Disease/Infection News

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Why SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 is more virulent

A new preprint research paper by scientists from Sweden and India attempts to provide a preliminary answer to these questions using computational modeling. The research, which appears on the bioRxiv* server, predicts increased virulence with the new variant. If validated, this could help public health authorities prepare for new variants' possible impact as they emerge.

2 Feb 2021

Elevated ACE2 and inflammation levels increase risk for pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2

Among the hundred million or so cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that have occurred since the pandemic began, pregnant women have been a conspicuous risk group. However, the exact nature of the risk they and their fetuses face, and the mechanism by which it operates, is far from clear.

2 Feb 2021

Application radar COVID detects twice as many contacts of people infected with SARS-Cov2

The application Radar COVID detects twice as many close contacts of people infected with the virus SARS-Cov2 as the manual tracing system. This is the conclusion of the first scientific study that was carried out to assess the application in a trial carried out last summer on the island of La Gomera in the Canary Islands.

2 Feb 2021

Evidence that Long COVID-19 impacts children

The ongoing coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused over one hundred million reported infections, with over 2.23 million deaths worldwide. While most cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection are asymptomatic or mild, some patients report long-haul symptoms, often severely debilitating in nature. However, it is unclear how many children are affected similarly.

2 Feb 2021

Researchers investigate ski resorts to assess risk of COVID-19 infection

Where do the greatest risks of infection lurk? How can you protect yourself and others even better? Scientists all over the world are working to expand knowledge about Covid-19 – including at Empa.

2 Feb 2021

SARS-CoV-2 triggers development of new-onset IgG autoantibodies in hospitalized COVID-19 patients

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is associated with several clinical features common in autoimmune diseases as myalgias, arthralgias, fatigue, and rashes. COVID-19 patients also exhibit less common autoimmunity manifestations such as myositis, thrombosis, myocarditis, encephalitis, vasculitis, and arthritis.

1 Feb 2021

Characteristics of each district impact the spread of COVID-19, shows study

Per capita income, population volume and density, the structure of cities, transport infrastructure or whether districts have their own schools are all factors that can affect the spread of COVID-19.

1 Feb 2021

New protein acts as trickster to neutralize COVID-19 infection in human kidney organoid

Decoy protein intercepts spike of coronavirus. Virus prevented from infecting human cells. Protein may be a new way to treat and prevent COVID-19.

1 Feb 2021

Urinary shedding of spike protein in COVID-19 patients

A team of scientists from the United States has recently revealed that about 25% of people with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection develop renal complications and that the viral spike protein can be detected in the urine samples of these patients. The study is currently available on the medRxiv* preprint server.

1 Feb 2021

High national prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 with regional variability in England, REACT-1 survey finds

The REACT-1 survey conducted in the United Kingdom demonstrates a high average prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in England during January 2021. The survey also indicates that a sustained reduction in infection prevalence is urgently needed to avoid burden on healthcare systems and reduce coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related mortality.

1 Feb 2021

By July of 2020, 16.8 million people in the US infected with SARS-CoV-2 and didn’t know it

A seroprevalence study of nearly 10,000 people in the United States in the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic suggests there were at least five people with undiagnosed disease for every case diagnosed.

1 Feb 2021

Increased access to testing, treatment has reduced hepatitis C in low- and middle-income countries

Many low- and middle-income countries have reduced suffering from hepatitis C, thanks to increased access to testing and treatment.

1 Feb 2021

New platform using green algae tests for SARS-CoV-2 virus

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego, have demonstrated the potential of using green algae to make recombinant viral proteins that could be used in large scale assays to detect antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) - the agent that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

1 Feb 2021

Granulocyte changes could help predict patient outcomes in COVID-19

Researchers in Sweden have provided a comprehensive characterization of circulating granulocytes in people infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the agent that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

1 Feb 2021

WHO revises definition of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis

The definition of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) has been revised by the World Health Organization's Global TB Programme, who have also defined pre-XDR-TB for the first time, highlighting the seriousness of these forms of TB.

1 Feb 2021

New COVID-19 variant identified in Brazilian Amazon spreads faster

A new variant of the virus that causes COVID-19, identified in Brazil, is likely more transmissible than its parent strain because of mutations in the spike protein, according to researchers.

1 Feb 2021

WHO issues new road map to tackle neglected tropical diseases

A new World Health Organization road map for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) proposes ambitious targets and innovative approaches to tackle 20 diseases which affect more than a billion mainly poor people and which thrive in areas where access to quality health services, clean water and sanitation is scarce.

1 Feb 2021

Researchers explore rapid outbreak of COVID-19 in U.S. detention facility

To assess the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in a detention facility experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak, researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted testing for detained individuals in six quarantined dormitories at various time points.

1 Feb 2021

Researchers in Japan compare two seroprevalence antibody tests for SARS-CoV-2

Researchers have shown that using reliable antibody tests in conjunction is an effective way to estimate seroprevalence in low prevalence settings.

1 Feb 2021

Study finds high bleeding risk in a sub-group of COVID-19 patients

The human body strives to keep itself in homeostasis, or balance. When blood clots are created, the body's innate response is to break the clots down to prevent significant health problems from arising.

1 Feb 2021