Here are some of HealthDay’s top stories for Wednesday, Sept. 8:

U.S. COVID-19 case count now tops 40 million. According to a database maintained by The New York Times, there have now been 40 million known cases of COVID-19 in the United States — a fifth of the global total. New cases are now averaging 161,000 per day, and hospitals across America are jammed with the sick and dying, mostly unvaccinated. Read more

Why aren’t COVID vaccines getting to people globally? Even as richer countries get majorities of their populations vaccinated, billions of people in the developing world go without. In interviews with HealthDay Now, experts in the United States and abroad map out the reasons for the disparity. Read more

Pets to the rescue for people with epilepsy. You can teach your household pooch a variety of tricks and tasks. Now, research suggests that pet dogs can also learn to sense oncoming seizures in owners with epilepsy — warning them so they can get to safety. Read more

Here’s how COVID can affect your mouth. Infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus can harm the mouth just as it damages other body sites: Cold sores, a loss of taste and dry mouth are some of the illness’ oral symptoms. Read more