Author: Claudinne Miller
Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever – why this tick-borne virus could become more common in richer countries
The Conversation Climate change is already having, and will continue to have, a significant effect on global health. This is likely to be greatest in rural poorer populations in sub-Saharan Africa. However, richer countries, such as the UK, will also probably be on the receiving end of emerging infectious disease threats as the country warms. Infections that are […]
Jun 20, 2023
Research explains the role of high cholesterol in SARS-CoV-2 infectivity
Medical Xpress A recent study has unveiled the doorway that SARS-CoV2 uses to slip inside cells undetected. SARS-CoV-2 uses the receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, or ACE2, to infect human cells. However, this receptor alone does not paint a complete picture of how the virus enters cells. ACE2 is like a doorknob; when SARS-CoV-2 grabs it and […]
Jun 20, 2023
H9N2 Bird Flu Cases Confirmed
Precision Vaccinations The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) recently confirmed sporadic human cases of avian influenza A (H9N2) have been observed in 2023, mainly in young children. As of June 12, 2023, one new human infection with H9N2 was reported in Sichuan province, China. And since 1998, a total of 125 laboratory-confirmed cases, […]
Jun 20, 2023
Unprecedented Avian Flu Outbreak Continues
Science Friday Podcast, link to audio file at the link above. Avian influenza has been circulating for decades among wild birds, but the US is now experiencing the worst outbreak in its history. That’s because of a specific strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza, which has left around 60 millions birds—mostly poultry—dead. This has implications for […]
Jun 20, 2023
AI is already tracking the next pandemic
Harvard Public Health The technology was in development long before COVID-19, but the pandemic spurred a surge of interest. or a motley collection of artificial intelligence researchers and startups, the end of the COVID-19 pandemic is just the beginning. The pandemic provided would-be entrepreneurs an opportunity to prove that artificial intelligence technology can help flag emerging illnesses […]
Jun 20, 2023
Researchers Are Working on At-Home Tests for Lyme Disease
Time If there has been one silver lining to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s been the rise of rapid self-tests, which provide results at home in minutes. Researchers are hard at work at developing similar tests for other diseases—including Lyme. Lyme disease is transmitted by the black-legged (or deer) tick and infects about 476,000 Americans each year. The faster […]
Jun 20, 2023
Long COVID-19 can make you thirsty – a first look at the data showing us what scientists have learned
Cleveland.com Scientists are now sharing a first look at the data they had collected from adults with long COVID-19 and they found some interesting patterns. Among them, thirst is a common complaint among long haulers. The national study followed nearly 10,000 patients for six months. It included those who had received a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis within 30 […]
Jun 20, 2023
Omicron BA.1-containing mRNA-1273 boosters compared with the original COVID-19 vaccine in the UK: a randomised, observer-blind, active-controlled trial
The Lancet Background The omicron BA.1 bivalent booster is used globally. Previous open-label studies of the omicron BA.1 (Moderna mRNA-1273.214) booster showed superior neutralising antibody responses against omicron BA.1 and other variants compared with the original mRNA-1273 booster. We aimed to compare the safety and immunogenicity of omicron BA.1 monovalent and bivalent boosters with the […]
Jun 20, 2023
‘Bold’ study that gave people COVID reveals ‘supershedder’ phenomenon
Nature A small subset of infected people spew huge amounts of virus into the air — despite having only mild symptoms. A study of people who were intentionally infected with SARS-CoV-2 has provided a wealth of insights into viral transmission — showing, for example, that a select group of people are ‘supershedders’ who spew vastly […]
Jun 20, 2023
How Did COVID-19 Affect Plans of American High-Schoolers?
VOA In a recent survey of 12th-graders, about 40% said the COVID-19 pandemic made them rethink their choice of career or undergraduate degree, and about 10% said it made them doubt the value of college at all. Nirvi Shah of USA Today unpacks the findings. (June 2023). The lives of students graduating from high school this year were […]
Jun 20, 2023