Epidemiology News and Research

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Researchers shed light on Boston's SARS-CoV-2 superspreading event

Researchers in the United States have shown that failure to prevent the importation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) into Massachusetts led to superspreading that drastically altered the course of the epidemic and amplified the outbreak in this major urban area.

26 Aug 2020

Untreated wastewater samples from Louisiana contain SARS-Cov-2 RNA

A group of scientists have detected genetic material from SARS-CoV-2 in untreated wastewater samples collected in April 2020 from two wastewater treatment plants in Louisiana, USA.

26 Aug 2020

Premenopausal women previously treated with radiation have worse breast cancer-specific survival

Among premenopausal women with breast cancer, those who were previously treated with radiation for a primary childhood, adolescent, or young adult cancer had worse breast cancer-specific survival.

26 Aug 2020

Higher dosage of opioids for outpatient knee surgery is linked to increased risk of overdose death

A new study published in BMJ Open found that opioid prescription rates for outpatient knee surgery vary widely across the country, but the strength of the average prescription in the United States is at a level that has been linked to an increased risk of overdose death.

26 Aug 2020

Study: COVID-19 vaccine should be at least 80% effective to prevent ongoing pandemic

The American Journal of Preventive Medicine, published by Elsevier, is committed to publishing the most robust, evidence-based research and commentary on COVID-19 as they unfold to keep readers up to date and aware of issues relevant to community and individual health during this continually evolving global outbreak.

26 Aug 2020

Hydroxychloroquine treatment for COVID-19 patients lowers in-hospital mortality rates

An Italian observational study contributes to the ongoing debate regarding the use of hydroxychloroquine in the current pandemic.

25 Aug 2020

WVU-led study seeks to identify, treat mental health issues caused by COVID-19

With anxiety and depression on the rise amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, a West Virginia University-led study seeks to identify mental health issues and test online treatments among West Virginians at home - particularly those in rural areas, where access to clinical services is limited.

25 Aug 2020

New method can be used to monitor the degree of COVID-19 transmission

Since the beginning of the pandemic, research groups have been working on methods to detect SARS-CoV-2 viruses in wastewater to be used to monitor the degree of COVID-19 transmission among the population.

25 Aug 2020

UH to participate as study site for Pfizer and BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine

University Hospitals announced today plans to participate as a study site for the Phase 2/3 global study sponsored by Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE of an investigational vaccine, BNT162b2, against SARS-CoV-2.

24 Aug 2020

Study identifies livestock husbandry practices associated with increased risk of infection

The risk of transmitting the livestock virus PPRV, which threatens 80 percent of the world's sheep and goats, increases with certain husbandry practices but not herd size.

24 Aug 2020

$Prolonged use of bisphosphonates increases risk of atypical femur fractures$

Prolonged use of bisphosphonates increases risk of atypical femur fractures

The risk of atypical femur fractures increases with prolonged use of bisphosphonates, drugs commonly used to treat osteoporosis, according to a new study.

24 Aug 2020

Trump is sending fast, cheap COVID tests to nursing homes — but there’s a hitch

The Trump administration's latest effort to use COVID-19 rapid tests — touted by one senior official as a "turning point" in arresting the coronavirus's spread within nursing homes — is running into roadblocks likely to limit how widely they'll be used.

24 Aug 2020

No evidence pregnancy increases the risk of COVID-19 morbidity or severity

Albeit pregnancy is generally considered a significant risk factor for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and more severe coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outcomes, a recent study by a multinational team of researchers shows that symptoms are generally comparable between pregnant and non-pregnant cohorts of women – with the exception of gastrointestinal symptoms. This paper is currently available on the medRxiv* preprint server.

23 Aug 2020

Scientific review on on link between air pollution and COVID-19

Researchers at Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have conducted a “state-of-the-science” review of the evidence available on potential associations between exposure to air pollution and health outcomes in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

23 Aug 2020

Dusp8 protein has regulatory effects on hypothalamic insulin sensitivity

The brain plays a major role in controlling our blood glucose levels. In type 2 diabetics this glucose metabolism brain control is often dysfunctional. Genetic components for this phenomenon have so far remained elusive.

21 Aug 2020

DeSantis says COVID is a lower risk for school-aged kids than flu

Even as his state is a hotbed for COVID-19, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has been pushing schools to reopen so parents have the choice of sending children back to the classroom or keeping them home to learn virtually.

21 Aug 2020

Swab, spit, stay home? College coronavirus testing plans are all over the map

Yousuf El-Jayyousi, a junior engineering student at the University of Missouri, wanted guidance and reassurance that it would be safe to go back to school for the fall semester. He tuned into a pair of online town halls organized by the university hoping to find that.

21 Aug 2020

Non-social fears are linked to factors related to dogs’ living environment

Noise sensitivity, fear of novel situations and, for example, fear of slippery surfaces and heights are common behavioural problems among dogs.

21 Aug 2020

Geographers conduct first daily surveillance of emerging COVID-19 hotspots

Over the course of the coronavirus epidemic, COVID-19 outbreaks have hit communities across the United States. As clusters of infection shift over time, local officials are forced into a whack-a-mole approach to allocating resources and enacting public health policies.

20 Aug 2020

Study evaluates the reliability of new serological assays for detecting SARS-CoV-2 antibodies

Approximately four months after the initial description of cases of atypical pneumonia in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, COVID-19 had become a major pandemic threat.

20 Aug 2020