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 project aims to measure nicotine use through sewage

University of California, Merced's Nicotine and Cannabis Policy Center has embarked on an innovative partnership with researchers at the university who track an entire community's health and habits with samples of human sewage.

11 Feb 2025

Many Americans take supplements for immune support, but doctor recommendations are low

Study finds 11% of U.S. adults used dietary supplements for immune support pre-pandemic, emphasizing the importance of healthcare professional recommendations.

11 Feb 2025

Physical activity improves sleep quality in older adults during social isolation

A new research paper was published in Aging (Aging-US) on January 15, 2025, in Volume 17, Issue 1, titled "Association between physical activity practice and sleep quality of older people in social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic and Health Guidelines and future studies for the post-COVID period: a systematic review."

11 Feb 2025

Single dose of antibody shields macaques from severe H5N1 influenza

National Institutes of Health (NIH) scientists and their colleagues report that a single dose of a broadly neutralizing antibody (bnAb) administered prior to virus exposure protects macaques from severe H5N1 avian influenza.

11 Feb 2025

Colorado study tracks long COVID healthcare utilization

A new study analyzing Long COVID healthcare utilization in Colorado reveals a significant shift from acute care to outpatient services following diagnosis, shedding light on evolving treatment patterns and the broader healthcare burden posed by the condition.

11 Feb 2025

Study provides a snapshot of substantial mental health burden on nurses

A first-of-its-kind study provides a snapshot of the substantial mental health burden on nurses around the world.

10 Feb 2025

Playfulness linked to stronger resilience during COVID-19 pandemic

Adults with high levels of playfulness showed strong resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to less playful individuals, new research shows.

10 Feb 2025

Children with peanut allergy achieve tolerance with gradual peanut butter ingestion

Eating gradually increasing doses of store-bought, home-measured peanut butter for about 18 months enabled 100% of children with peanut allergy who initially could tolerate the equivalent of at least half a peanut to consume three tablespoons of peanut butter without an allergic reaction, researchers report.

10 Feb 2025

Financial strain linked to increased loneliness in older adults

Older adults who didn't have enough savings to cover emergency expenses during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic faced another surprising problem: higher levels of loneliness.

10 Feb 2025

House cats with bird flu could pose a risk to public health

More than 80 domestic cats, among many other types of mammals, have been confirmed to have had bird flu since 2022 — generally barn cats that lived on dairy farms, as well as feral cats and pets that spend time outdoors and likely caught it by hunting diseased rodents or wild birds.

10 Feb 2025

International travel and health care networks drive Candida auris outbreaks

In just a decade, the drug-resistant fungal pathogen Candida auris (C. auris) has emerged as one of the most formidable threats to health care settings worldwide.

10 Feb 2025

Mediterranean diet boosts quality of life—here’s how

A systematic review finds that following the Mediterranean diet is linked to better physical, mental, and social well-being, particularly in aging populations and those with chronic conditions.

10 Feb 2025

Rwanda's swift response contained Marburg outbreak

In July 2024, Rwanda faced a Marburg virus outbreak among health workers in the capital Kigali, challenging the nation’s health system and testing its pandemic response capabilities.

7 Feb 2025

Brain waves help assess the effectiveness of alcohol consumption campaigns

Health campaigns, such as those against drug abuse or those promoting infection prevention measures during the coronavirus pandemic, are key public health tools and help protect the population.

7 Feb 2025

Mild electrical brain stimulation fails to improve motor recovery in stroke survivors

Mild electrical brain stimulation did not further improve motor recovery in stroke survivors, according to late-breaking science presented today at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2025.

7 Feb 2025

On the front lines against bird flu, egg farmers say they’re losing the battle

Greg Herbruck knew 6.5 million of his birds needed to die, and fast.

7 Feb 2025

Alcohol and preexisting health conditions raise risk of advanced liver disease

Why do some people who consume a few glasses of alcohol a day develop advanced liver disease while others who drink the same amount don't?

7 Feb 2025

US aid freeze puts HIV treatment in Africa at risk

Milicent Muyoma has been turned away twice from the clinic where she collects her HIV medication in Mathare, an informal settlement in Nairobi, Kenya.

6 Feb 2025

Natural immunity to SARS-CoV-2 weakened significantly after Omicron’s emergence

Findings indicate a sharp drop in immunity after Omicron infection, stressing the necessity for updated vaccines to enhance protection against reinfection.

6 Feb 2025

New nasal vaccine for COVID-19 set to begin clinical trial in the U.S.

A nasal vaccine for COVID-19 – based on technology developed at Washington University in St. Louis – is poised to enter a phase 1 clinical trial in the U.S. after an investigational new drug application from Ocugen, Inc. was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Ocugen, a U.S.-based biotechnology company, licensed the innovative technology from WashU in 2022.

5 Feb 2025