Health Highlights: Dec. 27, 2021

Could a high-fiber diet help boost cancer survival? People undergoing immune-boosting therapy for advanced melanoma may respond better to treatment if they eat a high-fiber diet, a new study hints.The research offers early evidence of the role of the gut microbiome in the effectiveness of cancer therapy. Read more

U.S. COVID-19 cases surge, but hospitalizations do not. As the Omicron coronavirus variant continues its march across the United States, the rate of daily COVID-19 cases detected has outpaced those fueled by the Delta variant over the summer. COVID-19 hospitalizations remain relatively lower than peaks seen earlier this year, although that could change. Read more

U.S. lifts ban on travel from southern Africa. The U.S. will lift the temporary COVID-19-related travel restrictions imposed on eight southern African countries on Dec. 31, the White House announced in a tweet. Read more