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.

Wash, dry, enroll: Finding Medicaid help at the laundromat

At a SuperSuds Laundromat just south of Washington, D.C., a steady stream of customers loaded clothes into washers and dryers on a recent Sunday morning, passing the time on their phones or watching television.

5 Feb 2025

Alcohol-related deaths and hospitalizations in Canada surged during the COVID-19 pandemic

Alcohol-related health issues surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a 17.6% rise in mortality, calling for enhanced prevention and treatment strategies.

5 Feb 2025

Acoustic voice signals aid in identifying comorbid anxiety and depression

It's no secret that there is a mental health crisis in the United States. As of 2021, 8.3% adults had major depressive disorder (MDD) and 19.1% had anxiety disorders (AD), and the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these statistics.

4 Feb 2025

New insights into how the Sudan virus attaches to human cells

The Sudan virus, a close relative of Ebola, has a fatality rate of 50% but remains poorly understood in terms of how it infects cells. Currently, no approved treatments exist.

4 Feb 2025

SARS-CoV-2 infection linked to rapid plaque growth in coronary arteries

A new study found severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection was associated with the rapid growth of plaque in the coronary arteries and an increased risk of cardiovascular events.

4 Feb 2025

Uganda launches first ever vaccine trial for Sudan Ebola virus

In a global first, Uganda's Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners today launched a first ever vaccine trial for Ebola from the Sudan species of the virus, and at an unprecedented speed for a randomized vaccine trial in an emergency.

4 Feb 2025

In silico docking of clinically approved drugs against the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain

Announcing a new article publication for BIO Integration journal. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), first identified in China in December 2019, rapidly spread worldwide, resulting in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

4 Feb 2025

Study finds global underuse of medications for cardiovascular disease prevention

Secondary prevention medications for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are underused globally and additional strategies to increase their use are needed to improve CVD management and reduce premature mortality rates, according to study published today in JACC, the flagship journal of the American College of Cardiology.

4 Feb 2025

Dartmouth study links missing birth support to higher stress levels

Most animals, including other primates, give birth alone, but humans require assistance during childbirth due to the physiological complexities of the process.

3 Feb 2025

Alcohol-related deaths and hospitalizations increased significantly during pandemic

Alcohol-related deaths increased 18% during the pandemic, as did hospitalizations related to alcohol use, according to new research in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) https://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.241146.

3 Feb 2025

Faith may help reduce psychological distress during times of crisis

Two Cambridge-led studies suggest that the psychological distress caused by lockdowns (UK) and experience of infection (US) was reduced among those of faith compared to non-religious people.

3 Feb 2025

Loneliness: Two types, two impacts, and what they mean for mental health

Loneliness isn't just one thing—it has two key forms: emotional loneliness (lacking deep connections) and social loneliness (lacking social networks). Recognizing these differences is crucial for mental health interventions and public policy.

2 Feb 2025

Does COVID increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease?

COVID-19, even in mild cases, is linked to changes in Alzheimer’s disease-related brain biomarkers comparable to four years of aging. This study raises concerns about long-term neurological risks and cognitive decline post-COVID.

2 Feb 2025

New method can neutralize coronaviruses with mineral nanoparticles

A new way to neutralize the coronavirus and other membrane-surrounded viruses has been discovered by researchers from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and the University of Tartu.

31 Jan 2025

COVID-19 pandemic linked to increased emergency department walkouts

Researchers have long known that patients who leave emergency departments before medically advised use more emergency care services, are more likely to be readmitted to the hospital and face higher costs of care-as well as increased mortality rates.

31 Jan 2025

Early adult death rates remain higher than expected post-pandemic

New research from the University of Minnesota and Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) shows that death rates for early adults, or adults aged 25-44, rose sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic and remain higher than expected post-pandemic.

31 Jan 2025

Ventilation and air cleaners may increase aerosol spread in hospitals

Increased use of ventilation and air cleaners, designed to mitigate the spread of viral infections in hospitals, is likely to have unpredictable effects and may cause viral particles to move around more, according to a new study from researchers at UCL and UCLH.

31 Jan 2025