Author: Shannon Becker
Several children hospitalized in growing measles outbreak affecting 7 Ohio daycares
(CBS News) Health officials are investigating a measles outbreak in several childcare facilities in the Columbus area of central Ohio. There are currently 18 cases under investigation, Kelli Newman, a spokesperson for Columbus Public Health, told CBS News Wednesday. All of the cases are in unvaccinated children, and 17 of the 18 infected children are […]
Nov 18, 2022
As RSV cases rise, 67 pediatric ICU beds available in all of Texas
(Local News) Cases of RSV continue to strain hospitals across the county. As of Wednesday, Texas has 67 open pediatric ICU beds across the entire state. “One reason for the surge in cases is that people aren’t staying home when they’re sick anymore like so many did at the height of COVID. It seems COVID […]
Nov 18, 2022
A Surprising Finding Leads to an RSV Vaccine Breakthrough
(Bloomberg) While the world is still focused on fighting Covid, another nasty respiratory virus is on the march. It’s called RSV, which stands for respiratory syncytial virus, and it sends thousands of young children and elderly adults to the hospital every year. There isn’t yet a vaccine for RSV, but that could soon change. RSV shots from Pfizer and GSK have shown promising […]
Nov 18, 2022
Study describes distinct pattern of ongoing respiratory syncytial virus transmission in the Netherlands after the COVID-19 pandemic
(Preprint Server) A nationwide prospective study showed year-round RSV transmission in the Netherlands after an initial 2021 summer outbreak. The pattern was unprecedented and distinct from neighboring countries. Our dynamic simulation model suggests that this transmission pattern could be associated with waning immunity because of low RSV circulation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nov 18, 2022
What to know about RSV vaccine candidates and monoclonal antibodies
(The Hill) There are currently no vaccines for the surging virus and only one limited treatment option, but several products aiming to prevent severe disease are in development. RSV, which stands for respiratory syncytial virus, is surging in number of cases and hospitalizations in young patients across the country. RSV can cause severe clinical problems in infants, particularly […]
Nov 18, 2022
As global COVID cases rise, multiple viruses stress health systems
(CIDRAP) Global COVID-19 cases showed a small rise last week, with infection increasing in three world regions, the World Health Organization (WHO) said today in its weekly update. In some countries in the Americas—one region where cases are rising—brisk flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity is also straining hospitals, prompting a warning today from the […]
Nov 17, 2022
BA.5 is no longer dominant in the U.S. for the first time since July, as two new subvariants take over
(NBC News) The two coronavirus subvariants, BQ.1.1 and BQ.1, seem to be better at evading immune defenses and together make up 44% of new Covid cases. Two new omicron subvariants have overtaken BA.5 as the prevailing versions of the coronavirus in the U.S. BA.5 became dominant in July, then consistently accounted for the majority of new […]
Nov 17, 2022
Variant-specific symptoms of COVID-19 in a study of 1,542,510 adults in England
(Nature) Infection with SARS-CoV-2 virus is associated with a wide range of symptoms. The REal-time Assessment of Community Transmission −1 (REACT-1) study monitored the spread and clinical manifestation of SARS-CoV-2 among random samples of the population in England from 1 May 2020 to 31 March 2022. We show changing symptom profiles associated with the different variants […]
Nov 15, 2022
Omicron BA.2 tied to more symptoms and, rarely, brain swelling in kids
(CIDRAP) A UK study suggests that Omicron BA.2 is tied to more symptoms and greater disruption in daily activities than BA.1, and Taiwanese researchers describe fatal cerebral edema in six children hospitalized for BA.2. Imperial College London researchers tracked SARS-CoV-2 transmission and symptoms among 1,542,510 randomly selected English adults, including 17,448 COVID-19 patients, from May 1, 2020, […]
Nov 15, 2022
How to Stop the Next Outbreak from Becoming a Pandemic
(Scientific American) The emergency phase of COVID-19 might have passed, but it remains fresh in the minds of politicians and the public. This is a unique moment to learn from the global response. More outbreaks of infectious disease are inevitable. But it is possible to stop many of them turning into pandemics. The past 20 […]
Nov 15, 2022