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.

Higher B.1.1.7 transmission in households than other SARS-CoV-2 variants

Contact tracing data from a new preprint study on the medRxiv* preprint server provides further evidence that the B.1.1.7 variant — first reported in the United Kingdom — has a high transmission rate. The research, led by Birgitte Freiseleben de Blasio from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and the University of Oslo in Norway, estimates B.1.1.7 has a 60% greater transmission within households than other severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants of concern.

2 Apr 2021

Long-COVID-19 is a significant risk in recovered patients post-hospitalization

A new study, which appeared in the British Medical Journal, reports on a retrospective study to examine the incidence and risk factors for ‘long COVID-19’, the term used to describe the long-term effects of COVID-19 on affected individuals.

2 Apr 2021

Proper choice of control group nullifies most observed genetic markers for severe COVID-19, study suggests

A new study deals with the genetic contribution to severe disease following infection with this virus, showing that the association of severity with specific human genes described in an earlier study is not obvious.

2 Apr 2021

Researchers offer large-scale screening of potential broad-spectrum SARS-CoV-2 antivirals

A new study describes the identification of new compounds from a library, with inhibitory activity against several coronaviruses. This study shows the utility of this method, besides identifying compounds that not only inhibit viral shedding in SARS-CoV-2 cultures, but have an immunomodulatory effect that may be useful in mitigating the damaging cytokine storm typical of severe or critical COVID-19.

2 Apr 2021

Beating the pavement to vaccinate the underrepresented — and protect everyone

Leonor Garcia held her clipboard close to her chest and rapped on the car window with her knuckles. The driver was in one of dozens of cars lined up on a quiet stretch of road in Adelanto, California, a small city near the southwestern edge of the Mojave Desert.

2 Apr 2021

Battle brews over neutral zone where border-crossing parties rendezvous, risking detection and infection

In the shadows of Covid travel restrictions, a 42-acre park on the far western edge of the U.S.-Canadian dividing line has become a popular opening in an otherwise closed border, a place where Americans and Canadians can gather without needing permission to go through an official border crossing.

2 Apr 2021

Comparative study of SARS, MERS, BAT‐SARS, and SARS-CoV-2

Even though a comparative study on the genomic sequences of SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2 is available, there is a gap in the research in regards to the comparison between four types of coronaviruses, namely, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, BAT-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2. A new study, which deals with the genomic comparison between the sequence of the above-stated four types of coronaviruses, has been published in the Journal of Medical Virology.

2 Apr 2021

New wireless system can restore communication and mobility in people with paralysis

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are an emerging assistive technology, enabling people with paralysis to type on computer screens or manipulate robotic prostheses just by thinking about moving their own bodies.

2 Apr 2021

Harnessing previous research to mitigate the mental health impacts of COVID-19 on adolescents

A team of researchers has sought to mitigate the mental health impacts of COVID-19 on adolescents by harnessing previous research on youth physical and mental health.

1 Apr 2021

COVID-19: Several 'proxy wars' spawned by the pandemic

When Australia, India, Japan and the US — countries strategically allied under the so-called Quad (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) — switched focus to fighting COVID-19, it was seen as one more of the several 'proxy wars' spawned by the pandemic.

1 Apr 2021

Backed by millions in public and private cash, rapid Covid tests are coming to stores near you

Scientists and lawmakers agree that over-the-counter Covid tests could allow desk workers to settle back into their cubicles and make it easier to reopen schools and travel.

1 Apr 2021

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Planning for round two

Congress is out of session, but that hasn't stopped Democrats from planning their next round of health legislation.

1 Apr 2021

Study identifies new cardiometabolic factors linked to SARS-CoV-2 infection

As the COVID-19 pandemic lingers, researchers have found associations between certain lifestyle factors and a person's risk of getting infected.

1 Apr 2021

Study discovers new target on SARS-CoV-2 spike for protective antibodies

Researchers at The Scripps Research Institute, USA, have described a potential target for COVID-19 vaccines. Dubbed as CC40.8 bnAb, it exhibited broad reactivity with human beta coronaviruses.

1 Apr 2021

New update addresses key issues in the delivery of sleep care using telemedicine

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recently published an update on the use of telemedicine for the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders to reflect lessons learned from the transition to telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic and the benefits of continuing to utilize remote care when appropriate.

1 Apr 2021

Glycans influence SARS-CoV-2 spike–ACE2 binding affinity, finds study

A study conducted at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, USA, and Concordia University, Canada, has explored the impact of different types of glycans on the interaction between SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and human ACE2 receptor.

1 Apr 2021

Mind wandering may influence the current levels of optimism and mood

Scientists from The University of Western Australia have examined people’s thought patterns when their mind wanders and found a link to their level of optimism and happiness.

1 Apr 2021

Global health leaders call for urgent action to promote adolescent wellbeing

Governments and health leaders across the globe are today calling for urgent action on adolescent wellbeing.

1 Apr 2021

COVID-19 patients discharged from hospital have increased rates of multiorgan dysfunction

People discharged from hospital after covid-19 appear to have increased rates of organ damage (“multiorgan dysfunction”) compared with similar individuals in the general population, finds a study published by The BMJ today.

1 Apr 2021

Analysis finds low adherence to UK's test, trace, and isolate system

Levels of adherence to the UK’s test, trace, and isolate system and understanding of the main symptoms of covid-19 are low, particularly among men, younger age groups, people with a dependent child in the home, key workers, and those experiencing greater financial hardship, finds an analysis of online survey data published by The BMJ today.

1 Apr 2021

Pandemic News and Research

Further Reading

Higher B.1.1.7 transmission in households than other SARS-CoV-2 variants

Long-COVID-19 is a significant risk in recovered patients post-hospitalization

Proper choice of control group nullifies most observed genetic markers for severe COVID-19, study suggests

Researchers offer large-scale screening of potential broad-spectrum SARS-CoV-2 antivirals

Beating the pavement to vaccinate the underrepresented — and protect everyone

Battle brews over neutral zone where border-crossing parties rendezvous, risking detection and infection

Comparative study of SARS, MERS, BAT‐SARS, and SARS-CoV-2

New wireless system can restore communication and mobility in people with paralysis

Harnessing previous research to mitigate the mental health impacts of COVID-19 on adolescents

COVID-19: Several 'proxy wars' spawned by the pandemic

Backed by millions in public and private cash, rapid Covid tests are coming to stores near you

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Planning for round two

Study identifies new cardiometabolic factors linked to SARS-CoV-2 infection

Study discovers new target on SARS-CoV-2 spike for protective antibodies

New update addresses key issues in the delivery of sleep care using telemedicine

Glycans influence SARS-CoV-2 spike–ACE2 binding affinity, finds study

Mind wandering may influence the current levels of optimism and mood

Global health leaders call for urgent action to promote adolescent wellbeing

COVID-19 patients discharged from hospital have increased rates of multiorgan dysfunction

Analysis finds low adherence to UK's test, trace, and isolate system

Discover how SciY empowers scientists

Why use light scattering to analyze proteins and viral vectors?

Changing the landscape of R&D to build clinical success from the ground up

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