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.

Expert review on the achievements and shortcomings of EU's COVID-19 response

A new study in Frontiers in Public Health presents a review of expert opinions on the achievements and shortcomings of the European Union's (EU) COVID-19 response. The aim: to draw lessons for future pandemics.

20 Aug 2021

MHRA approves first monoclonal antibody treatment for COVID-19 in the UK

Following on from a thorough review of the evidence carried out by the MHRA, and recommendation by the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM), the government's independent expert scientific advisory body, the MHRA has approved Ronapreve as the first monoclonal antibody combination product indicated for use in the prevention and treatment of acute COVID-19 infection for the UK.

20 Aug 2021

SARS-CoV-2 mutations alter dynamics of neutralizing antibodies

A new study describes how monoclonal antibodies raised against SARS-CoV-2 are affected by mutations in the antibody binding site.

20 Aug 2021

How can COVID-19 affect the skin?

A new review published in the journal Canadian Family Physician describes skin diseases caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

20 Aug 2021

‘We sent a terrible message’: Scientists say Biden jumped the gun with vaccine booster plan

The Biden administration's plans to make covid-19 booster shots available next month has drawn a collective scream of protest from the scientific community.

20 Aug 2021

Risk of household SARS-CoV-2 transmission may be equal among children and adults, says study

A team of scientists in the United States recently estimated the risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission from primary cases to household contacts.

20 Aug 2021

After pandemic ravaged nursing homes, new state laws protect residents

When the coronavirus hit Martha Leland's Connecticut nursing home last year, she and dozens of other residents contracted the disease while the facility was on lockdown. Twenty-eight residents died, including her roommate.

20 Aug 2021

Low-cost point of emission air purifiers can reduce airborne transmission of pathogens, says study

In a study conducted at the Monash University, Australia, scientists have examined the efficacy of portable air purifiers combined with a hood in reducing virus aerosol transmission and protecting healthcare workers from workplace contamination. The study is currently available on the medRxiv* preprint server.

20 Aug 2021

Biden’s no-jab-no-job order creates quandary for nursing homes

President Joe Biden's edict that nursing homes must ensure their workers are vaccinated against covid-19 presents a challenge for an industry struggling to entice its lowest-paid workers to get shots without driving them to seek employment elsewhere.

20 Aug 2021

Millions of Africans are at risk of contracting COVID-19 due to lack of public health tools

Millions of people across the African continent are at risk of contracting COVID-19 because of a lack of the most basic public health tools to protect themselves - including the essentials of soap and water.

20 Aug 2021

Study finds disparities in COVID-19 infection, mortality rates among Orange County residents

Socioeconomic, geographic and demographic factors all played critical roles in the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 mortality among Orange County residents last year, according to a study led by the University of California, Irvine.

20 Aug 2021

Study points to a novel strategy for developing broad-spectrum vaccines against coronaviruses

Scientists from Duke-NUS Medical School and the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) found that 2003 SARS survivors who have been vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine produced highly potent functional antibodies that are capable of neutralizing not only all known SARS-CoV-2 variants of concerns (VOCs) but also other animal coronaviruses that have the potential to cause human infection.

20 Aug 2021

NCCN joins the growing call for mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for healthcare workers

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network- a nonprofit alliance of leading cancer centers across the United States- joins the growing call for mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for all eligible healthcare workers.

19 Aug 2021

249,000 UK-donated AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines reach Ghana

A shipment of 249,000 UK-donated AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines has today (Wednesday, 18 August) arrived in Accra’s Kotoka International Airport.

19 Aug 2021

Researchers discover glycan 'gates' that open to allow SARS-CoV-2 entry

Since the early days of the COVID pandemic, scientists have aggressively pursued the secrets of the mechanisms that allow severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to enter and infect healthy human cells.

19 Aug 2021

Vaccines remain the most effective way to protect against COVID-19 Delta variant, study says

Obtaining two vaccine doses remains the most effective way to ensure protection against the COVID-19 Delta variant of concern dominant in the UK today, according to a study from the University of Oxford.

19 Aug 2021

Existing drugs block or reduce SARS-CoV2 infection in cells

Since the beginning of the pandemic, researchers worldwide have been looking for ways to treat COVID-19. And while the COVID-19 vaccines represent the best measure to prevent the disease, therapies for those who do get infected remain in short supply.

19 Aug 2021

Researchers receive $6.2 million grant to launch a center for perioperative mental health

Clinicians and researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have received a four-year, $6.2 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to launch a center designed to help improve mental health in surgery patients, particularly older surgery patients.

19 Aug 2021

Rare gene variant increases zoonotic H7N9 virus susceptibility in humans

Rare, single-nucleotide variants in the MX1 gene increase human susceptibility to zoonotic H7N9 avian influenza infection, according to a new study.

19 Aug 2021

Study shows an increase in home drinking during COVID-19 pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic months of March 2020 to September 2020, U.S. alcohol retail store sales increased compared to usual trends while food services and drinking places sales decreased markedly during the same period, according to a new study at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

19 Aug 2021

Pandemic News and Research

Further Reading

Expert review on the achievements and shortcomings of EU's COVID-19 response

MHRA approves first monoclonal antibody treatment for COVID-19 in the UK

SARS-CoV-2 mutations alter dynamics of neutralizing antibodies

How can COVID-19 affect the skin?

‘We sent a terrible message’: Scientists say Biden jumped the gun with vaccine booster plan

Risk of household SARS-CoV-2 transmission may be equal among children and adults, says study

After pandemic ravaged nursing homes, new state laws protect residents

Low-cost point of emission air purifiers can reduce airborne transmission of pathogens, says study

Biden’s no-jab-no-job order creates quandary for nursing homes

Millions of Africans are at risk of contracting COVID-19 due to lack of public health tools

Study finds disparities in COVID-19 infection, mortality rates among Orange County residents

Study points to a novel strategy for developing broad-spectrum vaccines against coronaviruses

NCCN joins the growing call for mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for healthcare workers

249,000 UK-donated AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines reach Ghana

Researchers discover glycan 'gates' that open to allow SARS-CoV-2 entry

Vaccines remain the most effective way to protect against COVID-19 Delta variant, study says

Existing drugs block or reduce SARS-CoV2 infection in cells

Researchers receive $6.2 million grant to launch a center for perioperative mental health

Rare gene variant increases zoonotic H7N9 virus susceptibility in humans

Study shows an increase in home drinking during COVID-19 pandemic

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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