one in Logan’s family was a match, they ended up widening their search.

Soon after, Makenzie Beach, a registered nurse in Erie, Pennsylvania, learned she was a perfect match.

Though Beach had no connection to Logan, she said she had no doubts about becoming his donor.

“It was the right thing to do in my mind. It’s what I would want someone to do for my family,” Beach said in an interview shared by UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, where the transplant operation took place. “I was in a position with my health, and I have plenty of support, that I could do this, and I didn’t see any reason why I wouldn’t want to. A month of inconvenience seemed like a very, very small price to pay.”

Earlier this summer, Beach and Logan were scheduled to undergo the transplant, which then had to be delayed for a month after Logan contracted RSV.

“I was a nervous wreck because the first thing I thought was he’s going to lose the donor,” said Rasika Marletto-Salva, Logan’s mom. “That one week of waiting to see what would happen was probably the longest week ever, and then we got the call and it said, ‘Donor is willing to wait and postpone [the transplant] for a month.'”

Finally, on June 8, Beach and Logan underwent the transplant operation, which was deemed a success.

Marletto-Salva said she and her husband immediately saw a difference in their son after the transplant.

The liver damage caused by Alagille syndrome can cause yellowish skin and eyes, which Marletto-Salva said went away once Logan had part of Beach’s liver.

“It’s incredible the change that we saw in him physically, just in his appearance and complexion and everything,” Marletto-Salva said. “It happened within days, with his complexion, and that was just the beginning of it, and then he just started to fill out and look like a normal little kid again.”

According to Cleveland Clinic, only about 5% of people who undergo a liver transplant receive the organ from a living donor.

A living donor is able to donate just a part of their liver because the remaining liver regrows to its normal size and capacity within a few months. The donated portion of the liver also grows and restores normal liver function in the recipient.

Beach said she returned to work just a few weeks after the transplant. She said she had never undergone surgery prior to the transplant.

“I learned so much and it made me such a better nurse to go through this whole experience,” Beach said. “To be a patient was a huge experience, and I needed that, and I’m so grateful for it.”

On Aug. 30, Beach got to meet Logan for the first time.

She said she spoke with Logan and his parents on Zoom while she was in Pennsylvania and Logan and his family were at their home in Florida.

“He looks so good,” Beach said upon seeing Logan for the first time. “He is beautiful.”

Marletto-Salva thanked Beach for all she had done, especially for providing her son with a “wonderful liver.”

“Thank you for such a wonderful liver,” she said. “His recovery, I know that it wouldn’t have been as incredible as it’s been if it wasn’t for the fact that he had you to help him. So, again, thank you so much.”

Both Beach and Marletto-Salva said they hope sharing their story helps make people more aware of the option of living donations for organs like livers and kidneys.

“What amazed me when I was sharing [Logan’s] story, so many people really didn’t know that you could donate a lobe of your liver,” Marletto-Salva said. “So many people have no clue, and that’s one thing that this journey, to me, it’s more than just his story, it’s the fact that it’s helped us inform people as much as possible about the necessity and the importance of living donations.”

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(NEW YORK) — More health officials across the U.S. are reporting new cases of the COVID variant BA.2.86.

On Thursday, a genome sequencing team at Houston Methodist Hospital said it had identified the first case in Texas, a member of team wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. On the same day, Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff confirmed that one case has been detected in his state.

These states join Michigan, New York and Virginia, according to health officials and the open global genome sequencing database GISAID.

There have been hundreds of variants of the original SARS-CoV-2 virus that led to the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2020, but most eventually disappear.

Public health experts around the world are keeping track of BA.2.86 because of its high number of mutations.

“It is starting to spread here in the United States, as well as in other parts of the world. It’s clearly contagious, as are all of these subvariants of omicron,” Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine and infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, told ABC News. “As we all know, these COVID viruses are not localized just to one country or another. They don’t need a passport. They’re capable of spreading … and can spread rapidly around the world.”

BA.2.86 was the strain first detected in Denmark on July 24 of this year, then Israel, followed by Michigan in August. It has since been reported in Canada, England, France, Portugal and South Africa, according to GISAID.

It has more than 30 mutations to the spike protein — which the virus uses to attach to and infect cells — and is why Schaffner said he and other experts believe it may be contributing to the increase in COVID hospitalizations in the U.S.

Data updated Monday from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found hospitalizations rose 18.8% for the week ending Aug.19.

The most recent data from the CDC shows that EG.5, another offshoot XBB, currently makes up a plurality of COVID cases in the U.S.

“It’s possible [BA.2.86] will make a contribution to what’s out there, but it may not become the dominant strain,” Schaffner said.

This comes as the CDC’s advisory committee gets ready to meet on Sept. 12 to discuss new boosters targeting COVID subvariants. The boosters are expected to become available in mid- to late-September.

While it’s unclear how well the new boosters will protect against BA.2.86, the current vaccine is designed to target XBB, meaning it could provide decent protection against severe disease and hospitalization, Schaffner said.

Over the next couple of weeks, officials will be monitoring how contagious the variant is and how quickly it’s spreading.

One important tool to use could be wastewater data. Wastewater sampling is how officials in New York City detected BA.2.86. Officials said the sample did not come from a local resident, but the variant’s presence in wastewater means it’s undoubtedly circulating.

Public health experts have previously said wastewater tracking is a good early detection tool for monitoring potential future upticks.

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