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.

A global genetic surveillance gap for SARS-CoV-2

Now a new study posted to the medRxiv* preprint server provides a perspective on the global disparities surrounding SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance, their causes and consequences, and possible solutions to maximize the impact of pathogen genome sequencing for efforts on public health.

1 Sep 2021

COVID-19 associated mucormycosis cases in India

India continues to grapple with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). To date, the country has reported over one million new cases for the past 28 days.

31 Aug 2021

Increased transmissibility drives SARS-CoV-2 variant spread, aided by immune escape

Numerous variants of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have emerged over the last few months. Unfortunately, this has driven new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) waves, often more severe than before. A recent study posted to the medRxiv* preprint server discusses the characteristics of the variant that is responsible for this phenomenon.

31 Aug 2021

Assessing child and caregiver mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic

A new study describes child and caregiver mental health during a one-year period.

31 Aug 2021

Association between COVID-19 mitigation measures and preterm birth rate in China

A new study published in British Medical Journal Global Health addresses the effect of COVID-19 mitigation measures on the preterm birth rate in China.

31 Aug 2021

"FibroCOVID" - An emerging entity

In a recent study, a team of researchers aimed to investigate the prevalence and predictors of fibromyalgia in patients who recovered from COVID-19.

31 Aug 2021

Development of SARS-CoV-2 antibody escape variants in an immunocompromised individual

A new study published in mBio discusses the microevolution of SARS-CoV-2.

31 Aug 2021

Does SARS-CoV-2 infection protect against reinfection?

A new review showed that the protective effect of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection is at least equivalent to that of vaccination.

31 Aug 2021

Researchers identify biomarkers for rare, serious complication in children with COVID-19

The study focused on multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), an inflammatory response involving multiple organs that can occur weeks after infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

31 Aug 2021

Telemedicine appointments reduce risk of further illness in children with medical complexity

Telemedicine appointments combined with in-person visits significantly reduced the risk of further illness for children with medically complex cases, according to results of a new study by researchers with The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

31 Aug 2021

Anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunity induced by Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine may decline after 6 months

A team of scientists from Israel has recently claimed that antiviral immunity induced by the mRNA-based coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) BNT162b2 gradually declines over time, highlighting the need for a third booster dose.

31 Aug 2021

mRNA COVID-19 vaccines induce high antibody titers with significant neutralizing potency in saliva

Scientists from the USA and Canada have recently demonstrated that the dynamics of antibody response induced by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection or coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines are different.

31 Aug 2021

Post-infection vaccination produces potent neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 variants

The best protection against new SARS-CoV-2 infections or reinfections may be obtained by a combination of vaccine-elicited and infection-induced antibodies.

31 Aug 2021

J&J COVID-19 booster shot produces robust antibody response

The study showed neutralizing antibody responses produced by the Johnson & Johnson–Janssen vaccine was robust and stable eight months after immunization.

31 Aug 2021

Researchers develop adult lung organoids that represent all cell types

Since the COVID-19 pandemic reached the United States in early 2020, scientists have struggled to find laboratory models of SARS-CoV-2 infection, the respiratory virus that causes COVID-19. Animal models fell short; attempts to grow adult human lungs have historically failed because not all of the cell types survived.

31 Aug 2021

Coronavirus buildup in the lungs is likely behind high mortality rates

A buildup of coronavirus in the lungs is likely behind the steep mortality rates seen in the pandemic, a new study finds.

31 Aug 2021

Telehealth’s limits: Battle over state lines and licensing threatens patients’ options

If you live in one state, does it matter that the doctor treating you online is in another? Surprisingly, the answer is yes, and the ability to conduct certain virtual appointments may be nearing an end.

31 Aug 2021

Delta cutting ‘like a buzzsaw’ through Oregon-California border counties

If you live in one of the rural communities tucked into the forested hillsides along the Oregon-California border and need serious medical care, you'll probably wind up at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center. It serves about nine counties on either side of the border.

31 Aug 2021

The tale of mRNA vaccines: Turning calamity into opportunity

In a review paper published in the journal Nature Reviews, researchers from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pennsylvania have described the underlying technologies for mRNA vaccines and their future prospects with improved delivery systems and applications in diseases beyond the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

31 Aug 2021

Severe COVID-19 negatively impacts kidney function in kidney transplant recipients

During her medical school career, third-year student Skylar Nahi has taken advantage of the mentorship and research opportunities available to Feinberg students.

31 Aug 2021

Pandemic News and Research

Further Reading

A global genetic surveillance gap for SARS-CoV-2

COVID-19 associated mucormycosis cases in India

Increased transmissibility drives SARS-CoV-2 variant spread, aided by immune escape

Assessing child and caregiver mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic

Association between COVID-19 mitigation measures and preterm birth rate in China

"FibroCOVID" - An emerging entity

Development of SARS-CoV-2 antibody escape variants in an immunocompromised individual

Does SARS-CoV-2 infection protect against reinfection?

Researchers identify biomarkers for rare, serious complication in children with COVID-19

Telemedicine appointments reduce risk of further illness in children with medical complexity

Anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunity induced by Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine may decline after 6 months

mRNA COVID-19 vaccines induce high antibody titers with significant neutralizing potency in saliva

Post-infection vaccination produces potent neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 variants

J&J COVID-19 booster shot produces robust antibody response

Researchers develop adult lung organoids that represent all cell types

Coronavirus buildup in the lungs is likely behind high mortality rates

Telehealth’s limits: Battle over state lines and licensing threatens patients’ options

Delta cutting ‘like a buzzsaw’ through Oregon-California border counties

The tale of mRNA vaccines: Turning calamity into opportunity

Severe COVID-19 negatively impacts kidney function in kidney transplant recipients

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

From Puberty to Menopause: Clue’s CEO, Audrey Tsang on the Power of Femtech

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