Respiratory virus guidance; medical misinformation; bile and body health – Morning Medical Update

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Respiratory virus guidance

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention opened March with updated, simplified guidelines on dealing with respiratory viruses, including COVID-19. The guidance “reflects the progress we have made in protecting against severe illness from COVID-19,” CDC Director Mandy Cohen, MD, MPH. Check out the announcement here and guidance here.

Stop the spread of misinformation

A lie will travel around the world while truth is lacing up its boots, or something like that, said Mark Twain, maybe. Attribution is sketchy, but the sentiment is true, so here’s “Rumor Control,” a refresher from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on countering misinformation in health care.

Spend a while with bile

The function of bile in the gut is well-established science – and worthy of revisiting, according to researchers at Penn State University and the University of Michigan. They worked independently but published together two new studies on bile in the gut, and findings suggest bile acids may have a broader role in human health. There’s also an accompanying news release about the research.