Pandemic News and Research

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A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. During a pandemic, transmission can be anticipated in the workplace, not only from patient to workers in health care settings, but also among co-workers in general work settings. A pandemic would cause high levels of illness, death, social disruption, and economic loss. Everyday life would be disrupted because so many people in so many places become seriously ill at the same time. Impacts could range from school and business closings to the interruption of basic services such as public transportation and food delivery.

New study reveals BA.2.86 subvariant's surprising dance with antibodies

Researchers examined the antigenicity of the emerging SARS-CoV-2 subvariant BA.2.86, finding that it is not resistant to neutralizing antibodies from previously infected or vaccinated individuals, although it does show increased binding affinity to the ACE-2 receptor. The study highlights the subvariant's sensitivity and resistance to different classes of monoclonal antibodies, offering insights for future treatment and vaccine development.

2 Oct 2023

Is long COVID triggering irritable bowel syndrome? Arizona study to investigate

The Arizona CoVHORT research study at the University of Arizona has received $3.2 million in funding to investigate the links between long COVID and gastrointestinal symptoms, specifically irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Led by epidemiologist Kristen Pogreba-Brown, the study aims to determine how COVID-19 impacts the incidence of IBS, offering potential benefits to millions affected by the ongoing pandemic.

1 Oct 2023

Is play the secret ingredient for your child's brain development?

Dr. Jacqueline Harding's new book, "The Brain that Loves to Play," challenges traditional notions about play and learning, arguing that they are inherently interconnected in early childhood development. Drawing on neuroscience and child development research, the book serves as a practical guide for integrating play into educational and parenting practices for children's long-term well-being.

1 Oct 2023

Study finds increased risk of depression and anxiety among higher education students

Young people who are in higher education in England face a small increased risk of depression and anxiety, compared to their peers who are not attending higher education, finds a new study led by UCL researchers.

29 Sep 2023

Brigham researchers quantify the burden of SARS-CoV-2-associated sepsis

Using data from Mass General Brigham's electronic health records, Brigham researchers quantified the burden of SARS-CoV-2-associated sepsis early in the pandemic.

29 Sep 2023

Researchers develop an improved way to test potential vaccines against bird flu

Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Vaccine Research Center have developed an improved way to test potential vaccines against bird flu. The report was published this week in the journal iScience.

29 Sep 2023

Cutting-edge NanoSIMS imaging sheds light on the progression of Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease is a complex neurodegenerative disorder that leads to the deterioration of specific types of neurons in the brain, resulting in a number of motor and non-motor symptoms.

29 Sep 2023

SARS-CoV-2 accounted for 1 in 6 cases of sepsis during early months of the pandemic

SARS-CoV-2 accounted for 1 in 6 cases of sepsis during the first 33 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the importance of viral sepsis, according to a new study led by researchers at the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute.

29 Sep 2023

These Appalachia hospitals made big promises to gain a monopoly. They’re failing to deliver.

Five years ago, rival hospital companies in this blue-collar corner of Appalachia made a deal. If state lawmakers let them merge, leaving no competitors, the hospitals promised not to gouge prices or cut corners.

29 Sep 2023

Primate model unlocks clues to long-COVID's impact on blood sugar, hints at vaccine benefits

The study uses a non-human primate model to explore the link between long-COVID and disruptions in glucose metabolism, finding a positive correlation. Vaccination appeared to improve glycemic control, suggesting a possible role in managing long-COVID symptoms.

28 Sep 2023

Zoom backgrounds matter: Plants and bookshelves elevate trust!

This recent study explores how gender, facial expression, and video backgrounds influence first impressions of competence and trustworthiness during video conferences. The findings suggest that happy faces are generally perceived as more competent and trustworthy, females are often viewed as more trustworthy and competent, and certain backgrounds like bookcases and plants boost perceptions of competence.

28 Sep 2023

Weighing the risks and benefits of COVID-19 precautions in 2023

A new editorial paper was published in Oncotarget's Volume 14 on September 22, 2023, entitled, "Reassessing the risks and benefits of COVID-19 precautions in 2023."

28 Sep 2023

Social isolation linked to higher depression levels during the COVID-19 pandemic

Higher levels of depressive symptoms have been reported during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with other times in history, and as much as three times higher than prior to the pandemic.

28 Sep 2023

SARS-CoV-2 virus can trigger dangerous immune response in artery-clogging plaques

In some patients, infection with the pandemic virus SARS-CoV-2 can trigger a dangerous immune response in hardened fatty deposits (plaques) lining the heart's largest blood vessels, a new study shows.

28 Sep 2023

SARS-CoV-2 infects coronary vessels, inducing plaque inflammation

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can directly infect the arteries of the heart and cause the fatty plaque inside arteries to become highly inflamed, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke, according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health.

28 Sep 2023

US health care workers are at greater risk of suicide than non–health care workers

The risks of death by suicide for six healthcare worker (HCW).

28 Sep 2023

HMS researcher to lead $104 million effort to study bacteria and antibiotic resistance

Harvard Medical School researcher Johan Paulsson will lead a multi-institutional $104 million effort to study bacteria and antibiotic resistance, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced today.

27 Sep 2023

Mutations on a key SARS-CoV-2 viral protein linked to extreme immune responses

Mutations on a key SARS-CoV-2 viral protein are linked to extreme immune responses and could offer a novel vaccine target.

27 Sep 2023

UKHSA donates advanced genomic surveillance equipment to CARPHA

This is a significant stride towards strengthening global genomic surveillance to track new variants and pathogens of pandemic and epidemic potential.

27 Sep 2023

KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': More Medicaid messiness

Federal officials have instructed at least 30 states to reinstate Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program coverage for half a million people, including children, after an errant computer program wrongly determined they were no longer eligible.

27 Sep 2023

Pandemic News and Research

Further Reading

New study reveals BA.2.86 subvariant's surprising dance with antibodies

Is long COVID triggering irritable bowel syndrome? Arizona study to investigate

Is play the secret ingredient for your child's brain development?

Study finds increased risk of depression and anxiety among higher education students

Brigham researchers quantify the burden of SARS-CoV-2-associated sepsis

Researchers develop an improved way to test potential vaccines against bird flu

Cutting-edge NanoSIMS imaging sheds light on the progression of Parkinson's disease

SARS-CoV-2 accounted for 1 in 6 cases of sepsis during early months of the pandemic

These Appalachia hospitals made big promises to gain a monopoly. They’re failing to deliver.

Primate model unlocks clues to long-COVID's impact on blood sugar, hints at vaccine benefits

Zoom backgrounds matter: Plants and bookshelves elevate trust!

Weighing the risks and benefits of COVID-19 precautions in 2023

Social isolation linked to higher depression levels during the COVID-19 pandemic

SARS-CoV-2 virus can trigger dangerous immune response in artery-clogging plaques

SARS-CoV-2 infects coronary vessels, inducing plaque inflammation

US health care workers are at greater risk of suicide than non–health care workers

HMS researcher to lead $104 million effort to study bacteria and antibiotic resistance

Mutations on a key SARS-CoV-2 viral protein linked to extreme immune responses

UKHSA donates advanced genomic surveillance equipment to CARPHA

KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': More Medicaid messiness

Best practices - optimize qPCR processes for pathogen detection eBook

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

Expanding access to NMR with the Fourier 80 Duo

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