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.

Bovine H5N1 influenza shows potential for human adaptation through key mutations

Recent study reveals H5N1 mutations enhancing human receptor binding, highlighting pandemic risks and the need for vigilant surveillance of influenza strains.

9 Dec 2024

Vancouver study reveals surge in severe Shigella cases in homeless population

A recent study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases has uncovered an increase in severe multidrug-resistant (MDR) Shigella sonnei infections, particularly among people experiencing homelessness (PEH) in Vancouver, Canada.

6 Dec 2024

Rethinking public health measures based on game theory

With flu season upon us and coronavirus a persistent threat, Dartmouth researchers propose a new way of thinking about masking and social distancing rules that is more responsive to what people feel is necessary at a given time - and may help increase cooperation.

6 Dec 2024

How measles, whooping cough, and worse could roar back on RFK Jr.’s watch

The availability of safe, effective covid vaccines less than a year into the pandemic marked a high point in the 300-year history of vaccination, seemingly heralding an age of protection against infectious diseases.

6 Dec 2024

Psilocybin helps reduce depression in clinicians amid COVID-19 crisis

Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy resulted in significant reductions in depression among clinicians who provided front-line COVID-19 care in 2020 and 2021.

5 Dec 2024

Long-COVID lingers in children

A 24-month study reveals that 7.2% of children consistently experience long-COVID symptoms, with tiredness, sleep issues, and headaches most commonly reported, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.

5 Dec 2024

Does air pollution worsen Long COVID? Researchers weigh in

Exposure to air pollutants, particularly particulate matter, may increase Long COVID risk by worsening initial infection severity, but noise, light, and green spaces show no significant impact, a Catalonian study reveals.

5 Dec 2024

Psilocybin therapy reduces depression in clinicians after pandemic frontline work

This study demonstrates psilocybin's effectiveness in reducing depression symptoms in healthcare workers, offering hope for pandemic-related mental health care.

5 Dec 2024

Aging reduces cancer risk by limiting cell regeneration

When it comes to cancer, aging is a double-edged sword, researchers are increasingly learning.

4 Dec 2024

Nursing homes fell behind on vaccinating patients for covid

It seems no one is taking covid-19 seriously anymore, said Mollee Loveland, a nursing home aide who lives outside Pittsburgh.

4 Dec 2024

Report highlights increasing use of targeted therapies before surgery for cancer treatment

Breast, bladder, and pancreatic cancers are increasingly being treated with a broad range of therapies before a patient undergoes surgery, and cancer stage at diagnosis continues to be a leading factor in determining a person's survival rate for all types of cancer, according to the first-ever annual cancer report from the National Cancer Database (NCDB) of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Cancer Programs.

3 Dec 2024

Nanozyme breakthrough offers new hope for viral pneumonia treatment

A recent study in Nature Materials introduces an inhalable nanozyme treatment for viral pneumonia, showing promising results in reducing inflammation and viral load in various mouse models. The nanozyme, CeTA-K1tkP, demonstrates broad-spectrum effects and biocompatibility, offering a potential new approach to treating pneumonia and other inflammatory conditions.

3 Dec 2024

Polypurine hairpins found to effectively halt SARS-CoV-2 replication

A study led by the University of Barcelona and the Spanish National Research Council's Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC - CSIC) presents a new therapeutic tool capable of inhibiting the proliferation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19.

3 Dec 2024

Nursing home industry wants trump to rescind staffing mandate

Covid's rampage through the country's nursing homes killed more than 172,000 residents and spurred the biggest industry reform in decades: a mandate that homes employ a minimum number of nurses.

3 Dec 2024

Study reveals pathways behind organ damage in severe COVID-19

New research published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences sheds light on the pathways that drive organ damage and death in severe COVID-19 and helps explain why survivors of the disease can experience long-term complications.

2 Dec 2024

Homebound seniors living alone often slip through health system’s cracks

Carolyn Dickens, 76, was sitting at her dining room table, struggling to catch her breath as her physician looked on with concern.

2 Dec 2024

Capsule sponge test revolutionizes GERD diagnosis, reduces unnecessary endoscopies

Capsule sponge testing, a minimally invasive diagnostic tool, effectively triages gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) patients, reducing unnecessary endoscopies by 70% and accurately identifying high-risk cases for Barrett’s esophagus and cancer in real-world clinical settings.

1 Dec 2024