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.

Novel method may enable decentralized facilities to deliver faster COVID-19 test services

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in over 2.5 million confirmed cases worldwide and nearly over 170,000 deaths as of April 21 according to the World Health Organization.

23 Apr 2020

New clinical trial to test two drugs for prophylactic treatment of COVID-19 contact persons

With the stepwise easing of measures in Switzerland, it is pivotal to monitor for any new COVID-19 outbreaks and to contain them in a timely and effective manner.

23 Apr 2020

Africa needs inclusive food systems to prevent COVID-19 calamities

To prevent COVID-19-induced calamities, Africa needs to have inclusive food systems, says a report.

23 Apr 2020

Biden says OSHA isn’t doing enough to protect workers’ from COVID-19

During an April 15 virtual town hall meeting with front-line workers, former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democrats' presumptive nominee for the White House, was asked by a meat processing worker what he would do to protect workers like her from COVID-19.

23 Apr 2020

Coronavirus crisis opens access to online opioid addiction treatment

Opioid addiction isn't taking a break during the coronavirus pandemic.

23 Apr 2020

Study: Effective integration of diverse scientific disciplines is vital to address scientific problems

Announcing a new article publication for BIO Integration journal. In this commentary article the authors Phei Er Saw and Shanping Jiang from Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China consider the significance of interdisciplinary integration in academic research and application.

23 Apr 2020

New study on African bats charts new ways to share and link published data

Newly published findings about the phylogenetics and systematics of some previously known, but also other yet to be identified species of Old World Leaf-nosed bats, provide the first contribution to a recently launched collection of research articles, whose task is to help scientists from across disciplines to better understand potential hosts and vectors of zoonotic diseases, such as the Coronavirus.

23 Apr 2020

Majority of Colorado’s APCs are interested in medication abortion training

Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have found that interest in abortion care among advance practice clinicians (APCs) in Colorado is substantial, though barriers must be addressed in order to increase access with APCs (nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, physician's assistants).

23 Apr 2020

Indiana Network for Population Health aims to address the social determinants of health

The Indiana Network for Population Health has been launched by the Regenstrief Institute and collaborators, including the State of Indiana, Indiana University and the Indiana Health Information Exchange, to provide the secure exchange of comprehensive data -- especially information on social determinants of health such as housing stability and access to nutritious food -- to researchers, policy makers, healthcare providers and others on the front lines fighting opioid and other addictions.

23 Apr 2020

New project launched to explore effects of COVID-19 social distancing on people aged over 70

A new research project has been launched to explore the effects of social distancing and isolation on people aged over 70 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

23 Apr 2020

Genomic sequencing shows COVID-19 spread patterns

Throughout the spread of the virus, genomic sequencing has played a role in epidemiologic tracking of the viral strains carried all over the world. Such strains are traced back to their origin by their unique mutations and help to link remote infections.

22 Apr 2020

Coronavirus has mutated into at least 30 variants

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues to threaten millions of people across the globe, and lockdowns appear set to remain in place in many countries amid rising death tolls, as governments decide whether to extend restrictions aimed at reducing the spread of the virus. Now, a new study reveals that the novel coronavirus has mutated into at least 30 different genetic variants, affecting different parts of the world.

22 Apr 2020

Poison center calls spike amid coronavirus pandemic

While most of the United States is in lockdown due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) spread, reports of accidental poisoning linked to cleaning products have increased by 20 percent, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says.

22 Apr 2020

Lifting the lid on coronavirus flatulence

The highly infectious virus is spread via aerosols (droplets of saliva or nasal discharge spread by coughing or sneezing by the infected person with the mouth uncovered). New speculation reveals that it could spread via fecal matter and even via farts or flatulence. Researchers believe that there is some truth to this speculation.

22 Apr 2020

Natural mood regulation is impaired in people with depression, research shows

Periods of lockdown during the COVID-19 situation likely to exacerbate problems with mood regulation, say experts at the University of Oxford.

22 Apr 2020

Antibodies to COVID-19 present in only 2 to 3 percent of population

This week on Monday (20th April 2020), in a press meet, the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General said that only around 2 to 3 percent of the global population have antibodies that show they had been infected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that causes COVID-19 disease.

22 Apr 2020

New heart attack testing protocol can reduce wait times and overcrowding in ERs

A new protocol using highly sensitive blood tests to determine whether someone is having a heart attack can reduce wait times and overcrowding in emergency departments, according to a new study from UT Southwestern Medical Center.

22 Apr 2020

Scientists identify cells likely targeted by novel coronavirus

Researchers at MIT; the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard; and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; along with colleagues from around the world have identified specific types of cells that appear to be targets of the coronavirus that is causing the Covid-19 pandemic.

22 Apr 2020

Should age be a prioritizing factor in deciding who gets treated for COVID-19?

With pubic healthcare systems becoming increasingly strained due to the impact of COVID-19, healthcare professionals are having to question whether to factor age in as a priority when deciding who to treat.

22 Apr 2020

Specialized nerve cells promote the consumption of high-fat food

High-calorie, energy-dense foods are constantly available in our modern society. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research in Cologne have discovered that a group of nerve cells in the brains of mice promotes the consumption of high-fat food.

22 Apr 2020