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.

Immune memory responses differ between SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A

Researchers in Canada have shown that the long-lasting immunity that develops following infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is characterized by different T cell responses than those observed for influenza A virus-specific immune memory.

14 Jun 2021

SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern could cause further epidemics in UK

The team – from the University of Warwick, the University of Manchester, and the University of Oxford – say that a variant of concern that has either a substantial transmission advantage over resident lineages, or the ability to evade vaccine- or infection-induced immunity, can be expected to drive a wave of infections and hospitalizations similar to that seen in the country during the winter of 2020-21.

14 Jun 2021

Plasma zinc status not an effective prognostic factor for hospitalized COVID-19 patients

Due to previous evidence suggesting that zinc deficiencies can lead to complications along with an impaired antiviral response, a group of international researchers has undertaken a prospective observational study to investigate this association further.

14 Jun 2021

South African and Brazilian SARS-CoV-2 variants overtake UK variant in French regions

Researchers have found that the variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that were initially identified in South Africa (B.1.351) and Brazil (P.1) appear to be spreading more quickly in some areas of France than the previously dominant UK variant B.1.1.7.

14 Jun 2021

Study reveals risk factors associated with COVID-19 outcomes for people with IDD

A study of nearly 550 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities receiving residential services in New York City found that age, larger residential settings, Down syndrome and chronic kidney disease were the most common risk factors for COVID-19 diagnosis, and heart disease was most associated with COVID-19 deaths.

14 Jun 2021

Researchers study sick-leave patterns after Covid-19

Nearly 12,000 people in Sweden received sickness benefit from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency for COVID-19 during the first wave of the pandemic.

14 Jun 2021

COVID-19 PCR tests can withstand freeze-drying process

In fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, it's not just the vaccines that require complicated cold supply chains and refrigerated storage. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests -- often considered the "gold standard" of testing -- also have enzymes and reagents that need to be frozen.

14 Jun 2021

COVID-19 public health efforts linked to dramatic decline in COPD hospitalizations

Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine analyzed data at the 13-hospital University of Maryland Medical System and found public health measures designed to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus may have fostered a substantial side benefit: Hospital admissions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were reduced by 53 percent, according to a new study accepted for publication by a peer-reviewed medical journal and currently available at the online journal medRxiv.

14 Jun 2021

Researchers examine the importance of time after COVID-19 vaccination

A new study has been published on the medRxiv* preprint server, which deals with the importance of time post-vaccination based on the quantification of VOC immune evasion. The current study developed a toy model to estimate the effectiveness of the vaccines against VOC over time. Researchers have shown that the estimated value is highly dependent on time post-vaccination. Additionally, this model can describe the implications of changes in vaccine efficacy against VOC.

14 Jun 2021

Physical activity could mitigate the effects of stress, burnout among health care workers

There is no question that the pandemic has been immensely stressful for health care workers, especially for those on the frontline of patient care. Yet, even before the pandemic, the regular demands of many health care industry jobs put these workers at risk for burnout.

14 Jun 2021

Fatty acid binding site on SARS-CoV-2 spike triggers spike monomer crosstalk that is key to infectivity

A new study, released as a preprint on the bioRxiv* server, examines the role played by a fatty acid called linoleic acid (LA) that attaches at a binding site near the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein. The spike exists as a homotrimer in open or closed conformations. In the former, at least one RBD points upwards.

14 Jun 2021

Can rapid antigen tests help screen for COVID-19?

The spread of SARS-CoV-2 is driven by the high proportion of asymptomatic and very mild infections, allowing people to move around and engage in public activity normally. There are many modeling studies that suggest that large-scale screening for the presence of this virus can help curb transmission at this point, from people with few or no symptoms. A new study points out the accuracy of SARS-CoV-2 antigen-detection rapid diagnostic tests for this purpose when used at the point-of-care.

14 Jun 2021

COVID-19 in pregnancy could be less severe than previously thought: A Danish case study

A reassuring study by researchers in Denmark indicates that while 5% of pregnant women with COVID-19 may require hospitalization, severe maternal and neonatal outcomes are rare.

14 Jun 2021

Delays and shortages hit SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance program

A new study from the Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology (IBAB), Bengaluru, India, provides an overview of how well this important monitoring mechanism is functioning around the world. The team has released their findings as a preprint on the bioRxiv* server.

14 Jun 2021

Emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants contain mutations that interfere with genomic sequencing

A recent study by researchers in Canada shows how mutations in newly emerging lineages of SARS-CoV-2 may disrupt the sequencing process and thus interfere with this important area of research.

14 Jun 2021

The Native Antigen Company wins ‘The Best COVID-19 Responder’ at OBN 2020 Awards

The Native Antigen Company, part of LGC Clinical Diagnostics, won ‘The Best COVID-19 Responder’ at OBN 2020 Awards.

From The Native Antigen Company 14 Jun 2021

Study reports self-disinfecting polymer surfaces that can inactivate SARS-CoV-2

Surfaces with anionic block copolymers can inactivate different viruses within minutes by making the polymer-microbe interface very acidic. Such surfaces can continuously disinfect surfaces without the need for reapplication of disinfectant.

14 Jun 2021

New poll finds low public awareness of how to get enough vitamin D year-round

Despite vitamin D being essential for healthy bones, only half of people (51%) realize that it is important for bone health and 43% have never even considered what they need to do to look after their bones, according to a recent poll of 2,000 UK adults by YouGov and commissioned by the Royal Osteoporosis Society (ROS).

14 Jun 2021

Joint ICMRA and WHO statement explains how COVID-19 vaccines are regulated for safety, effectiveness

Healthcare professionals and public health authorities have a central role in discussing vaccination against COVID-19 with their patients.

13 Jun 2021

Teachers and school staff should be prioritised for COVID vaccines

In a communication paper recently published in the Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health by Koirala et al. (June 8th, 2021), it is argued that Australian schools should remain open, with proper testing, tracing, and quarantine protocols in place.

13 Jun 2021

Pandemic News and Research

Further Reading

Immune memory responses differ between SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A

SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern could cause further epidemics in UK

Plasma zinc status not an effective prognostic factor for hospitalized COVID-19 patients

South African and Brazilian SARS-CoV-2 variants overtake UK variant in French regions

Study reveals risk factors associated with COVID-19 outcomes for people with IDD

Researchers study sick-leave patterns after Covid-19

COVID-19 PCR tests can withstand freeze-drying process

COVID-19 public health efforts linked to dramatic decline in COPD hospitalizations

Researchers examine the importance of time after COVID-19 vaccination

Physical activity could mitigate the effects of stress, burnout among health care workers

Fatty acid binding site on SARS-CoV-2 spike triggers spike monomer crosstalk that is key to infectivity

Can rapid antigen tests help screen for COVID-19?

COVID-19 in pregnancy could be less severe than previously thought: A Danish case study

Delays and shortages hit SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance program

Emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants contain mutations that interfere with genomic sequencing

The Native Antigen Company wins ‘The Best COVID-19 Responder’ at OBN 2020 Awards

Study reports self-disinfecting polymer surfaces that can inactivate SARS-CoV-2

New poll finds low public awareness of how to get enough vitamin D year-round

Joint ICMRA and WHO statement explains how COVID-19 vaccines are regulated for safety, effectiveness

Teachers and school staff should be prioritised for COVID vaccines

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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