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.

SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant associated with more breakthrough infections

The study highlights that compared to the previously circulating alpha variant, the delta variant is associated with higher infectious virus load and a lower level of humoral immunity in the upper respiratory tract. The study is currently available on the medRxiv* preprint server prior to peer review.

24 Aug 2021

UCR researchers gauge social responsibility in reducing COVID-19 spread

Uncertainty and anxiety generated by the COVID-19 pandemic motivated social psychologist Evelyn Vázquez at the University of California, Riverside, to collaborate with UCR Healthy Campus on a study to identify safety measures and public health messaging that reduce the spread of the coronavirus within campus communities.

24 Aug 2021

Study shows higher risk of sarcopenia among older adults who are underweight and lack exercise

Analysis of medical data from around 1800 65-year-old residents of Kobe, a large Japanese city, has shown that at least 3% have possible sarcopenia (*1), revealing that the risks are higher in those who are underweight and don't exercise enough.

24 Aug 2021

Extreme novel pandemics more likely to occur in the future, statistical study reveals

The COVID-19 pandemic may be the deadliest viral outbreak the world has seen in more than a century. But statistically, such extreme events aren't as rare as we may think, asserts a new analysis of novel disease outbreaks over the past 400 years.

24 Aug 2021

Synthetic SARS-CoV-2 vs. SARS-CoV-2

Though vaccination efforts are underway in most countries, there are still limited options for treating COVID-19. Now, researchers at Penn State designed a new COVID-19 therapy that uses a defective synthetic version of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to interfere with the actual virus's replication.

23 Aug 2021

Study suggests algorithm may help optimize future COVID-19 vaccine design

Scientists predict the COVID-19 pandemic is on its way to becoming endemic. The rising spread of COVID-19 variants such as Delta has helped infect unvaccinated and some vaccinated individuals. COVID-19 vaccines continue to be the best way to protect against severe illness and death, but there may be a need for vaccines to protect against a specific variant.

23 Aug 2021

Scientists develop a scalable method to harvest exosomes from unpasteurized cow's milk

Exosomes are nano-sized biological capsules that cells produce to protect and courier delicate molecules throughout the body.

23 Aug 2021

COVID booster shots might be needed in subgroup of HIV-positive individuals

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has evolved into a global pandemic destroying lives and economies. COVID-19 is not curable, so vaccines are the only safeguard during this pandemic.

23 Aug 2021

Researchers use gene editing to render male mosquitoes infertile and slow disease spread

Mosquitos spread viruses that cause potentially deadly diseases such as Zika, dengue fever and yellow fever. New U.S. Army-funded research uses gene editing to render certain male mosquitoes infertile and slow the spread of these diseases.

23 Aug 2021

Study: Awake prone positioning can reduce the need for mechanical ventilation in COVID-19 patients

A six country clinical study of more than 1,100 hospitalized COVID-19 patients who required high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy suggests that prone positioning (rotating patients with severe breathing issues so they are face down) soon after admission can significantly reduce the need for mechanical ventilation.

23 Aug 2021

SARS-CoV-2 alpha variant exhibits enhanced household transmission

In a recent study, the transmission rate of wildtype and the Alpha variant of SARS-CoV-2 through households is tracked.

23 Aug 2021

CDC offers health tips to help children have a successful school year

As schools plan for a safe return to campus this year, it is critically important to consider the health and well-being of students and staff, and address issues with COVID-19, mental and physical health, and managing other chronic health conditions.

23 Aug 2021

Electronic health systems helped increase HBV screenings during COVID-19 pandemic

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, community health clinics saw a significant drop in patient visits. Important screenings like those for the hepatitis B virus (HBV) were getting missed, which was a setback for a local program called END B to end the transmission of HBV-;a leading risk factor for liver cancer.

23 Aug 2021

FDA and Mexican counterparts report accomplishments and set goals for future food safety partnership

As part of our ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of food imported from Mexico and advance protections for consumers in both countries, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and its regulatory counterparts in Mexico - the Federal Commission for the Protection from Sanitary Risks (Cofepris) and the National Service of Agro-Alimentary Health, Safety and Quality (SENASICA) held the first Food Safety Partnership Annual Meeting on August 20, an important milestone in food safety.

23 Aug 2021

FDA approves COVID-19 mRNA vaccine that uses fundamental Penn technology

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given the first full approval to a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, which uses modified mRNA technology invented and developed by scientists in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, whose years of research in mRNA science laid a critical piece of the foundation for the largest global vaccination campaign in history.

23 Aug 2021

Study finds unacceptably alarming rise in gestational diabetes among U.S. women

The rate of gestational diabetes has shot up 30 percent in young U.S. women over the past decade and more than doubled in U.S. women who identify as Asian-Indian compared with non-Hispanic White women, reports a new Northwestern Medicine study published in JAMA.

23 Aug 2021

Expansion of seasonal betacoronavirus antibodies post-vaccination is associated with reduction in neutralization of the SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern

A new study determined the antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 and seasonal viruses induced by BNT162b2-Comirnaty vaccination in healthcare workers.

23 Aug 2021

Pandemic News and Research

Further Reading

SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant associated with more breakthrough infections

UCR researchers gauge social responsibility in reducing COVID-19 spread

Study shows higher risk of sarcopenia among older adults who are underweight and lack exercise

Extreme novel pandemics more likely to occur in the future, statistical study reveals

Synthetic SARS-CoV-2 vs. SARS-CoV-2

Study suggests algorithm may help optimize future COVID-19 vaccine design

Scientists develop a scalable method to harvest exosomes from unpasteurized cow's milk

COVID booster shots might be needed in subgroup of HIV-positive individuals

Researchers use gene editing to render male mosquitoes infertile and slow disease spread

Study: Awake prone positioning can reduce the need for mechanical ventilation in COVID-19 patients

SARS-CoV-2 alpha variant exhibits enhanced household transmission

CDC offers health tips to help children have a successful school year

Electronic health systems helped increase HBV screenings during COVID-19 pandemic

FDA and Mexican counterparts report accomplishments and set goals for future food safety partnership

FDA approves COVID-19 mRNA vaccine that uses fundamental Penn technology

Study finds unacceptably alarming rise in gestational diabetes among U.S. women

Expansion of seasonal betacoronavirus antibodies post-vaccination is associated with reduction in neutralization of the SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern

Does SARS-CoV-2 affect male fertility?

The emergence and spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Lambda (B.1.621) variant

New study identifies novel compound as promising pan-coronavirus drug candidate

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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

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