Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

Latest Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

Antimalarial drug shows in vitro activity against SARS-CoV-2 and flu viruses

Now, a new study published in the preprint server bioRxiv in July 2020 reports on the antiviral activity of two drugs found in an antimalarial drug currently in phase II trials in South Korea, called Pyramax.

30 Jul 2020

Researchers analyze travel history of first COVID-19 cases reported in countries outside China

Web-based surveillance of the global spread of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) during the first 11 weeks of the outbreak (Dec 31, 2019, to March 10, 2020), reveals that three-quarters (75/99) of affected countries outside mainland China reported their first COVID-19 case in people who had recently travelled to an affected country--with almost two-thirds of these first cases linked to travel to Italy (27%), China (22%), or Iran (11%), according to new research published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal.

30 Jul 2020

COVID-19 pandemic is "one big wave" says WHO

The COVID-19 pandemic that has gripped the world has to date infected over 16.95 million individuals and taken more than 665,000 lives. Now the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that this pandemic could cause a Tsunami of cases, and there is no scope for complacency in regions where numbers have declined.

30 Jul 2020

Relatives of SARS-CoV-2 may pose a health threat for years to come

Coronaviruses are zoonotic viruses that jump from animals to humans and cause infection. There are many types of common human coronaviruses, which usually cause mild to moderate upper-respiratory tract illnesses, like the common cold. Most people get infected with one or more of coronavirus types 229E, NL63, OC43, and HKU1 at some point in their lives.

29 Jul 2020

Loss of smell in COVID-19 explained by scientists

Now, a team of researchers at Harvard Medical school says they have found the reason why some people who get COVID-19 experience loss of smell.

29 Jul 2020

Iota-carrageenan from red seaweed inhibits SARS-CoV-2 in laboratory conditions

In a recent bioRxiv paper, a research group from the Marinomed Biotech biopharmaceutical company in Austria showed that a sulfated polysaccharide iota-carrageenan has the propensity to inhibit cell entry of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by using an in vitro neutralization assay.

29 Jul 2020

Study explores if prior exposure to common cold viruses may affect SARS-CoV-2 severity

A study led by Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics (MPIMG) shows that some healthy individuals possess immune cells capable of recognizing the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2.

29 Jul 2020

Researchers identify potential anti-viral strategy for SARS-CoV-2 virus

In the case of an infection, the SARS-CoV-2 virus must overcome various defense mechanisms of the human body, including its non-specific or innate immune defense. During this process, infected body cells release messenger substances known as type 1 interferons. These attract natural killer cells, which kill the infected cells.

29 Jul 2020

Where mask-wearing isn’t gospel: Colorado churches grapple with reopening

The lights dimmed. Guitars thrummed. And a nine-piece band kicked off what amounted to a rock concert inside an amphitheater of a church. "Shout for joy to the Lord," one musician called out, quoting Scripture.

29 Jul 2020

WHO and NDWG launch framework for evaluation of new tests for TB infection

WHO and the Stop TB Partnership's New Diagnostics Working Group launched today a framework for the evaluation of new tests for tuberculosis infection.

29 Jul 2020

Analysis: When is a coronavirus test not a coronavirus test?

Desperate to continue the tradition of a family beach week, I hatched a plan that would allow some mask- and sanitizer-enhanced semblance of normality.

29 Jul 2020

Combination of certain drugs can do more harm than good, shows study

A team of researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) investigating how a certain type of drugs can kill cells has discovered that these drugs can do more harm than good when used in combination with other cancer treatments.

29 Jul 2020

Researchers launch randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial of pulmozyme in COVID-19 patients

Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital have launched a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial of dornase alfa (Pulmozyme) in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia and respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation.

29 Jul 2020

Computed tomography can serve as effective tool for diagnosing COVID-19

The use of computed tomography in outpatient computed tomography centers (OCTC) is entirely consistent with the clinical data and global best practices. This is also an effective tool for diagnosing the coronavirus infection COVID-19

29 Jul 2020

Exciting cost-effective SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate using Newcastle disease

Experts warn that the world may see repeated waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, scientists around the world are working hard to create a protective vaccine or antiviral, which could help to reduce the number of deaths and cases the next time around.

29 Jul 2020

Which face masks works best against COVID-19?

Wearing face masks is widely recommended as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues to ravage across the globe. The pandemic has now topped more than 16.66 million cases, with a staggering death toll of at least 659,000.

28 Jul 2020

Researchers analyze global trends of antibiotic consumption in each WHO AWaRe category

Antibiotic consumption per capita increased nearly 40 percent worldwide between 2000 and 2015, primarily driven by increases in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where lack of access to antibiotics exists alongside overuse.

28 Jul 2020

Elevated BPA levels associated with more asthma symptoms in kids

Children in low-income neighborhoods in Baltimore tended to have more asthma symptoms when levels of the synthetic chemical BPA (Bisphenol A) in their urine were elevated, according to a study from researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and School of Medicine.

28 Jul 2020

UArizona aims to develop a device for quick and accurate detection of pathogens, biological threats

To better protect individuals serving on the front lines of battlefields or dealing with an event like the current COVID-19 health crisis or potential future pandemics, scientists at the University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix are leading an effort to develop a device for easy, quick and accurate detection of pathogens and biological threats.

28 Jul 2020

Protein produced by the human immune system can strongly inhibit Sars-Cov-2

A protein produced by the human immune system can strongly inhibit corona viruses, including Sars-Cov-2, the pathogen causing Covid-19. An international team from Germany, Switzerland and the USA successfully showed that the LY6E-Protein prevents coronaviruses from causing an infection.

28 Jul 2020