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.

New modeling study identifies effective nonpharmaceutical interventions at reducing COVID-19 transmission

Limiting gatherings to fewer than 10 people and closing educational institutions were among the most effective nonpharmaceutical interventions at reducing transmission of SARS-CoV-2, a new modeling study finds.

15 Dec 2020

World Health Organization, Sanofi sign new agreement to eliminate neglected tropical diseases

The World Health Organization (WHO) and Sanofi – one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies – have signed a new agreement for donations of medicines to sustain specific efforts to eliminate neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).

15 Dec 2020

Study: COVID-19 patients have greater risk of health problems, mortality than those with flu

Almost a year ago, COVID-19 began its global rampage, going on to infect about 69.5 million people and kill about 1.6 million as of early this month.

15 Dec 2020

SARS-CoV-2 unique deletion variants found in clinical specimens

While participating in the SPHERES Consortium project, US researchers sequenced 2,726 clinical patient specimens gathered in March 2020 and identified eight unique ORF7a deletion variants of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Their results are currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server.

15 Dec 2020

Reports of drinking bleach to prevent COVID-19 skewed by "problematic" claims

Researchers in the United States have conducted studies suggesting that reports of people ingesting household cleaning agents as a way of protecting against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are skewed by "problematic" responses to surveys.

15 Dec 2020

Researchers estimate the impacts of COVID-19 on U.S. health care community

During the COVID-19 pandemic, health care workers have been at the forefront of the battle against the life-threatening illness. Sadly, they are not immune to the effects of the disease. Many have contracted COVID-19, and some have died.

15 Dec 2020

AI-based study of social media maps SARS-CoV-2 vaccine hesitancy across the US

Researchers from the University of Rochester, USA, has produced an AI-based study that analyzes the social media platform Twitter to gauge public opinions in the US surrounding SARS-CoV-2 vaccines to shed greater light on this issue.

15 Dec 2020

People show increasing caution with regard to coronavirus during the Christmas season

This year, the pre-Christmas season is accompanied by discussions about a possible strict lockdown. This does not leave the population in Germany unaffected.

15 Dec 2020

Telemedicine needed to diagnose and treat swallowing difficulties in COVID-19 patients, say physicians

COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind the disease, have caused health care providers to change how they treat patients.

15 Dec 2020

Accurate STI reporting impacted by clinical focus on COVID-19

With the health care community heavily focused on COVID-19 since the first quarter of 2020, there have been concerns that reporting of other diseases -- and the resulting data that enables them to be more effectively treated and controlled -- may have been impacted.

15 Dec 2020

Resistance training and peanut protein supplementation positively affect muscle health in older adults

Declines in muscle mass and strength can begin in early adulthood, unnoticeable at first, and eventually progress until functionality, endurance, and general health may be compromised.

15 Dec 2020

Study finds gaps in opioid use disorder treatment during COVID shutdowns

In the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, visits to the doctor declined dramatically. One group of patients that appears to have weathered this trend are those who were already being treated for opioid use disorder.

15 Dec 2020

FDA issues emergency use authorization for first fully at-home OTC COVID-19 diagnostic test

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the first over-the-counter (OTC) fully at-home diagnostic test for COVID-19.

15 Dec 2020

Trump’s wrong. 15% ‘herd immunity’ is not on par with strength of a vaccine

During a Dec. 8 press conference about Operation Warp Speed, President Donald Trump likened the spread of the coronavirus throughout the population — which experts agree bestows some immunity on the people who became ill — to having a COVID-19 vaccine.

15 Dec 2020

Drug may increase vaccine protection in older adults

A drug that boosts the removal of cellular debris in immune cells may increase the protective effects of vaccines in older adults, a study published today in eLife shows.

15 Dec 2020

Researchers use HACCP framework to assess COVID-19 transmission risks in universities

Using the Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points (HACCP) framework, researchers assessed the risk and mitigation strategies for universities with students returning to campus. The methodology allowed a rapid response to curb disease transmission with continuing education.

15 Dec 2020

Pandemic News and Research

Further Reading

New modeling study identifies effective nonpharmaceutical interventions at reducing COVID-19 transmission

World Health Organization, Sanofi sign new agreement to eliminate neglected tropical diseases

Study: COVID-19 patients have greater risk of health problems, mortality than those with flu

SARS-CoV-2 unique deletion variants found in clinical specimens

Reports of drinking bleach to prevent COVID-19 skewed by "problematic" claims

Researchers estimate the impacts of COVID-19 on U.S. health care community

AI-based study of social media maps SARS-CoV-2 vaccine hesitancy across the US

People show increasing caution with regard to coronavirus during the Christmas season

Telemedicine needed to diagnose and treat swallowing difficulties in COVID-19 patients, say physicians

Accurate STI reporting impacted by clinical focus on COVID-19

Resistance training and peanut protein supplementation positively affect muscle health in older adults

Study finds gaps in opioid use disorder treatment during COVID shutdowns

FDA issues emergency use authorization for first fully at-home OTC COVID-19 diagnostic test

Trump’s wrong. 15% ‘herd immunity’ is not on par with strength of a vaccine

Drug may increase vaccine protection in older adults

Researchers use HACCP framework to assess COVID-19 transmission risks in universities

Structural inequalities in Brazil linked to higher COVID-19-related mortality in low-income areas

People in poorest areas more likely to be affected by severe Covid-19

Environmental monitoring shows SARS-CoV-2 contamination of surfaces in food plants

First enzyme-driven biocatalytic production of nucleic acid building blocks

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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