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.

No-biopsy diagnosis for adults with suspected celiac disease could cut long NHS waiting lists

The British Society of Gastroenterology has issued interim guidance, pending the publication of its new Coeliac Guidelines in 2021, so that some adults with suspected coeliac disease can now be diagnosed based on blood test results alone, cutting out the long wait for an endoscopy with biopsy.

8 Jul 2020

Innovative clinical trial platform launched to accelerate testing of COVID-19 drugs

The University of Liverpool, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and Southampton Clinical Trials Unit announced this week that they have launched their innovative COVID-19 drug testing platform, AGILE.

8 Jul 2020

COVID-19 pandemic has major impact on aesthetic implant market, says GlobalData

Nearly one quarter of revenue from aesthetic implants in the US will be lost in 2020 due to the COVID-10 pandemic, as most procedures are considered to be elective and non-essential, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

8 Jul 2020

QUT and Oxford collaborate on clinical trial to test asthma inhalers as treatment for COVID-19

QUT researchers are collaborating with colleagues at the University of Oxford on a UK clinical trial to test common asthma inhalers as a treatment for COVID-19 infection.

8 Jul 2020

China reports Dengue fever after bubonic plague threat

The actively spreading coronavirus disease (COVID-19) first emerged in China in December 2019. More than six months after, the world grapples with nearly 11.8 confirmed cases of the viral infection. Now, as China slowly starts to reboot its economy and ease lockdown restrictions, two new health issues are emerging.

8 Jul 2020

EPA approves Lysol products that kill SARS-CoV-2 on surfaces

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) just approved two disinfection sprays that can kill severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), on surfaces.

8 Jul 2020

GlobalData: Ventilator industry prepares for second wave of COVID-19 outbreaks

Following reports that the second wave of COVID-19 is almost inevitable towards the winter, the ventilator industry is working with government and third-party partners to prepare for the potential shortage.

8 Jul 2020

Study suggests natural UV radiation protects against coronavirus

A new study by scientists at the University of Edinburgh and published on the preprint server medRxiv* in July 2020 suggests an interesting link between ultraviolet A radiation and deaths due to COVID-19. While this is an observational study, which means that direct inferences cannot be drawn from this finding, it does, however, suggest better strategies for reducing the death rate due to COVID-19.

8 Jul 2020

Analysis across 170 countries of Government responses to COVID-19

An exciting new study by researchers at the Universities of Oxford and Edinburgh and published on the preprint server medRxiv* in July 2020 reports that early and stringent government measures in the form of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) against the spread of COVID-19 results in a significant reduction in the mortality due to this disease. The finding could help shape public health policies in the absence of effective vaccines or therapeutic drugs.

8 Jul 2020

Asthma inhalers being trialed for treatment of COVID-19

Researchers from Queensland University of Technology and Oxford University are working in collaboration to begin human clinical trials of inhaled corticosteroids, commonly used for asthma patients, on patients with COVID-19. The researchers believe that this could be useful for patients with the novel coronavirus infection.

7 Jul 2020

Many in the UK would refuse a coronavirus vaccine, survey finds

The novel coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has left many scientists and pharmaceutical companies racing to develop an effective vaccine to combat the viral infection. With 21 candidate vaccines in clinical evaluation, 139 candidate vaccines in preclinical evaluation across the world, most countries are hoping to be first to the post.

7 Jul 2020

New studies examine outcomes of kidney transplant recipients with COVID-19

Two new studies examine the health and outcomes of patients with COVID-19 who have undergone kidney transplantation or are receiving hemodialysis. The findings appear in an upcoming issue of CJASN.

7 Jul 2020

Research sheds light on mysterious COVID-19 related hyperinflammatory shock in children

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has cost hundreds of thousands of human lives, besides more than 11 million cases. Caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the disease was initially thought to be more severe in the elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions. However, it started to manifest in children after the peak of the first wave.

7 Jul 2020

Manchester expert backs new multidisciplinary task force to combat pandemics

A world-leading materials expert from The University of Manchester is helping to launch a new global task force to drive innovation in digital health to combat pandemics like COVID-19 - and ambitious outputs could eventually include building 'smart cities' that feature anti-virus defenses.

7 Jul 2020

Pitt researchers receive $330,000 to examine the effect of silver-coated fixtures on water disinfection

As workplaces prepare to reopen, precautionary measures like plexiglass barriers and sanitizer stations have been put in place to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

7 Jul 2020

Coronavirus study shows herd immunity is infeasible

Herd immunity has been one of the key topics amid the coronavirus pandemic. Previous reports show that when a large proportion of the population gets immune to the novel coronavirus, through vaccination, herd immunity can be achieved.

7 Jul 2020

UCLA launches an AI robot to support the emotional needs of children

"Hi! Do you want to sing a song with me?" With its big WALL-E eyes and sleek plastic body, Robin the robot has the huggable, child-friendly look of an animated Pixar character -- one that is eager to interact with pediatric patients to ease their anxiety and loneliness in the hospital.

7 Jul 2020

Risk of severe COVID-19 in ~50 kb genomic segment inherited from Neanderthals

Researchers have found that a small fragment of the genetic code that has been inherited by modern humans from Neanderthals could carry the secret of why some people succumb to a severe form of COVID-19 requiring hospitalization, while others recover.

7 Jul 2020

New 'catch and kill' air filter can trap SARS-CoV-2 virus

Researchers from the University of Houston, in collaboration with others, have designed a "catch and kill" air filter that can trap the virus responsible for COVID-19, killing it instantly.

7 Jul 2020

Gene expression networks flag potential therapeutic targets for SARS-CoV-2

An international team of researchers from Canada, Australia, the Netherlands, and the United States has identified dozens of genes that could contribute to the pathology of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and serve as potential therapeutic targets.

7 Jul 2020