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.

FDA expands approved indication for influenza treatment to include post-exposure prevention

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration expanded the approved indication for Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) to include post-exposure prevention of influenza (flu) for patients 12 years of age and older after contact with an individual who has the flu.

23 Nov 2020

New CDC report describes COVID-19 in NYC in early spring

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), has published an update on the outbreak in New York City. The report is titled, "COVID-19 Outbreak — New York City, February 29–June 1, 2020".

23 Nov 2020

New algorithm accurately predicts outcomes for COVID-19 patients

With communities across the nation experiencing a wave of COVID-19 infections, clinicians need effective tools that will enable them to aggressively and accurately treat each patient based on their specific disease presentation, health history, and medical risks.

23 Nov 2020

Study: High blood sugar may worsen COVID-19 outcomes and mortality rates for non-diabetics

Abnormally high blood sugar may worsen outcomes and mortality rates for COVID-19 patients, including those without diabetes, according to major research published in the peer-reviewed open access journal Annals of Medicine.

23 Nov 2020

SARS-CoV-2's spike protein mutations have slowed, study finds

A team of researchers at the School of Information Sciences in Illinois, USA, has revealed the rate of mutation in the 29 proteins that make up the SARS-CoV-2 microbe.

23 Nov 2020

How COVID-19 compares to other respiratory illnesses

A team of scientists from Israel and the United States has compared the disease presentation and progression between in-hospital patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and other respiratory illnesses such as influenza.

23 Nov 2020

SARS-CoV-2 spike deletion mutations may evade current vaccine candidates, study finds

A thought-provoking new study reports that the anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike antibodies elicited by natural infection may not be able to neutralize emerging strains that display deletion mutations in their genomic RNA.

23 Nov 2020

Nasal dryness could be an early warning sign of COVID-19

A new study published by an international team of researchers on the preprint medRxiv* server in November 2020 details the nasal symptoms that are associated with anosmia and ageusia (loss of smell and taste) in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), including the early warning signs of infection.

23 Nov 2020

COVID-19 cases likely to increase to 20 million in the U.S. by end of January 2021

President-elect Joe Biden has signaled that fighting the COVID-19 pandemic will be an immediate priority for his administration. He recently announced a coronavirus advisory board of infectious disease researchers and former public health advisers along with an updated strategy that will include increases in testing and contact tracing, as well as transparent communication.

23 Nov 2020

Modified SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain could increase vaccine efficacy, says study

A team of researchers from the USA and China have engineered a receptor-binding domain (RBD) that they claim improves the immunogenicity of multivalent SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Their study, which was released on the bioRxiv* in November 2020, may help advance even more efficacious SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidates in the future.

23 Nov 2020

Were you notified about missing tax forms for your ACA subsidy? Blame COVID.

The notice from the federal health insurance marketplace grabbed Andrew Schenker's attention: ACT NOW: YOU'RE AT RISK OF LOSING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE STARTING JANUARY 1, 2021.

23 Nov 2020

Researchers develop recombinant SARS-CoV-2 model to aid vaccine and antiviral research

Researchers have developed a fluorescent reporter gene-bearing recombinant form of SARS-CoV-2, which is capable of replication.

23 Nov 2020

Chicago seroprevalence study shows COVID-19 cases 16 times higher than currently predicted

A startling new case study of Chicago, led by a team of researchers at Northwestern University in Illinois, USA, suggests a 16-fold higher incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection than previously thought. This is judging from seroprevalence (antibody presence blood testing) figures, rather than the number of RT-PCR-positives reported there (via swab sample testing of symptomatic patients).

23 Nov 2020

Compounds in traditional Chinese medicine herbs may inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection

Using computational methods, a team of researchers identified three compounds in traditional Chinese medicine that could be used against SARS-CoV-2.

23 Nov 2020

Oxford University and AstraZeneca release their COVID-19 vaccine results

AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford have just released their results from its interim analysis of AZD1222, a vaccine being trialed to prevent COVID-19.

From AstraZeneca 23 Nov 2020

Study: Some parents may prioritize Thanksgiving gathering over reducing COVID-19 risks

For some families, one of the most difficult steps in reducing COVID-19 risks has been keeping children apart from grandparents and other extended family members.

23 Nov 2020

Study: Over-45s are at higher risk of contracting STIs than ever before

OVER-45s are at a higher risk of contracting STIs than ever before because of society's unwillingness to talk about middle-aged and older people having sex, a new report has found.

23 Nov 2020

FDA schedules meeting to discuss emergency use authorization of COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for casirivimab and imdevimab to be administered together for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 in adults and pediatric patients (12 years of age or older weighing at least 40 kilograms [about 88 pounds]) with positive results of direct SARS-CoV-2 viral testing and who are at high risk for progressing to severe COVID-19.

23 Nov 2020

Researchers develop survey to understand factors that influence vaping

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, information about the dangers of vaping was emerging. To investigate the potentially serious health and respiratory implications of vaping, Mayo Clinic researchers wanted to better understand the factors influencing vaping in the community.

23 Nov 2020

SARS-Cov-2 antibodies are detected up to 3 months after infection, shows study

A new study in health care workers led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), an institution supported by "la Caixa" Foundation and the Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, shows that IgA and IgM antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 decay quickly, while IgG antibody levels are maintained for at least three months after infection.

23 Nov 2020

Pandemic News and Research

Further Reading

FDA expands approved indication for influenza treatment to include post-exposure prevention

New CDC report describes COVID-19 in NYC in early spring

New algorithm accurately predicts outcomes for COVID-19 patients

Study: High blood sugar may worsen COVID-19 outcomes and mortality rates for non-diabetics

SARS-CoV-2's spike protein mutations have slowed, study finds

How COVID-19 compares to other respiratory illnesses

SARS-CoV-2 spike deletion mutations may evade current vaccine candidates, study finds

Nasal dryness could be an early warning sign of COVID-19

COVID-19 cases likely to increase to 20 million in the U.S. by end of January 2021

Modified SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain could increase vaccine efficacy, says study

Were you notified about missing tax forms for your ACA subsidy? Blame COVID.

Researchers develop recombinant SARS-CoV-2 model to aid vaccine and antiviral research

Chicago seroprevalence study shows COVID-19 cases 16 times higher than currently predicted

Compounds in traditional Chinese medicine herbs may inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection

Oxford University and AstraZeneca release their COVID-19 vaccine results

Study: Some parents may prioritize Thanksgiving gathering over reducing COVID-19 risks

Study: Over-45s are at higher risk of contracting STIs than ever before

FDA schedules meeting to discuss emergency use authorization of COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer

Researchers develop survey to understand factors that influence vaping

SARS-Cov-2 antibodies are detected up to 3 months after infection, shows study

Best practices - optimize qPCR processes for pathogen detection eBook

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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