CORONA Main Coronavirus thread

[Heliobas Disciple]

Latest COVID variant, XEC, has spread to half of US states, reports say

The latest strain of the COVID-19 virus, XEC, is circulating across the country. The new variant has been reported in at least 25 U.S. states, according to reports.

www.foxnews.com

(fair use applies)


Latest COVID variant, XEC, has spread to half of US states, reports say
The mutated strain poses ‘no unique concern,’ according to infectious diseases expert
By Melissa Rudy , Angelica Stabile
Published September 20, 2024 8:17pm EDT

The latest strain of the COVID-19 virus, XEC, is circulating across the country.

The new variant has been reported in at least 25 U.S. states, according to data from the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS), as WebMD reported.

Some of the states with the highest cases — 10 or more each — include California, New Jersey and Virginia, the data showed.

As of Friday, the variant is not yet being tracked by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the World Health Organization (WHO).

KP.3.1.1 is still considered the "predominant variant" of the virus, according to the CDC’s website.

Jake Glanville, PhD, an infectious diseases expert and CEO of Centivax in San Francisco, California, told Fox News Digital that XEC represents a shuffling of two descendants of last year’s JN.1 strain.

"Coronaviruses are mutating continuously, so when new strains become dominant, it tends to be because that strain has an infection or transmission advantage over all the other circulating mutant strains out there," he told Fox News Digital during an on-camera interview.

XEC is an example of such a new, mutated strain, the doctor confirmed.

Last month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved updated COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer for the 2024-2025 season. (Reuters/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo)

"So far, it doesn't appear to have any distinct symptoms or mode of infection," Glanville said.

"It might be a little more infectious than some other strains, which is why it's becoming dominant, but there's no unique cause for concern for the public."

The current vaccines are based on the KP.2 strain, which itself is also a descendant of JN.1 and a reasonable match for XEC, Glanville noted.

"As XEC doesn’t appear to have any unusual infection symptoms, and is pretty similar to the vaccine strains chosen by the FDA this year, XEC is not a unique concern at this time," the expert said.

"It's something that vaccine developers monitor to try to understand at what point they need to make a new vaccine, because eventually XEC or some other strain will mutate enough to escape the current vaccine designs."

"Vaccine makers monitor these strains, because eventually XEC or some other strain will mutate enough to escape the current vaccine designs," an infectious diseases expert said. (iStock)

It's always possible that a new variant will evolve into mutations that cause new types of symptoms, Glanville said, but noted that isn't currently happening with XEC.

"This looks like the coronavirus that we're used to," the doctor said.

Dr. Marc Siegel, senior medical analyst for Fox News and clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, agreed that the current 2024-2025 vaccines should cover the emerging XEC subvariant.

"Common symptoms include sore throat, congestion, cough, fatigue, nausea and loss of taste," he told Fox News Digital.

Siegel recommends the updated vaccine for the elderly, people who are immunocompromised, those with chronic illness, and young children who did not get previous COVID vaccines.

Last month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved updated COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer for the 2024-2025 season.

The updated mRNA vaccines, Comirnaty and Spikevax, were fully approved for people 12 years and older, while the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine were granted emergency authorization for children 6 months through 11 years of age, according to the FDA announcement.

Fox News Digital reached out to the CDC for comment.

 

[helen]

If XEC causes water to flow from the bowels without warning, a bunch of my family has already had it.

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFH2PXq-vwU

What's REALLY In the mRNA Vaccine? Truth Revealed!
Vejon Health
Streamed live Sept 21 2024
48 min 4 sec

In this revealing video, we delve into the controversial topic of mRNA vaccines and uncover the shocking truth about what’s really in these injections. As the debate around vaccinations continues to grow, many people are left with unanswered questions and concerns regarding their safety and ingredients.

The video features a replay of an older video clip with Christie Grace from the Post Vax/Long Covid Congress which he released last year.

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

XEC: What you need to know about the new COVID variant

A new COVID variant is spreading rapidly and could soon become the dominant variant around the globe. The variant, called XEC, was first detected in Germany in August and appears to have a growth advantage over other circulating variants—but it is not a radically different variant.

medicalxpress.com

(fair use applies)


XEC: What you need to know about the new COVID variant
by Richard Orton and Wilhelm Furnon, The Conversation
September 21, 2024

Illustration of the recombination event between the genomes of XEC’s parent COVID variants. The genome is the virus’s complete set of genetic instructions. Credit: University of Glasgow


A new COVID variant is spreading rapidly and could soon become the dominant variant around the globe. The variant, called XEC, was first detected in Germany in August and appears to have a growth advantage over other circulating variants—but it is not a radically different variant.

XEC is what's known as a "recombinant variant." Recombinants can occur naturally when a person is simultaneously infected with two different COVID variants.

XEC is the product of a recombination (exchanged pieces of genetic material between two variants) between the KS.1.1 variant and the KP.3.3 variant. These two parent variants are closely related, having both evolved from JN.1, which was the dominant variant around the world at the start of 2024.

XEC was first reported in early August 2024 in Germany and a few other European countries but has since continued to spread, with over 600 cases identified in 27 countries across Europe, North America and Asia.

Scientists identify XEC cases using a public database called Gisaid, to which genetic sequences of viruses are uploaded for analysis. It is here that mutations in SARS-CoV-2 are spotted (SARS-CoV-2 being the virus that causes COVID).

But it's a bit like a drunk looking for his lost keys under the street lamp because that's where the light is best. In other words, more cases of new variants are spotted in those countries that typically sequence more COVID samples through routine surveillance programs.

Countries with the highest number of identified XEC cases as of September 18 are the US (118), Germany (92), UK (82), Canada (77) and Denmark (61). Of course, these numbers could be higher in countries that don't routinely sequence COVID samples.

Currently, the dominant variant in Europe and North America is KP.3.1.1, while the closely related KP.3.3 dominates in Asia.

XEC is a minority variant and its prevalence is highest in Germany, where around 13% of sequences are potentially XEC. In the UK, prevalence is around 7%, while in the US it is below 5%. However, XEC appears to have a growth advantage and is spreading faster than other circulating variants, suggesting it will become the dominant variant globally in the next few months.

XEC has very similar genetic material to both its parent variants as well as other circulating variants, which are mostly derived from JN.1.

One reason for XEC's advantage could be the relatively rare T22N mutation (inherited from KS.1.1) combined with Q493E (from KP.3.3) in the spike protein. The spike protein is a critical part of the virus that binds to human cells, enabling the virus to gain entry and start replicating. However, little is known about the effects of the T22N mutation on how well the virus can replicate or spread between people.


But does it cause worse disease?

We don't have data yet from patients or laboratory experiments to tell us what kind of illness XEC is likely to cause—although this data is expected soon. However, this new variant will probably be similar to other COVID variants in terms of the disease caused, given its similar genetic information. So symptoms such as a high temperature, sore throat with a cough, headaches and body aches along with tiredness are to be expected.

Hospitalizations usually increase in winter as a consequence of colder temperatures and increased spreading of viruses (due to people being indoors more). So these increases, when they come, should not necessarily be associated with the new variant.

The campaign for autumn boosters in the UK will start in October with an updated vaccine targeting the JN.1 variant, which XEC derives from, assuring a good level of protection against severe illness.

XEC is the latest in a long list of past and current COVID variants being monitored as the virus naturally evolves. Recombinant variants themselves are nothing new, as COVID cases in 2023 were dominated by the XBB recombinant variant.

Several other closely related variants are being monitored, such as the MV.1 variant, which, like XEC, also has the T22N mutation in the spike protein. MV.1 was originally reported in India in late June and has also spread rapidly to other countries, making it one to monitor in the future.

XEC may well become the dominant global variant, but it could be outcompeted before then or replaced quickly afterwards by a different but closely related variant.

 

[Zoner]

Run time 3:53 (PLEASE INCLUDE RUN TIMES ON VIDEOS!- Summerthyme)

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1837889710259147252

View: https://twitter.com/newstart_2024/status/1837889710259147252

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

Americans can order free COVID-19 tests beginning this month

Starting this month, Americans will be able to order free COVID-19 test kits that will be mailed to their homes. U.S. households will be able to order as many as four nasal swab tests at COVIDTests.gov when the federal program reopens. An agency spokesperson has said the tests will detect...

www.yahoo.com

(fair use applies)


Americans can order free COVID-19 tests beginning this month
Associated Press
Sun, September 22, 2024, 12:53 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Starting this month, Americans will be able to order free COVID-19 test kits that will be mailed to their homes.

U.S. households will be able to order as many as four nasal swab tests at COVIDTests.gov when the federal program reopens. The U.S. Health and Human Services agency overseeing the program has not yet given an exact date when ordering can begin.

An agency spokesperson has said the tests will detect current virus strains and can be ordered ahead of the holiday season, when families and friends gather for celebrations.

U.S. regulators last month approved an updated COVID-19 vaccine that is designed to combat the recent virus strains and, hopefully, forthcoming winter ones, as well. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention already has recommended this fall’s shot for everyone age 6 months and older.

While most Americans have some degree of immunity from prior infections or vaccinations or both, that protection wanes. Last fall’s shots targeted a different part of the coronavirus family tree, a strain that’s no longer circulating.

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

Is it a cold, flu or COVID? An expert helps you sort it out

It's that time of year when respiratory viruses start to circulate widely, but how can you tell the difference between the symptoms of a cold, the flu and COVID?

medicalxpress.com

(fair use applies)


Is it a cold, flu or COVID? An expert helps you sort it out
by Robin Foster
September 22, 2024

It's that time of year when respiratory viruses start to circulate widely, but how can you tell the difference between the symptoms of a cold, the flu and COVID?

Dr. William Brian Glenn, from Hackensack Meridian Medical Group in New Jersey, shares what you need to know to be ready for whatever virus comes your way this fall and winter.

The challenge with cold, flu and COVID-19 is that the symptoms for each are similar, Glenn noted.

A cold can show up as cough, sneezing, runny nose, sore throat and fatigue, while the flu can include all of those symptoms plus headache, fever, chills, body aches and fatigue.

Meanwhile, COVID can present with cold and flu symptoms, along with a loss of taste or smell, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, or shortness of breath, Glenn said.

Cold symptoms tend to come on gradually, while flu symptoms come on suddenly. COVID symptoms take between two and 14 days after exposure to surface—and can progress to more severe symptoms in some people.

Are some people more at risk of developing colds, flu and COVID-19 than others?

The elderly, as well as children and adults with chronic conditions including diabetes, lung or kidney disease, metabolic disorders, heart disease and cancer are more susceptible to respiratory infections. Taking certain medicines that weaken the immune system can also put people at a higher risk for these illnesses, Glenn added.

If you're traveling, remember that the cold and flu season in your destination site may be different from the United States. Check with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to see what vaccines are required in your destination country.

If you're at average risk for any of these respiratory viruses, follow vaccine guidelines for influenza and COVID. If you're at higher risk because of other health conditions or concerns, you should discuss with your health care provider what prevention strategy is right for you.

To protect yourself from all of these viruses, frequently wash your hands, cover your mouth when you cough, sneeze into your shoulder, wear a mask when appropriate, regularly clean highly touched surfaces (counters, doorknobs, toilet handles), keep hydrated and rest when needed, Glenn said.

 

[Zoner]

The WHO and the UN are joining forces to remove the sovereignty of nations.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1837994644719722962

View: https://twitter.com/defiyantlyfree/status/1837994644719722962?s=46&t=1GPp52vDMcboAD8_ZMiCSw

 

[BUBBAHOTEPT]

View: https://youtu.be/hTme-ZMV7j0?si=vmjNwbI6aHh-bJ7y

 

[mzkitty]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1837727317462077559

View: https://fxtwitter.com/i/status/1837727317462077559

 

[mzkitty]

She's in NYC. Take a read of her X page:

x.com

x.com

 

[Countrymouse]

Run time 3:53 (PLEASE INCLUDE RUN TIMES ON VIDEOS!- Summerthyme)

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1837889710259147252

View: https://twitter.com/newstart_2024/status/1837889710259147252

Hep B is the one and only vax my son Timothy got as a baby.

Nurse either ignorant or flat-out LIED and told me (in my 3-days postpartum haze) at his check -up that he MUST not leave the office without hep-B because it was "airborne."

I knew something was wrong with that but it wasn't till I got home, afterward, and looked it up--that I saw it is ONLY contracted through sharing of "bodily fluids" (i.e., sex) or sharing of intravenous needles (i.e., druggies) that it is spread.

Timothy developed autism (high-functioning--I firmly believed because that is the ONLY vaccine he ever got!)

Neither of his brothers (who were NOT given ANY vaccines) did.

Tim tells me not to feel bad about it (him getting autism on top of his genetically-caused blindness)-- he believes it had a lot to do with the development of his musical talent.

Still hurts to think I hurt him without meaning to hurt him, though.

Wasn't long after that the CDC admitted they were "with all possible haste" removing thimerosol (preservative) from ALL their vaccines--while simultaneously saying it was "harmless" (why you removing it with "all possible haste" then????!?)

A friend whose son was born same year as Timothy got ALL the shots--so a full-on dose of thimerisol.

He is extremely autistic and now works as a bagger in a grocery store.

May God PUNISH the evil-doers who knowingly did this to our children!

 

[Countrymouse]

Run time 3:53 (PLEASE INCLUDE RUN TIMES ON VIDEOS!- Summerthyme)

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1837889710259147252

View: https://twitter.com/newstart_2024/status/1837889710259147252

Camus

@newstart_2024

Shocking... Robert F. Kennedy Jr. - Secret CDC Meeting About the Rise of Autism From Vaccinations "So they looked at one vaccine, which is the hepatitis B vaccine. They looked at kids who had gotten it in the first 30 days, and then they looked at kids who had not gotten it in 30 days. In other words, kids who got it later or didn't get it at all. And they compared these two groups. And among the kids who got it in the first 30 days, there was a... I think it was a 10,000% increased risk for a later subsequent autism diagnosis if you got in the first 30 days. They immediately knew what was causing it. It was 11.35%. So it's 1,135% increased risk. So they knew immediately, it's called a relative risk of 11.35. If you have a relative risk of two, causation is presumed. This was 11.35. The link between cigarettes, smoking a pack of cigarettes a day for 20 years and getting lung cancer is a relative risk of 10. This was 11.35. So they knew what it was, and then they had an emergency meeting that they called. They didn't want to do it on CDC campus because they thought it would be susceptible to freedom of information requests. So they did it in a very, in this remote retreat center called Simpsonwood, which is a Methodist retreat center on the wooded banks of the Chattahoochee River in a remote part of Georgia. And they had all of the big panjarums from the vaccine industry, from the pharmaceutical industry, from the universities, who are the ones who test the vaccines, from NIH, CDC, FDA, the World Health Organization, the European Medical Agency, and they all got together for two days to talk about this study. The first day, they were all... Somebody made a transcript of it. And that transcript was given to me. And I published excerpts from it. But the first day, they're all talking about, oh my God, the lawyers are going to come after us. Nobody can deny this. This is bulletproof. There's no way to argue with this. This is real science. We can't, what are we going to do? The second day, they spent talking about how to hide it from the American public. And I published these things. Then I took a lot of heat at that point."

Simpsonwood is (or was--the Methodist church sold the park--after signing a "perpetual" contract with little Mrs. Simpson, who donated her family's farm on the Chattahoochee to the church, that they would NEVER sell or develop it)--
right in my backyard.

I am not one BIT surprised.

This is pretty much what I heard from my friend (mother of the severely autistic boy, who trusted the CDC / medical community completely until this happened) who worked for the CDC.

 

[psychgirl]

View: https://youtu.be/hTme-ZMV7j0?si=vmjNwbI6aHh-bJ7y

Omg!!

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

FYI: This study was done first year of COVID, ie: before the vaccine came out. It's encouraging for mother's who were ill, but too early to see the result of the vaxx. Also not a real study (see highlighted text). Looks like a PR fueled study, not a scientific one. ymmv

https://scitechdaily.com/unexpected-relief-new-study-debunks-autism-risk-in-pandemic-era-babies/

(fair use applies)

highlighting mine


Unexpected Relief: New Study Debunks Autism Risk in Pandemic-Era Babies
By Columbia University Irving Medical Center
September 23, 2024

A study by Columbia University found no increased autism risk in children born during the first year of the pandemic or exposed to COVID in utero, challenging fears that the pandemic would raise autism rates.

Instead, findings suggest a lower autism screening positivity in COVID-exposed children, possibly influenced by parental perception. Researchers plan to monitor these children for other neurodevelopmental issues as they grow.


Exploring Autism Risk in the COVID Era

According to new research from Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, children born during the first year of the pandemic, including those exposed to COVID-19 in utero, were no more likely to screen positive for autism than unexposed or pre-pandemic children.

The study, published today (September 23) in JAMA Network Open, is the first report on autism risk among pandemic-era children.

“Autism risk is known to increase with virtually any kind of insult to mom during pregnancy, including infection and stress,” says Dani Dumitriu, associate professor of pediatrics and psychiatry and senior author of the study. “The scale of the COVID pandemic had pediatricians, researchers, and developmental scientists worried that we would see an uptick in autism rates. But reassuringly, we didn’t find any indication of such an increase in our study.”

It’s important to note, Dumitriu adds, that the study did not look at autism diagnosis, only the risk of developing autism as measured by a screening questionnaire filled in by the child’s parents. “It’s too early to have definitive diagnostic numbers,” she says. “But this screener is predictive, and it’s not showing that prenatal exposure to COVID or the pandemic increases the likelihood of autism.”

“There has been broad speculation about how the COVID generation is developing, and this study gives us the first glimmer of an answer with respect to autism risk.”


Investigating Autism Risk Among Pandemic-Era Children

Dumitriu’s team has been studying the potential effects of COVID—pandemic-related maternal stress and maternal infection—on child neurodevelopment at different points since birth through the COMBO (COVID-19 Mother Baby Outcomes) Initiative. Children who were in the womb during the first phases of the pandemic are now reaching the age when early indicators of autism risk could emerge.

The current study examined nearly 2,000 children born at NewYork-Presbyterian’s Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital and Allen Hospital between January 2018 and September 2021. Autism risk was calculated based on responses from a neurodevelopment screening questionnaire that pediatricians give to parents to evaluate toddlers’ behavior. Scores were compared for children born during and prior to the pandemic and for children with and without in utero exposure to COVID. All children were screened between 16 and 30 months of age.


Reassuring Results From the Latest Research

The researchers found no difference in positive autism screenings between children born before the pandemic and those born during the pandemic.

“COVID is still quite prevalent, so this is comforting news for pregnant individuals who are worried about getting sick and the potential impact on autism risk,” Dumitriu says.

Surprisingly, the study also found that fewer children exposed to COVID-19 in utero screened positive for autism compared with children whose moms did not have COVID-19.

“We suspect that having COVID during pregnancy may have influenced parents’ assessment of their child’s behaviors,” Dumitriu says. “Parents who did not have COVID may have experienced higher stress — due to the constant worry of getting sick and the vigilance around preventing infection — and may have been more likely to report concerning child behaviors.”


Could Autism Show Up Later in Childhood?

As the children age, the researchers will continue to monitor them for autism diagnoses. But based on the current results, Dumitriu thinks it unlikely that an uptick in autism related to COVID-19 will occur.

“Children who were in the womb early in the pandemic are now reaching the age when early indicators of autism would emerge, and we’re not seeing them in this study,” Dumitriu says. “And because it’s well-known that autism is influenced by the prenatal environment, this is highly reassuring.”

But other impairments may emerge later, and the researchers will continue to study the children’s neurodevelopment as they age.


Historical Context and Further Study Needs

Several studies of infants who were in utero during previous pandemics, natural disasters, famines, and wartime have shown that other neurodevelopmental conditions, potentially triggered by the stressful environment, can emerge in adolescence and even early adulthood.

“We need to acknowledge the unique experience and environment of children who were born during the pandemic—including parental stress and social isolation—and continue to monitor them for potential developmental or psychiatric differences,” says Morgan Firestein, associate research scientist in psychiatry and first author of the study.

Reference: “Positive Autism Screening Rates in Toddlers Born During the COVID-19 Pandemic” by Morgan R. Firestein, Angela Manessis, Jennifer M. Warmingham, Ruiyang Xu, Yunzhe Hu, Morgan A. Finkel, Margaret Kyle, Maha Hussain, Imaal Ahmed, Andréane Lavallée, Ana Solis, Vitoria Chaves, Cynthia Rodriguez, Sylvie Goldman, Rebecca A. Muhle, Seonjoo Lee, Judy Austin, Wendy G. Silver, Kally C. O’Reilly, Jennifer M. Bain, Anna A. Penn, Jeremy Veenstra-VanderWeele, Melissa S. Stockwell, William P. Fifer, Rachel Marsh, Catherine Monk, Lauren C. Shuffrey and Dani Dumitriu, 23 September 2024, JAMA Network Open.
DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.35005

Dani Dumitriu, MD, is an attending pediatrician in the Newborn Medicine Section at NewYork-Presbyterian’s Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital.

Other authors (all from Columbia University and affiliates except where noted) are Angela Manessis, Jen Warmingham, Ruiyang Xu, Yunzhe Hu, Morgan A. Finkel, Margaret Kyle, Maha Hussain, Imaal Ahmed Andréane Lavallée, Ana Solis, Vitoria Chavez, Cynthia Rodriguez, Sylvie Goldman, Rebecca A. Muhle, Seonjoo Lee, Judy Austin, Wendy G. Silver, Kally C. O’Reilly, Jennifer M. Bain, Anna A. Penn, Jeremy Veenstra-VanderWeele, Melissa S. Stockwell, William P. Fifer, Rachel Marsh, Catherine Monk, Lauren C. Shuffrey (New York University).

The study was supported by grants from the National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH126531 and T32MH016434) and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (K99HD108389 and P2CHD058486).

 

[Zoner]

Run time 3:53 (PLEASE INCLUDE RUN TIMES ON VIDEOS!- Summerthyme)

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1837889710259147252

View: https://twitter.com/newstart_2024/status/1837889710259147252

will do

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

Large study offers latest insights into after effects of severe COVID-19 on the brain

In the U.K.'s largest study to date, researchers have come to a better understanding of the immediate and long-term impacts of COVID-19 on the brain.

medicalxpress.com

(fair use applies)


Large study offers latest insights into after effects of severe COVID-19 on the brain
by University of Liverpool
September 24, 2024

In the U.K.'s largest study to date, researchers have come to a better understanding of the immediate and long-term impacts of COVID-19 on the brain.

Published in Nature Medicine, the study from researchers led by the University of Liverpool alongside King's College London and the University of Cambridge as part of the COVID-CNS Consortium shows that 12–18 months after hospitalization due to COVID-19, patients have worse cognitive function than matched control participants.

Importantly, these findings correlate with reduced brain volume in key areas on MRI scans as well as evidence of abnormally high levels of brain injury proteins in the blood.

Strikingly, the post-COVID cognitive deficits seen in this study were equivalent to 20 years of normal aging. It is important to emphasize that these were patients who had experienced COVID, requiring hospitalization, and these results shouldn't be too widely generalized to all people with lived experience of COVID.

However, the scale of deficit in all the cognitive skills tested, and the links to brain injury in the brain scans and blood tests, provide the clearest evidence to date that COVID can have significant impacts on brain and mind health long after recovery from respiratory problems.

The work forms part of the University of Liverpool's COVID-19 Clinical Neuroscience Study (COVID-CNS), which addresses the critical need to understand the biological causes and long-term outcomes of neurological and neuropsychiatric complications in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Study author Dr. Greta Wood from the University of Liverpool said, "After hospitalization with COVID-19 many people report ongoing cognitive symptoms often termed 'brain fog.'

"However, it has been unclear as to whether there is objective evidence of cognitive impairment and, if so, is there any biological evidence of brain injury; and most importantly if patients recover over time.

"In this latest research, we studied 351 COVID-19 patients who required hospitalization with and without new neurological complications. We found that both those with and without acute neurological complications of COVID-19 had worse cognition than would be expected for their age, sex and level of education, based on 3,000 control subjects."

Corresponding author Professor Benedict Michael, Professor of Neuroscience at the University of Liverpool said, "COVID-19 is not a condition simply of the lung. Often, those patients who are most severely affected are the ones who have brain complications.

"These findings indicate that hospitalization with COVID-19 can lead to global, objectively measurable cognitive deficits that can be identified even 12–18 months after hospitalization.

"These persistent cognitive deficits were present in those hospitalized both with and without clinical neurological complications, indicating that COVID-19 alone can cause cognitive impairment without a neurological diagnosis having been made.

"The association with brain cell injury biomarkers in blood and reduced volume of brain regions on MRI indicates that there may be measurable biological mechanisms underpinning this.

"Now our group is working to understand whether the mechanisms that we have identified in COVID-19 may also be responsible for similar findings in other severe infections, such as influenza."

Professor Gerome Breen from King's College London said, "Long term research is now vital to determine how these patients recover or who might worsen and to establish if this is unique to COVID-19 or a common brain injury with other infections.

"Significantly, our work can help guide the development of both similar studies in those with long COVID who often have much milder respiratory symptoms and also report cognitive symptoms such as 'brain fog' and also to develop therapeutic strategies."

More information: Greta K. Wood et al, Post-hospitalisation COVID-19 cognitive deficits at one year are global and associated with elevated brain injury markers and grey matter volume reduction, Nature Medicine (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41591-024-03309-8
Journal information: Nature Medicine
Provided by University of Liverpool

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

Pfizer v Moderna COVID vaccine patents battle to go to appeal in UK

Pfizer and Moderna's legal battle over their rival COVID-19 vaccines will continue after London's High Court on Wednesday gave Pfizer permission to take the case to the Court of Appeal. Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech sued Moderna in London in September 2022, seeking to revoke two...

finance.yahoo.com

(fair use applies)


Pfizer v Moderna COVID vaccine patents battle to go to appeal in UK
by Sam Tobin - Reuters
Wed, Sep 25, 2024, 8:16 AM 1 min read

LONDON (Reuters) - Pfizer and Moderna's legal battle over their rival COVID-19 vaccines will continue after London's High Court on Wednesday gave Pfizer permission to take the case to the Court of Appeal.

Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech sued Moderna in London in September 2022, seeking to revoke two patents held by Moderna, which hit back days later alleging its own patents had been infringed.

The High Court gave a mixed ruling in July, ruling that one of Moderna's two patents relating to the messenger RNA (mRNA) technology that underpinned its COVID-19 vaccine was invalid.

But the court ruled another similar patent was valid and that Pfizer and BioNTech's Comirnaty vaccine had infringed it, meaning Moderna is entitled to damages in relation to sales after March 2022.

Judge Richard Meade gave Pfizer and BioNTech permission to appeal against that decision on Wednesday. The issue of any damages owed to Moderna is on hold pending their appeal.

Moderna was refused permission to appeal in relation to its patent which was found to be invalid, but the company can still apply directly to the Court of Appeal.

The London lawsuits are just one leg of a global battle between Pfizer, BioNTech and Moderna, which have also been involved in proceedings in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and the United States, as well as at the European Patent Office.

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

For so many reasons that I don't even know where to start, this study and article is just boggling my mind. Although seems par for course for what passes for health care in the Covid and post Covid era....

Sending home COVID-positive nursing home staff means worse outcomes for patients, study says

Sending nursing staff home who are mildly ill with COVID-19 could lead to unnecessary patient hospitalizations, deaths, and costs, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open.

medicalxpress.com

(fair use applies)


Sending home COVID-positive nursing home staff means worse outcomes for patients, study says
by The City University of New York
September 25, 2024

Estimated impact of nursing home staff furlough policies compared with current staffing levels on COVID-19–related and non–COVID-19–related resident outcomes and costs. Credit: JAMA Network Open (2024). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.29613

Sending nursing staff home who are mildly ill with COVID-19 could lead to unnecessary patient hospitalizations, deaths, and costs, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open.

When nursing home staff who test positive for COVID-19 are sent home, this can worsen an already present understaffing problem, resulting in even more missed resident care tasks, resident hospitalizations and deaths, and costs, according to the study's authors.

The computer simulation modeling study was conducted by researchers at the Public Health Informatics, Computational, and Operations Research (PHICOR) at CUNY SPH, the Center for Transformative Geriatric Research at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, the California Association of Long Term Care Medicine, and the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of California, Irvine.

Many nursing homes are currently understaffed. A previous study found that 94% of U.S. nursing homes were understaffed in 2021 and 72% of nursing homes had fewer staff in 2024 than pre-pandemic. Some reasons for this understaffing include low employee wages, difficult working conditions, staff turnover and burnout, and lack of minimum staffing standards.

This new modeling study estimated that, in the absence of COVID-19, 22% of resident care tasks were not completed given current staffing levels, with an average of 93.7 of 424 daily resident tasks not completed (34,185 missed care tasks per year).

Annually, these missed tasks caused an average of 38 resident hospitalizations and 4.6 deaths per 100-bed nursing home, costing the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) an average of $1.07 million.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the national guidance has been to send staff testing positive for COVID-19 home for up to 10 days (or until testing negative) to reduce virus spread. This study showed that sending staff home worsened understaffing, with 649.5 more missed tasks annually (1.8 more per day), even when some tasks were covered by other staff in the nursing home.

These additional missed tasks caused an average of 4.3 additional hospitalizations and 0.66 deaths due to staff being sent home. Together, COVID-19- and these missed-task-related hospitalizations and deaths cost an additional $247,090. However, the costs due to negative health outcomes from missed care tasks outweighed the costs due to COVID-19 by 4.1–9.3 times.

A possible temporary alternative to sending them home is to instead have only those with mildly ill symptoms work while wearing N95 respirators.

For example, the study showed that when 75% of mildly ill staff worked while wearing N95 respirators, there was an average of 240 fewer missed workdays per year, 475.9 additional tasks completed, and 3.5 fewer missed-task-related hospitalizations and 0.4 fewer deaths compared to when all staff were sent home.

However, there were five more resident COVID-19 cases but no additional COVID-related hospitalizations. Overall, allowing mildly ill staff to work while wearing N95 respirators saved an average of $85,470 annually. These missed-task-related costs consistently outweighed COVID-19 costs when mildly ill staff worked while wearing N95 respirators.

"While our study shows that allowing mildly ill staff to work while wearing N95 respirators alleviates understaffing due to COVID-19 furloughs and reduces unnecessary harm, employees should not be encouraged to work while sick and contagious," says senior author Bruce Y. Lee, professor at CUNY SPH and executive director at PHICOR.

"We need to find ways to fix the underlying problem of understaffing, such as offering competitive wages."

More information: Sarah M. Bartsch et al, Modeling Nursing Home Harms From COVID-19 Staff Furlough Policies, JAMA Network Open (2024). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.29613
Journal information: JAMA Network Open
Provided by The City University of New York

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

The US is mailing Americans COVID tests again. Here's how to get them

Americans can once again order COVID-19 tests, without being charged, sent straight to their homes. The U.S. government reopened the program on Thursday, allowing any household to order up to four at-home COVID nasal swab kits through the website, covidtests.gov. The tests will begin shipping...

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The US is mailing Americans COVID tests again. Here's how to get them
Amanda Seitz
Thu, September 26, 2024 at 6:04 PM UTC

WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans can once again order COVID-19 tests, without being charged, sent straight to their homes.

The U.S. government reopened the program on Thursday, allowing any household to order up to four at-home COVID nasal swab kits through the website, covidtests.gov. The tests will begin shipping, via the United States Postal Service, as soon as next week.

“Before you visit with your family and friends this holiday season, take a quick test and help keep them safe from COVID-19," Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response Dawn O’Connell said in a statement.

Why are tests being offered now?

The website has been reopened on the heels of a summer COVID-19 virus wave and heading into the fall and winter respiratory virus season, with health officials urging Americans to get an updated COVID-19 vaccine and their yearly flu shot.

U.S. regulators approved an updated COVID-19 vaccine that is designed to combat the recent virus strains and, they hope, forthcoming winter ones, too. Vaccine uptake is waning, however. Most Americans have some immunity from prior infections or vaccinations, but under a quarter of U.S. adults took last fall’s COVID-19 shot.

Using the swab, people can detect current virus strains ahead of the fall and winter respiratory virus season and the holidays. Over-the-counter COVID-19 at-home tests typically cost around $11, as of last year. Insurers are no longer required to cover the cost of the tests.

I have old tests that are beyond their expiration date. Can I still use them?

If you already have COVID-19 tests at home, check the expiration date on the box. Many of the tests have been given an extended expiration from the date listed on the box. You can check on the Food and Drug Administration's website to see if that's the case for any of your remaining tests at home.

Are these tests actually free?

There's no cost for households requesting the tests, but U.S. taxpayers have already paid a significant amount for the testing program.

Since COVID-19 first began its spread in 2020, the U.S. government has poured billions of dollars into developing and purchasing COVID-19 tests as well as vaccines. The Biden administration has given out 1.8 billion COVID-19 tests, including half distributed to households by mail. It’s unclear how many tests the government still has on hand.

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

https://scitechdaily.com/unmedicated-mental-illness-linked-to-lower-covid-19-vaccination-rates/

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Unmedicated Mental Illness Linked to Lower COVID-19 Vaccination Rates
By Karolinska Institutet
September 26, 2024

Despite overall high vaccination rates among the mentally ill, those unmedicated or with substance issues lag behind, pointing to the need for improved health strategies.

In a large multinational study led by researchers at Karolinska Institutet and published today (September 26) in Nature Communications, researchers analyzed data from seven studies in five countries (Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Estonia, and Scotland) as part of the COVIDMENT consortium, totaling just over 325,000 individuals, and registry data from Sweden including over 8 million individuals.

Vaccination Rates Among Individuals With Mental Illness

The pooled analysis from the COVIDMENT cohort showed that 85 percent of individuals were vaccinated with the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine (until September 30, 2021). There was no statistically significant difference in vaccination levels in people with or without a mental illness diagnosis, or with or without anxiety or depressive symptoms.

“The high vaccination coverage among most individuals with mental illness shows that the COVID-19 vaccination campaign has been successful,” says lead author Mary Barker, postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet.

Challenges in Vaccination Uptake

However, Swedish registry data revealed that individuals diagnosed with a mental illness who did not have any dispensed prescription of medication for their mental illness were 9 percent less likely to receive the first dose of the vaccine. Moreover, individuals with substance use disorder were 16 percent less likely to be vaccinated.

“More research is needed to explore the reasons behind these associations in order to improve current and future vaccination strategies and ultimately ensure equitable protection against infectious diseases,” says Mary Barker. “As individuals with mental illness are at higher risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes, high vaccination coverage is especially important in this group.”

Reference: “Mental illness and COVID-19 vaccination: a multinational investigation of observational & register-based data” by Mary M. Barker, Kadri Kõiv, Ingibjörg Magnúsdóttir, Hannah Milbourn, Bin Wang, Xinkai Du, Gillian Murphy, Eva Herweijer, Elísabet U. Gísladóttir, Huiqi Li, Anikó Lovik, Anna K. Kähler, Archie Campbell, Maria Feychting, Arna Hauksdóttir, Emily E. Joyce, Edda Bjork Thordardottir, Emma M. Frans, Asle Hoffart, Reedik Mägi, Gunnar Tómasson, Kristjana Ásbjörnsdóttir, Jóhanna Jakobsdóttir, Ole A. Andreassen, Patrick F. Sullivan, Sverre Urnes Johnson, Thor Aspelund, Ragnhild Eek Brandlistuen, Helga Ask, Daniel L. McCartney, Omid V. Ebrahimi, Kelli Lehto, Unnur A. Valdimarsdóttir, Fredrik Nyberg and Fang Fang, 26 September 2024, Nature Communications.
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-52342-1

The research was financed by NordForsk, EU’s Horizon 2020 program, the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare, the Swedish Research Council, the Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning, the Estonian Research Council, and the Research Council of Norway. Some of the authors have listed potential conflicts of interest, including honoraria from and shareholdings in pharmaceutical companies. See the scientific article for more information.

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

Study confirms effectiveness of the new omicron booster

The autumn wave of coronavirus is sweeping across Germany. Those affected mainly suffer from coughs, colds, sore throats and fever, but also from headaches, aching limbs, general weakness and shortness of breath. Because new SARS-CoV-2 variants and subtypes are constantly emerging, coronavirus...

medicalxpress.com

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Study confirms effectiveness of the new omicron booster
by Inka Burow, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover
September 26, 2024

Humoral immune responses after mRNA omicron JN.1 vaccination. Credit: The Lancet Infectious Diseases (2024). DOI: 10.1016/S1473-3099(24)00603-0

The autumn wave of coronavirus is sweeping across Germany. Those affected mainly suffer from coughs, colds, sore throats and fever, but also from headaches, aching limbs, general weakness and shortness of breath. Because new SARS-CoV-2 variants and subtypes are constantly emerging, coronavirus vaccines must be constantly adapted, similar to influenza viruses.

Currently, the virus variant omicron JN.1 and its sub-lineages KP.2 and KP.3 are predominant. Since August this year, the vaccine named Comirnaty omicron JN.1 from BioNTech/Pfizer, which has been adapted to the current variants, has been on the market in Germany. A study by the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology at the Hannover Medical School (MHH) has now scientifically proven the effectiveness of the new omicron booster.

In cooperation with the German Primate Centre in Göttingen, the researchers have published the first article on this topic in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

The blueprint of the spike protein

The new booster is another mRNA vaccine, so it consists of messenger RNA. The principle: the mRNA contains the genetic information for the blueprint of the so-called spike protein, which sits on the surface of the coronavirus and helps the virus enter cells. The immune system recognizes the protein as foreign, triggers a defense reaction and develops immune protection.

Comirnaty omicron JN.1 is a so-called monoclonal vaccine, i.e., it contains only mRNA from this omicron variant. At the end of June, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommended marketing authorization for the new COVID-19 mRNA vaccine based on the JN.1 spike protein.

"However, data on the immune response in humans or evidence from practice on vaccine-induced protection was still pending until our study," says senior physician Professor Dr. Alexandra Dopfer-Jablonka, who is leading the immune study together with her clinic colleague Professor Dr. Georg Behrens.

Protection against severe disease progression

To obtain such data, researchers measured the immune response in 42 MHH employees who had been vaccinated with the new vaccine as part of the COVID-19 Contact (CoCo) study, which has been ongoing since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. The result: around two weeks after vaccination with the new booster, antibodies against the current omicron variant had increased significantly.

Professor Behrens points out that the participants already had a high level of immunity to various SARS-CoV-2 variants due to previous vaccinations and having survived corona infections, and adds, "However, we assume that the new mRNA vaccine against omicron JN.1 will protect against hospitalization and post-COVID sequelae caused by most current virus variants."

According to the Standing Committee on Vaccination (Stiko), a booster vaccination with the new, adapted vaccine is recommended for anyone aged 60 or older. In addition, everyone who is at particular risk of a severe course of the disease due to an underlying condition should get a booster. Stiko also recommends the booster vaccination for residents of nursing homes and for employees in the nursing and health care sector. The booster vaccination should be repeated annually, similar to the flu vaccination.

The vaccine manufacturers BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna are already working on a combined vaccine that provides simultaneous protection against coronaviruses and influenza viruses.

More information: Christine Happle et al, Humoral immunity after mRNA SARS-CoV-2 omicron JN.1 vaccination, The Lancet Infectious Diseases (2024). DOI: 10.1016/S1473-3099(24)00603-0
Journal information: Lancet Infectious Diseases
Provided by Medizinische Hochschule Hannover

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

Rates of sudden unexpected infant death changed during the COVID-19 pandemic, study finds

The risk of sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) increased during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period, especially in 2021, according to a new study led by researchers at the Penn State College of Medicine.

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Rates of sudden unexpected infant death changed during the COVID-19 pandemic, study finds
by Christine Yu, Pennsylvania State University
September 26, 2024

The risk of sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) increased during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period, especially in 2021, according to a new study led by researchers at the Penn State College of Medicine.

Monthly increases in SUID in 2021 coincided with a resurgence of seasonal respiratory viruses, particularly respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), suggesting that the shift in SUID rates may be associated with altered infectious disease transmission.

They published their findings today, Sept. 26, in JAMA Network Open.

"The cause of SUID is believed to be multi-factorial. Even with education about safe sleep environments and the back-to-sleep campaign encouraging parents to put babies to sleep on their backs, there's still a high rate of SUID," said Emma Guare, a fourth-year medical student at Penn State College of Medicine and first author of the paper.

"It's been hypothesized that there might be a link between infection and SUID and we wanted to better understand that connection, particularly as endemic infection rates shifted during the pandemic."

In 2022, approximately 3,700 infants died unexpectedly in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). SUID is an umbrella term for unexpected death of an infant under the age of one year from known and unknown causes. SIDS is a type of SUID that occurs during sleep and where the cause of death is not known, even after a full investigation, and accounts for roughly one-third of SUID cases.

The research team examined the rate of both SUID and SIDS during the COVID-19 pandemic and compared it to the immediate period prior to the pandemic. Between March 1, 2018, and Dec. 31, 2021, there were 14,308 cases of SUID, based on national data on mortality provided by the CDC.

The research team found that the risk of SUID and SIDS increased during the pandemic when they compared monthly cases to the pre-pandemic period. The greatest increase was observed in 2021 when rates for SUID and SIDS increased 9% and 10%, respectively, compared to the pre-pandemic period. There was a notable shift in SUID rates from June to December 2021, when the monthly rate of SUID increased between 10% and 14% compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Measures put in place to mitigate the pandemic also interrupted the spread of respiratory illnesses like RSV, keeping rates low during 2020. However, as these measures were lifted during the second year of the pandemic, seasonal respiratory viruses began to circulate more widely at unexpected times and with more intensity.

While there were few RSV-related hospitalizations in 2020, cases surged between June and December 2021, an "off-season" for RSV, which typically is active between October and April. This seasonal shift in RSV closely mirrored the monthly changes in SUID that were observed in 2021.

"We don't know what makes babies who die from SUID or SIDS more vulnerable, whether it's genetics or something else. It could be that infections like RSV amplify those factors and make them more vulnerable," said co-author Erich Batra, associate professor of pediatrics and family and community medicine at Penn State College of Medicine.

"With RSV in particular, there have been questions about whether RSV causes more apnea, when you stop breathing temporarily, than other viruses and if that contributes to an environment conducive to SUID."

The team noted that further research is needed to better understand the role of infection in SUID and SIDS and whether infections like RSV may contribute to a portion of SUID and SIDS cases.

"Practicing safe sleep practices is just as important, if not more important, when babies are sick," Batra said. He encouraged caregivers to continue to place babies to sleep on their backs, avoid soft bedding and not share a bed.

Other Penn State College of Medicine authors on the paper include Catharine Paules, associate professor of medicine; Vernon Chinchilli, Distinguished Professor of Public Health Sciences; Paddy Ssentongo, assistant professor of public health sciences; and Rong Zhao, doctoral student in biostatistics.

More information: Rates of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic, JAMA Network Open (2024). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.35722
Journal information: JAMA Network Open
Provided by Pennsylvania State University

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/covid-19-positivity-rate-rises-to-11-8-percent-across-the-united-kingdom-as-xec-variant-starts-its-autumn-rampage

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COVID-19 Positivity Rate Rises to 11.8 Percent Across the United Kingdom as XEC Variant Starts Its Autumn Rampage
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team
Sep 27, 2024

The United Kingdom is witnessing a significant rise in COVID-19 positivity rates, with figures reaching 11.8% as a new variant, XEC, spreads rapidly across the nation. This rise comes at a time when many believed the pandemic's impact was finally easing, but health experts are raising alarms as the new SARS-CoV-2 XEC variant makes its presence known. As autumn approaches, the healthcare sector braces for what could be another challenging season with this emerging strain.


COVID on the Rise: A Growing Concern
COVID-19 cases are on the upswing in England, and experts are sounding the alarm, warning that the nation may have "capitulated" to the virus. Immunologists and virologists have expressed concern about the lack of proactive measures being taken to control the spread of the virus. Many researchers in the field are puzzled by the relaxed attitude toward COVID-19, especially with the increasing hospital admissions.

Data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows that hospital admissions have jumped to 3.71 per 100,000 people in the week between September 16 and 22, 2024, compared to 2.56 per 100,000 the previous week.

National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports: 2024 to 2025 season

National influenza (flu) and COVID-19 report, monitoring COVID-19 activity, seasonal flu and other seasonal respiratory illnesses.

www.gov.uk

https://assets.publishing.service.g...65ec5c/Weekly_flu_and_COVID-19_report_w39.pdf

Additionally, the percentage of symptomatic individuals testing positive for COVID-19 rose to 11.8%, a significant increase from the previous week's 9.1%.

This Medical News report delves into the troubling trend and what it means for the coming months.


The XEC Variant: A New Threat
The XEC variant, which was first identified in Germany over the summer, has now spread to the UK and is becoming increasingly prevalent. This new variant is believed to have emerged from a combination of two previous COVID-19 variants, both descended from the BA.2.86 variant.

https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/the-sars-cov-2-variants-that-could-drive-the-fall-winter-wave-xec-xed-mb-1-1-mw-1-and-xdv-1-1

While some ‘variant hunters’ were initially skeptical of XEC's potential to dominate this autumn and winter, the variant has begun to prove them wrong, picking up new mutations along the way and increasing in its spread.

XEC is a recombinant variant, meaning it was formed when someone was infected with two different strains simultaneously. Although it doesn’t seem to cause more severe symptoms than previous variants, its highly transmissible nature has contributed to the growing number of cases in the UK.

While some experts remain cautious, they emphasize that there is no evidence so far suggesting that XEC leads to worse outcomes than earlier strains of the virus. However, they warn that COVID-19's ability to mutate and adapt poses a constant threat, and preventive measures are crucial in preventing severe disease.


A Call for Increased Testing
Many immunologists are advocating for increased testing to combat the XEC variant’s spread. They argue that the UK’s current approach to COVID-19 is insufficient, as the virus continues to evade immunity that has waned since most people’s last vaccine dose or even immunity gained form the last infection.

According to experts, this diminished immunity, coupled with the virus's ability to bypass existing defenses, has led to a situation where the UK’s population is experiencing higher rates of infection.

There is also a growing divide in public opinion, with some individuals continuing to take precautions, such as wearing masks and seeking out vaccine boosters, while others have moved on, believing that society must learn to live with the virus. A large portion of the population appears to be indifferent, no longer thinking much about COVID-19 after nearly three years of pandemic-related stress.


Long COVID: A Lingering Concern
While many people recover from COVID-19 within a few weeks, experts warn that the potential long-term effects of the virus should not be ignored. Long COVID, which is estimated to affect around 400 million people worldwide, can have serious implications even for those who have been vaccinated. It is estimated that around 5% of the global workforce has been lost due to long COVID, contributing to an annual economic burden of more than $1 trillion. These figures highlight the significant, ongoing impact of the virus on global health and economies.

In the UK, those with compromised immune systems or underlying health conditions remain particularly vulnerable to severe COVID-19 infections. Many of these individuals have already experienced multiple breakthrough infections in recent years, which can vary in severity but often result in missed workdays and additional strain on the National Health Service (NHS).


Public Health Measures: A Missed Opportunity?
Despite the rising number of cases and hospitalizations, some experts believe that more could be done to improve public health measures. For example, there has been little progress in improving air quality in public spaces, such as schools, through better ventilation systems. Enhanced indoor air quality could significantly reduce the spread of airborne viruses like COVID-19, yet this measure has not been widely adopted.

There is also concern that the uptake of the COVID-19 booster among high-priority groups, including young adults with compromised immune systems, will remain low this autumn. Many are seeing that the vaccines seems to be failing in their claimed merits and in fact the growing number of adverse effects from these vaccines are making many to be skeptical of these vaccines.

Many in UK may be vulnerable to further spikes in infections, particularly as new variants like XEC continue to evolve.


XEC Variant Symptoms: What to Watch For
The symptoms associated with the XEC variant closely resemble those of earlier Omicron strains, including:

• Shortness of breath
• High fever
• Persistent cough
• Loss of taste or smell
• Fatigue or exhaustion
• Headache
• Sore throat
• Runny or blocked nose
• Loss of appetite
• Diarrhea

Most people who contract the XEC variant seem to take a longer time to recover. Those who are medically vulnerable could experience more severe illness. Hospitalization remains a concern for individuals with weakened immune systems or underlying conditions, as the virus continues to circulate.

Conclusion: Preparing for the Months Ahead
As the UK heads into autumn, the rise of the XEC variant serves as a stark reminder that COVID-19 is far from over. Despite the challenges of "pandemic fatigue," it is crucial that the public remains vigilant and that healthcare systems stay prepared to manage potential surges in cases. Public health measures like improved indoor ventilation are key tools in mitigating the virus's spread.

Ultimately, the coming months will test the UK's resolve in managing this new phase of the pandemic. For now, the nation must prioritize protecting vulnerable populations and preventing the further spread of the XEC variant to avoid another overwhelming wave of hospitalizations and long-term health complications.

 

[Zoner]

short video 1:17

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1839247574986809409

View: https://twitter.com/wideawake_media/status/1839247574986809409

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

CHD Scientists Uncover Evidence of Pfizer ‘Hot Lots’ Linked to Higher Rates of COVID Vaccine Injuries

Different batches of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine distributed in the U.S. had very different rates of serious adverse events, according to a peer-reviewed research letter by the Children’s Health Defense science team. The letter was published late yesterday in Science, Public Health...

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CHD Scientists Uncover Evidence of Pfizer ‘Hot Lots’ Linked to Higher Rates of COVID Vaccine Injuries
Different batches of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine distributed in the U.S. had very different rates of serious adverse events, according to a peer-reviewed research letter by the Children’s Health Defense science team. The letter was published late yesterday in Science, Public Health Policy and the Law.
by Brenda Baletti, Ph.D.
September 27, 2024

Different batches of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine distributed in the U.S. had very different rates of serious adverse events (SAEs), according to a peer-reviewed research letter published late Thursday in Science, Public Health Policy and the Law.

Children’s Health Defense (CHD) scientists Brian Hooker, Ph.D, chief scientific officer, and Karl Jablonowski, Ph.D., senior research scientist, co-authored the letter.

Hooker and Jablonowski found the highest SAE rates occurred in COVID-19 vaccine batches distributed during the first two months of the vaccination program — and the highest proportions of those batches were sent to government agencies, hospitals, universities and health departments, as opposed to clinics, pharmacies and doctor’s offices.

The “extremely high” amount of variability from lot to lot suggests “very poor manufacturing controls,” and a “manufacturing process that should have never been approved in the first place,” Hooker told The Defender.

Under emergency use authorization, vaccine makers aren’t required to have their final filled and finished vials inspected, according to Dr. Peter McCullough. Contaminants from the manufacturing process can be concentrated in certain lots. Product transport, storage and use issues also may affect particular lots.

The paper is the latest in a series of papers to analyze vaccine lot and adverse event data by country. Researchers in Denmark, the Czech Republic and Sweden conducted similar studies with similar results.

For this study of U.S. data, CHD researchers analyzed vaccine lot data for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. This type of analysis allows researchers to track where the vaccine was manufactured and where it was distributed.

Informed Consent Action Network obtained the data in October 2022 through a Freedom of Information Act request.

CHD scientists matched that data to reports of adverse events in the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), a passive reporting system where providers or recipients can report injuries. It is not a complete inventory of all adverse events and is known to capture less than 1% of them.

The lot data showed that 410 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine produced in 156 different lots were distributed to 46,327 vaccine administration sites across the U.S. between Dec. 13, 2020, and April 26, 2022.

According to the data, on average 1,011,055 vaccines were distributed per day. The vaccines came from between one and 10 different lots, and the number of doses produced in each lot varied widely — from 10,530 to over 11.8 million.

For the three years of data analyzed, 977,542 adverse events were reported to VAERS. Of those, 455,820, or 46.7%, were related to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines.

Only 29% of the reports included a lot number. Among those, 290,835 of the serious adverse events could be linked to the lot numbers in the Pfizer data.

The reports included a wide range of side effects:

• 78% of the adverse events reported weren’t serious.
• 20% were considered serious, meaning they required hospitalization or an emergency room visit or included a life-threatening event, permanent disability or congenital malformation.
• 2% of the entries reported a death.

The researchers found that the adverse events were not distributed proportionally across the different lots — some batches were associated with more side effects, and in some cases, significantly more.

The earlier batches sent to mass distribution centers like hospitals had more side effects than the later ones sent to pharmacies and large grocery chains. Some lots, particularly early ones, had higher rates of deaths and serious adverse events.

The rate of serious adverse events declined through time in all categories, which the researchers noted could be attributed to system management, fewer people reporting injuries, or fewer injuries.

The scientists said they expected to find a high number of deaths in states with the highest populations, such as California, Texas or New York. Instead, the proportions of serious injuries and deaths were relatively higher in places such as South Dakota, Kentucky and Tennessee.

The authors noted that data were made available only through legal action, which makes it challenging to do this type of research. Also, the VAERS database is insufficient to capture all adverse events and regional variations within states, posing another challenge to understanding the full range of possible issues with the lots.


U.S. data confirm Danish study that was subjected to ‘obsessive criticism’

CHD scientists built their analysis on work published by Danish researchers in 2023, who analyzed Pfizer lot data associated with reported serious adverse events in Denmark.

That Danish study analyzed data from Dec. 27, 2020, to Jan. 11, 2022. The analysis found larger vaccine lot sizes were associated with fewer serious adverse events and 71% of the suspected adverse reactions occurred in 4.2% of the vaccine batches.

The study raised the alarm about safety issues associated with the vaccine production process.

The author of the Danish paper, Vibeke Manniche, M.D., Ph.D., told YouTube commentator John Campbell, Ph.D., in an interview that the study raised essential questions about Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, “Has the product changed? When did it change? Why did it change?”

That paper garnered significant attention in the press and on social media, what the authors called “obsessive criticism” in the form of multiple responses from researchers attempting to discredit the study’s methodologies and interpretations.

The authors responded publicly in the European Journal of Clinical Investigation. They defended their interpretations and said they “eagerly await more definitive studies of batch-dependent safety of the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, for example, from the SSI [Danish Statens Serum Institut], to refute or validate our results and increase the evidence base for this important area of research.”

In June, Czech researchers from the University of Ostrava and other research institutions reproduced the Danish study’s methodology. They used Czech Republic data, released through a Freedom of Information Act request, from the beginning of the vaccination campaign through March 1, 2023.

They also analyzed adverse events reported after the COVID-19 vaccine by batch number and compared them to the results from the Danish registry data, but they had data from Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca.

They similarly found that different batches had different rates of adverse events and that there were significantly higher numbers of adverse events associated with the early vaccine releases for all of the vaccines — “confirming the results of the study by Schmeling et al.”

Last month, the authors of the original Danish study expanded their analysis to Sweden and published their findings in the journal Medicina.

In that paper, the authors reported that the batch-dependent issues they identified in Denmark were confirmed in Sweden and suggest that early commercial doses of Pfizer’s vaccine may have differed from later ones. They concluded the issue merits further study.

The letter published today in Science, Public Health Policy and the Law similarly reproduced the Danish study’s methodology and made largely similar findings that there were clear variations in Pfizer’s lots and the patterns were similar.

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/got-covid-2024-isolation-guidelines-090200054.html

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Got COVID? Here are the new 2024 isolation guidelines
Lindsey Leake - Fortune
Updated Fri, Sep 27, 2024, 5:05 PM

Two lines appear on the test card, 15 minutes after you’ve swabbed the depths of your nostrils and swirled the contents in a plastic tube. You’ve got COVID.

As recently as February, a positive rapid test would’ve meant five days of isolation, away from work, school, and/or other obligations that involve going out in public. Not anymore. In March, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its COVID isolation guidelines based on symptoms, not time since testing positive.

The guidelines shifted in part to match those of other common respiratory viral illnesses, including the flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The CDC now says you’re cleared to resume normal activities when the following are both true for at least 24 hours:

Your symptoms are getting better overall

You haven’t had a fever (and aren’t using fever-reducing medication)

Bottom line: If you’re sick, stay home. If your symptoms persist, you may end up isolating for five or more days after all, but you’ll be doing your part to protect your loved ones, coworkers, and others in your community from infection.

If you absolutely can’t stay home while ill, be sure to wear a mask, says Dr. Robert Hopkins Jr., medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID).

“Those who have symptoms of a respiratory virus—cough, sneezing, body aches, nasal congestion with or without fever—should test for COVID-19—and influenza when influenza is circulating in their communities,” Hopkins tells Fortune via email. “If the test is positive, call a health care professional who may prescribe antiviral medication to help lessen their symptoms and the risk for severe illness.”

Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir with ritonavir), the oral COVID antiviral manufactured by Pfizer, cuts your risk of hospitalization by over half and risk of death by 75%, according to the CDC. The agency considers people with conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or obesity at high risk of severe infection, and therefore candidates for Paxlovid. Ask your doctor if this or another antiviral treatment is right for you.

“To care about whether or not what you may do could sicken or injure another person, there’s a moral and ethical issue here,” Tuckson said. “Some of us want to be heroes and sheroes: ‘I was sick as a dog and I went to work anyway, and that shows you how tough I am.’

“As opposed to, the other narrative is, ‘Let me tell you how rude I am, and how willing I am to infect other people just to show you what a great ego I am.’ Which side of that equation do you want to be on?”

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

What to know about the XEC Covid variant

What to know about the XEC Covid variant, which is now in the U.S. Is it more contagious and do the updated vaccines work against it?

www.yahoo.com

(fair use applies)


What to know about the XEC Covid variant
Akshay Syal, M.D. - NBC News
Fri, September 27, 2024 at 6:00 PM UTC

There’s a new Covid variant in town.

The strain, known as XEC, is gaining a foothold in the United States, accounting for an estimated 5.7% of new cases in the past two weeks, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday.

“We don’t know if it will have legs and soar up in the charts,” said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, a professor of medicine and an infectious disease specialist at the University of California, San Francisco. “But it has the features that could make it the one to watch.”

XEC caught the eye of experts as it spread quickly in parts of Europe in recent weeks. Still, a lot remains unknown about the strain.

“Once again, Covid is showing that it is not finished mutating, and we’re still seeing the limitations of our vaccines in controlling it,” said Rick Bright, an immunologist and the former director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, part of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Chin-Hong said the variant is a so-called recombinant of two other strains — KS.1.1 and KP.3.3 — meaning that genetic information was exchanged between them to form a third strain, XEC, Chin-Hong said.

While the CDC says that overall levels of Covid remain high in the U.S., it appears that levels of the virus in wastewater are trending downward after peaking in August.


Is the XEC variant more contagious?

Bill Hanage, an epidemiologist and the associate director of the Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, said there’s no evidence yet that the XEC variant is much more transmissible than what’s currently circulating.

“To be convinced that it was more contagious, I would want to have seen it taking off in more places by now,” Hanage said. “It’s not clear from what we’ve seen that it’s that great in comparison with its immediate peers,” referring to the other variants in circulation.

“It’s just the latest kid on the block,” he added. “and we’re going to see more kids on the block.”

XEC was initially detected in May, but so far cases haven’t been doubling at an alarming rate, Hanage said.

“It’s not a doubling time which is especially disturbing,” he said.

Marc Johnson, a virologist and professor of molecular microbiology and immunology at the University of Missouri School of Medicine, said the XEC variant really took off in Germany and has since spread to neighboring countries, including the Netherlands and France.

Since the variant has only gotten a strong foothold in a handful of countries, however, it’s possible that the reason for its success in those places is simply that it was the right virus in the right place at the right time, Johnson said.

This is a phenomenon known as the founder effect, Hanage said, adding that it’s not yet clear if the virus itself is more contagious or if its spread was driven by something else, like an increase in summer travel.

“While I’m sure that we’re going to see XEC here and it’s going to be significant, I wouldn’t be particularly laying money on it taking over completely, even by the winter months,” he said.

There’s also no evidence yet that the strain will cause more severe illness, Hanage said, adding that it’s unlikely to do so given its genetic mutations.


Will the vaccines still work against XEC?

XEC, like countless others before it, is a part of the omicron family. The variant is closely related to KP.2, the strain targeted by the updated vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna. And both XEC and KP.1 are descendants of the JN.1 strain, targeted by the updated Novavax vaccine.

“I think we have good reason to think that there will be substantial protection from the boosters that are available,” Hanage said.

The part of the virus that antibodies bind to, known as the spike protein, is similar between these strains.

“I’m glad it doesn’t look terribly different,” Chin-Hong said. “It’s not like a completely new branch. So that’s why I think the vaccine is still generally a decent match.”

Johnson said that KP.3.1.1, the dominant variant during this summer’s surge in cases, is also similar to the XEC variant, meaning those who were recently infected may have enhanced immunity from the latest strain.

Bright, however, cautioned that clinical data is ultimately needed to determine how well the updated vaccines work against the XEC variant.

“Until we start seeing some clinical data on how well the mRNA and Novavax vaccines provide immunity from this new variant, we really cannot see with confidence how bad this season will be,” Bright said.

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

Two studies find SARS-CoV-2 virus becoming resistant to antiviral drugs used to treat patients

Two studies have found that the virus that causes COVID-19 is becoming resistant to two drugs used to treat patients with infections.

medicalxpress.com

(fair use applies)


Two studies find SARS-CoV-2 virus becoming resistant to antiviral drugs used to treat patients
by Bob Yirka , Medical Xpress
September 27, 2024

Sensitivity of SARS-CoV-2-nsp5T169Insp12V792I virus to nirmatrelvir and remdesivir in vitro. Credit: Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51924-3

Two studies have found that the virus that causes COVID-19 is becoming resistant to two drugs used to treat patients with infections.

In the first study, a combined team from Cornell University and the National Institutes of Health studied the treatment outcomes for patients with compromised immune systems who were given the drug remdesivir. They have published their results in the journal Nature Communications.

In the second study, a team of researchers from the University of Pittsburgh, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Stanford University and Harvard University studied the outcomes for COVID-19 patients given antiviral drugs over the years 2021 to 2023. They published their results in the journal JAMA Network Open.

Zhuo Zhou and Peng Hong, with the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College and VA New York Harbor Healthcare System, respectively, have published a Commentary piece in the same JAMA Network Open issue outlining the work by the second team.

In the years since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, medical researchers have continued to study SARS-CoV-2, along with new vaccine options. They have also been working on developing new therapies for people who are infected by the virus but have not been immunized or who have compromised immune systems.

As part of that effort, two such therapies, named remdesivir and nirmatrelvir, have become the go-to drugs for patients with immune systems that are not capable of fighting off the virus. But because they are antivirals, they run the risk of obsolescence as the virus mutates.

In the first study, the researchers sequenced the DNA of the virus infecting 15 COVID patients and found that the virus had developed a reduced sensitivity to both remdesivir and nirmatrelvir. They also found that the mutated viruses could infect others in the vicinity. One positive note: The researchers found that giving both antivirals to patients cleared the virus.

In the second study, the research team studied the treatment of 156 COVID-19 patients over two years—as part of that effort, the researchers divided the patients into two groups: those who had received the antiviral drugs and those who had not. Viruses with antiviral-resistant mutations were more likely to be found in patients who had received antiviral drugs. The effect was more evident in the immunocompromised and those who had received nirmatrelvir.

More information: Mohammed Nooruzzaman et al, Emergence of transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variants with decreased sensitivity to antivirals in immunocompromised patients with persistent infections, Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51924-3

Trevor J. Tamura et al, Emerging SARS-CoV-2 Resistance After Antiviral Treatment, JAMA Network Open (2024). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.35431

Zhuo Zhou et al, SARS-CoV-2 Nirmatrelvir Resistance—A Concern for Immunocompromised Populations?, JAMA Network Open (2024). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.35439
Journal information: Nature Communications , JAMA Network Open

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

UK ex-PM Johnson says he planned raid on Dutch factory to get COVID vaccines

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he ordered military chiefs to plan a raid on a Dutch factory in March 2021 to secure 5 million COVID vaccines that the European Union had threatened to bar from being exported to Britain. Johnson said the deputy chief of Britain's defence...

www.yahoo.com

(fair use applies)


UK ex-PM Johnson says he planned raid on Dutch factory to get COVID vaccines
David Milliken
Sat, September 28, 2024 at 2:32 PM UTC

LONDON (Reuters) - Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he ordered military chiefs to plan a raid on a Dutch factory in March 2021 to secure 5 million COVID vaccines that the European Union had threatened to bar from being exported to Britain.

Johnson said the deputy chief of Britain's defence staff at the time, Lieutenant General Doug Chalmers, had told him a raid using small boats to cross the Channel and navigate Dutch canals would be possible - but warned him of diplomatic repercussions.

According to Johnson, Chalmers - who has since retired from the military - told him it would not be possible to carry out the mission undetected and that "if we are detected we will have to explain why we are effectively invading a long-standing NATO ally".

"I secretly agreed with what they all thought but did not want to say aloud: that the whole thing was nuts," Johnson said in an extract from his memoirs that was published in Saturday's Daily Mail newspaper.

Britain's defence ministry had no immediate comment on the account. A spokesperson for Chalmers - who now serves as chair of the government's committee on standards in public life - said he was unable to comment on confidential security discussions.

The COVID vaccines under dispute were developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca but doses were manufactured by subcontractors in the Netherlands and Britain.

In March 2021, the vaccines were widely used in Britain but doses made at the Dutch plant were still pending EU approval.

Both Britain and the EU had contracts with AstraZeneca for vaccines and the EU sought to hold back finished vaccines at the Dutch plant for its own future use.

Johnson - who won election in December 2019 on a promise to conclude drawn-out talks to leave the EU - said he believed EU officials were acting under pressure from French President Emmanuel Macron.

"After two months of futile negotiation I had come to the conclusion that the EU was treating us with malice and with spite ... because we were vaccinating our population much faster than they were," said Johnson, who was forced out of office in 2022 following scandals including breaches of COVID lockdown rules.

 

[Zoner]

BREAKING: Japan to release new saRNA Vaccine designed to spread to others WITHOUT INFORMED or ANY OTHER CONSENT.

This new version of the vaccine bioweapons can and will spread to others. The saRNA does not have “break” and will potentially continue to exist in your system or the system of the people it is spread to forever. This is an absolute violation of numerous laws in many countries and of many principles of international law.

I have personally been reporting on this since 2021 on this is something the global anti-health pro-vax crew has been working on for years. This has the potential to be the REAL next global plandemic as side effects will be incredibly common and untraceable to the vaccines. Disease X - here we come.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1840398283719459265

View: https://twitter.com/renztom/status/1840398283719459265?s=46&t=1GPp52vDMcboAD8_ZMiCSw

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1840411884295487723

View: https://twitter.com/crisisactiontm/status/1840411884295487723?s=46&t=1GPp52vDMcboAD8_ZMiCSw

 

[Zoner]

There is no nanotechnology in the vaccines
Short video 2:43

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1840605451374706862

View: https://twitter.com/sensereceptor/status/1840605451374706862?s=46&t=1GPp52vDMcboAD8_ZMiCSw

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/29/health/covid-wastewater-testing-map-dg/index.html

(fair use applies)


GO TO LINK FOR GRAPHS AND OTHER GRAPHICS; I CAN'T SEEM TO COPY THEM OVER


How the CDC tests wastewater for Covid — and what it found in your state
Matt Stiles and Way Mullery, CNN
Sun, September 29, 2024, 9:00 AM EDT

New Covid-19 infections are no longer tracked or reported as closely as they were during the public health emergency. Instead, US officials now focus on testing the contents of Americans’ wastewater to keep tabs on the virus.

To identify virus levels and larger trends, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention relies on a large network of sampling sites at wastewater treatment facilities across the country. The monitoring network covers about 43% of the population.

The process doesn’t precisely count the numbers of cases, and readings can vary based on sewage flows at a particular location or the characteristics of a given variant at a point in time. But it provides an early warning about viral spread, CDC officials say. CNN is tracking these figures each week across the country and by state, and this page will update automatically as the agency releases new information.

Viral levels vary over time and by location. This table shows the trends by state, with rankings in ascending order by the severity of the viral activity during the most recent testing period.

Samples are taken from sampling sites around the United States that meet criteria to sufficiently anonymize the data. The sampling allows the CDC to see results from a large snapshot of the population, not just individuals who are in the health care system. Wastewater data also helps local public health agencies to track new Covid variants and other infectious diseases, such as RSV and mpox.

The agency reports the percentage change in viral levels at each location where data was collected during a 15-day period, with some densely populated states having more testing locations than others. This map shows those locations. Some sites saw an increase in activity, while others experienced a decrease.

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

COVID Rules Have Changed Drastically. Here's What to Do If You Test Positive Now

The days of quarantine and strict social distancing are over, but the CDC still has some recommendations for how to act if you test positive for COVID.

www.yahoo.com

(fair use applies)


COVID Rules Have Changed Drastically. Here's What to Do If You Test Positive Now
Hannah Singleton - Health
Mon, September 30, 2024 at 2:00 PM UTC

• You don’t have to follow a strict quarantine protocol anymore if you get COVID—but there are some precautions you should take.
• In March 2024, the CDC updated their COVID guidelines to align with other infectious respiratory viruses like the flu and RSV.
• If you do test positive for COVID, experts recommend you stay home, hydrate, get plenty of rest, and consider getting a Paxlovid prescription for severe symptoms.

We all remember the days of strict COVID rules, like wearing a mask and keeping a six-foot distance from others. But as COVID has become less dangerous for most people and more ubiquitous, doctors and public health officials aren’t as emphatic about virus-related recommendations as they used to be.

This new reality has created a gray area regarding steps to take after testing positive for the virus. Is contact tracing necessary? Can you head to work if you’re asymptomatic? And what does it mean for your family members?

We asked infectious disease experts about what you should do after finding out you have COVID. Here’s what they said.


First Off, How Prevalent Is COVID Right Now?

Before we dig into recommendations about what to do after a COVID diagnosis, you might want to know how prevalent COVID is right now to begin with.

Brian Labus, PhD, an infectious disease expert and assistant professor of public health at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, has good news: We’re likely past the peak of the summer surge. “Some areas have already seen a decrease after having really high numbers,” he told Health.

Still, that doesn’t mean you won’t get the virus. Numbers are “starting to trend in the right direction, but we still have a lot of COVID circulating in the country,” Labus explained.

“We tend to see cases throughout the year, with spikes during certain times," added Cesar Arias, MD, MSc, PhD, chief of the division of infectious diseases at Houston Methodist Hospital. One of those times includes winter, when people gather indoors.


What To Do If You Test Positive

In March 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated their COVID guidelines to align with other infectious respiratory viruses like the flu and RSV. This decision to adopt a unified approach “makes recommendations easier to follow and thus more likely to be adopted,” according to a CDC press release.

Practically speaking, the policy change means there are no strict rules to follow if you test positive for COVID. “The recommendation is basically to stay home until you feel better,” Labus said. That means you should avoid going out, especially in crowded or enclosed places, until your symptoms improve and you’ve been fever-free for at least 24 hours.

If you test positive but don’t have any symptoms, the risk of transmission drops significantly. As such, you don’t necessarily need to stay home, but you should still keep your distance from others and wear a mask for at least five days. “Positive tests are not a very effective indicator of risk of disease spread,” Labus said. “You can continue to test positive for a while as you recover even though you are no longer infectious.”

Unlike in the early days of the pandemic, contact tracing is no longer a widespread practice. “This virus transmits so quickly and so rapidly that any efforts of concentration tracing becomes an enormous task and incredibly expensive, so nobody does that anymore,” Arias said. However, it’s still considerate to inform those you’ve been in close contact with so they can monitor themselves for symptoms.

Your friends and family members who were exposed don’t need to stay home if they haven’t tested positive. (Although they could wear a mask, of course.) “With increased population immunity due to vaccination, as well as effective treatments for the disease, we don’t need to rely on quarantine for exposed populations at this point,” Labus said.


How to Treat COVID

If you’re experiencing mild symptoms, over-the-counter medications like Tylenol (acetaminophen) or ibuprofen can help manage fever, aches, and pains. As with any respiratory illness, it’s important to stay hydrated and rest as much as possible.

However, “anyone with severe symptoms like difficulty breathing or chest pain should seek care immediately,” Labus said. “Otherwise, you know your body and should listen to it. If you aren’t getting better or are worried about the severity of your illness, it makes sense to see your doctor.”

People at higher risk of severe illness, such as older adults, people with compromised immune systems, or those with underlying health conditions, should see a healthcare provider who can prescribe Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir and ritonavir), an antiviral medication. It is shown to reduce symptom severity, especially in vulnerable populations, but Labus advised taking it soon after symptoms start. After five days, it doesn’t work nearly as well.

Once you’re feeling better, trying to prevent spreading the virus is still advised. “For people who have immunocompromised situations, these viruses could cause a lot of problems because vaccination is not as effective,” Arias said. “Previous infections do not mount a robust immune response.”

For the next five days, the CDC encourages you to continue to take common-sense strategies to reduce the chances of infecting others. That means opening windows and giving people space, Labus said. “And if you’re around them, wear a mask so that you don’t infect them.”


How to Avoid a COVID Infection

The best defense against COVID remains vaccination. However, it’s more than a one-and-done solution. Instead, you can think of it more like your annual flu shot; you may get it once a year or every season as the vaccine changes and new variants emerge. This virus is highly transmissible, so the vaccine “may not prevent every infection, but it does a really good job of keeping people from suffering the worst effects of COVID when it does happen,” Labus said.

Maintaining good hygiene and proper ventilation can also protect yourself and others. Wash your hands regularly, cover coughs and sneezes, use hand sanitizer, and open windows or purify indoor air when possible.

While the rules around COVID may be more relaxed, the virus is still very much part of our world, and if you’re relatively young and healthy, your role may be more focused on protecting others than yourself.

“No states have particular rules and are not investigating individual cases or requiring that people stay home,” Labus said. “But we want people to stay home when they’re sick so they don’t infect others. Think about your friends, your family, your neighbors, and do what you can to protect them.”

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

https://scitechdaily.com/researchers-unveil-simple-drug-free-spray-that-could-prevent-covid-flu-and-colds/

(fair use applies)


Researchers Unveil Simple Drug-Free Spray That Could Prevent COVID, Flu, and Colds
By Brigham and Women's Hospital
September 30, 2024

Brigham researchers have developed a nasal spray called PCANS that blocks a wide range of respiratory infections by trapping and neutralizing pathogens in the nose. In lab and animal tests, the spray effectively prevented infection, offering promising future applications if validated in humans.

Researchers at Brigham have developed a spray that could provide wide-ranging protection against respiratory infections including COVID-19, influenza, common cold viruses, and bacteria that cause pneumonia.

A new study details how a nasal spray formulated by investigators from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a founding member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system, may work to protect against viral and bacterial respiratory infections. Based on their preclinical studies, the researchers say the broad-spectrum nasal spray is long-lasting, safe, and, if validated in humans, could play a key role in reducing respiratory diseases and safeguarding public health against new threats. Their results are published in the journal Advanced Materials.

“The COVID pandemic showed us what respiratory pathogens can do to humanity in a very short time. That threat hasn’t gone away,” said co-senior author Jeffrey Karp, PhD, distinguished chair in Anesthesiology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “Not only do we have the flu to deal with seasonally, but we now have COVID, too.”


How Respiratory Infections Spread

Influenza and COVID-19 infections cause thousands of deaths and hundreds of thousands of cases of severe disease every year. Milder infections cause significant discomfort, resulting in missed work or school.

Vaccines against these viruses can be beneficial, but they’re imperfect. Vaccinated people still get infected and spread the infection to others. Masks are also helpful but aren’t perfect, either — they can leak, and many people wear them improperly or choose not to wear them at all.

“We need new, additional ways to protect ourselves and reduce the transmission of the disease,” Karp said.

Most viruses enter our system through the nose. When we catch an airborne infection like the flu or COVID, we breathe out tiny droplets of fluids that contain the pathogen. Healthy people around us breathe in these pathogen-containing droplets, which attach inside their nose and infect the cells that line the nasal passageways. The pathogen replicates and can be released back into the air when an individual who is sick, whether they know it or not, sneezes, coughs, laughs, sings, or even just breathes.

The new study details the research team’s efforts to create a nasal spray to defend against airborne respiratory illness. “The spray, called Pathogen Capture and Neutralizing Spray (PCANS) in the paper, was developed using ingredients from the FDA’s Inactive Ingredient Database (IID), which have been previously used in approved nasal sprays, or from the Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) list of the FDA,” said co-senior author Nitin Joshi, PhD, an Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “We developed a drug-free formulation using these compounds to block germs in three ways — PCANS forms a gel-like matrix that traps respiratory droplets, immobilizes the germs, and effectively neutralizes them, preventing infection.”

The researchers did the experiments detailed in the study in laboratory settings. They have not studied PCANS directly in humans. The researchers developed the formulation and studied its ability to capture respiratory droplets in a 3D-printed replica of a human nose. They showed that when sprayed in the nasal cavity replica, PCANS captured twice as many droplets as mucus alone.


Laboratory Successes of PCANS

“PCANS forms a gel, increasing its mechanical strength by a hundred times, forming a solid barrier,” said primary author John Joseph, PhD, a former postdoctoral fellow at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “It blocked and neutralized almost 100% of all viruses and bacteria we tested, including Influenza, SARS-CoV-2, RSV, adenovirus, K Pneumonia and more.”

Experiments in mice showed that a single dose of the PCANS nasal spray could effectively block infection from an influenza virus (PR8) at 25 times the lethal dose. Virus levels in the lungs were reduced by >99.99%, and the inflammatory cells and cytokines in the lungs of PCANS-treated animals were normal.

“The formulation’s ability to inactivate a broad spectrum of pathogens, including the deadly PR8 influenza virus, demonstrates its high effectiveness,” said co-senior author Yohannes Tesfaigzi, PhD, AstraZeneca Professor of Medicine in the Field of Respiratory and Inflammatory Diseases at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “In a rigorous mouse model study, prophylactic treatment with PCANS demonstrated exceptional efficacy, with treated mice exhibiting complete protection, while the untreated group showed no such benefit.”

While the study’s limitations include the lack of human studies of PCANS, it provides a strong foundation for future research to explore the full potential of PCANS in a broader context. The researchers are exploring whether PCANS can also block allergens, opening a potential new avenue for allergy relief.

Reference: “Toward a Radically Simple Multi-Modal Nasal Spray for Preventing Respiratory Infections” by John Joseph, Helna Mary Baby, Joselyn Rojas Quintero, Devin Kenney, Yohannes A Mebratu, Eshant Bhatia, Purna Shah, Kabir Swain, Dongtak Lee, Shahdeep Kaur, Xiang-Ling Li, John Mwangi, Olivia Snapper, Remya Nair, Eli Agus, Sruthi Ranganathan, Julian Kage, Jingjing Gao, James N Luo, Anthony Yu, Dongsung Park, Florian Douam, Yohannes Tesfaigzi, Jeffrey M Karp and Nitin Joshi, 24 September 2024, Advanced Materials.
DOI: 10.1002/adma.202406348

This study was supported by funding from the Gillian Reny Stepping Strong Center for Trauma Innovation at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

Most pregnant people got vaccinated for COVID-19 in 2022, finds Canadian study

A study of more than 28,000 pregnancies from 2022 has found that the majority of pregnant people received the COVID-19 vaccine during its initial release.

medicalxpress.com

(fair use applies)


Most pregnant people got vaccinated for COVID-19 in 2022, finds Canadian study
by McMaster University
October 1, 2024

A study of more than 28,000 pregnancies from 2022 has found that the majority of pregnant people received the COVID-19 vaccine during its initial release.

The study, co-led by McMaster University and the University of British Columbia, used data from ICES, an independent, not-for-profit research institute, to provide insight into vaccination rates among one of the groups most vulnerable to health complications caused by COVID-19.

The research, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal on Oct. 1, 2024, determined that about 79% (22,581) people who gave birth in Ontario during the first three months of 2022 received their first COVID-19 vaccine dose, and 75% (21,425) received a second dose by the time they were three months postpartum.

Of those who received a first dose, half did so before they were pregnant and only 4% delayed it until after they gave birth. Researchers say this demonstrates high uptake for a new vaccine, especially during pregnancy.

"It's encouraging to see this level of vaccination among pregnant people because COVID-19 outcomes can be so severe when you're pregnant. This feels like a public health victory, with people able to access the information they needed to make vaccination decisions from public health sources or clinicians they trust like their family doctor," says Meredith Vanstone, senior author of the study and associate professor with McMaster's Department of Family Medicine.

A key finding of the study was that pregnant people were still slightly less likely to receive the vaccine than non-pregnant females of the same age. Among the non-pregnant cohort of same-aged female Ontarians, 83% received an initial dose and 80.5% a second during the same period.

The study also found uptake of the vaccine to be lower among younger pregnant people.

"Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, misinformation about the vaccines targeted pregnant people, complicating their ability to make well-informed decisions about their health. Despite these challenges, it is reassuring to see that so many pregnant people were able to navigate the confusion and ultimately make decisions that protected their health and the health of their babies," said Devon Greyson, first author of the study and assistant professor with the School of Population and Public Health at the University of British Columbia.

The researchers accessed a provincial dataset containing de-identified COVID-19 vaccine records to conduct this study.

"We linked information about people who gave birth during our study and their use of health-care services to understand factors that may be related to COVID-19 vaccine uptake, such as where they live or if they gave birth for the first time. Accessing and linking information for all pregnant and non-pregnant people in Ontario who were eligible for the vaccine makes us more confident in our findings," says Rebecca Correia, a McMaster University Ph.D. student who coordinated the data access request and analysis.

More information: SARS-CoV-2, Tdap, and influenza vaccination during pregnancy from 2019 to 2022 in Ontario, Canada: a population-based retrospective cohort study, Canadian Medical Association Journal (2024). DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.231522
Journal information: Canadian Medical Association Journal
Provided by McMaster University

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

COVID-induced immune memory could protect against severe cases of flu, mouse study suggests

More than 200 viruses can infect and cause disease in humans; most of us will be infected by several over the course of a lifetime. Does an encounter with one virus influence how your immune system responds to a different one? If so, how? Does it weaken your defenses, boost them, or have some...

medicalxpress.com

(fair use applies)


COVID-induced immune memory could protect against severe cases of flu, mouse study suggests
by Katherine Fenz, Rockefeller University
September 30, 2024

Graphical abstract. Credit: Immunity (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2024.08.018

More than 200 viruses can infect and cause disease in humans; most of us will be infected by several over the course of a lifetime. Does an encounter with one virus influence how your immune system responds to a different one? If so, how? Does it weaken your defenses, boost them, or have some other impact altogether?

These are questions Rockefeller University scientists from the Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease,headed by Charles M. Rice, and Weill Cornell Medicine's Laboratory of Epigenetics and Immunity, headed by Steven Z. Josefowicz, teamed up to answer in a new study published in the journal Immunity.

By analyzing mice that had been first infected with SARS-CoV-2 and then with influenza A virus, the scientists found that having recovered from COVID had a protective effect against the worst effects of the flu, and that this memory response was coming from an unexpected corner of the immune system.

It turned out that epigenetic changes in macrophages—innate immune cells that are among the first responders to a threat—had developed a kind of "memory" following COVID that allowed these cells to mount a better defense against an unrelated virus. Immunological memory has long been thought to be limited to adaptive immune cells, though recent work has challenged this dogma. More intriguingly, what macrophages were remembering wasn't unique to any particular virus.

The findings increase our understanding of innate immune memory and may enable researchers to exploit the phenomenon in new ways to create therapies that confer widespread protection against multiple viruses.

"Immune memory is critical to fending off recurring diseases caused by pathogens. What's exciting about our study is that we've discovered a broadly effective antiviral immune memory in macrophages following SARS-CoV-2 infection that can reduce disease caused by a completely different virus," says first author Alexander Lercher, a postdoctoral fellow in the lab.

"A more detailed understanding of these mechanisms could aid development of new therapeutic strategies the cover a range of respiratory viruses," says Rice.

"It was so exciting to team up with Alex and Charlie and delve into the epigenetic mechanisms encoding this general antiviral memory," adds Josefowicz. "The implications are profound. If we can walk around with months-long bolstered immunity after a season's worth of respiratory infections, what are the implications for seasonal trends in these infections? How much human variance—genetic and epigenetic—exists in these pathways?"


Cascading effect

When a virus invades the body, signaling molecules called cytokines instruct innate immune cells like macrophages to pursue and consume anything that sounds their alarm. This one-size-fits-all approach is followed by a targeted assault by adaptive immune cells such as T cells, which identify a virus-specific antigen, tailor their offense towards it, and remember it long-term to fight future invasions by the same virus.

However, discoveries of the past two decades show that innate immune responses can lead to cellular memory. In multiple studies, for example, researchers discovered that people who had received the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin live-attenuated vaccine, which aims to protect against tuberculosis, elicited innate immune memory responses that last for months, and provide protection against unrelated infections.

But how this broadly effective immune memory develops is little understood. In 2020, Lercher began investigating the phenomenon using widely circulating viruses: SARS-CoV-2, then the most dominant global pathogen, and influenza A virus, a recurrent scourge plaguing humanity since the 1918 pandemic, when it crossed from birds to humans, spreading globally and killing millions.


Flipping the switch on genes

Lercher and colleagues set out to investigate long-term consequences of past SARS-CoV-2 infection in the respiratory system. They focused their analysis on cells in the lungs and found that alveolar macrophages, located in the airway, acquired a new epigenetic program after infection. More specifically, they found that the chromatin that packages genes was more accessible around antiviral genes, which rendered them "ready to go" following recovery from COVID.

These results weren't limited to mice. When analyzing samples from people who'd recovered from mild COVID, the researchers found similar epigenetic changes in monocytes in the blood, the progenitor cells of macrophages.

The result of this epigenetic reprogramming is memory of previous infections—and an altered immune response to future ones.


Sharp memory

Because macrophages in the lungs of COVID-recovered mice had acquired antiviral innate immune memory imprinted on their chromatin, they could more successfully fight disease caused by a new viral invader. Compared to naive mice, they had fewer disease symptoms from influenza A, such as significant weight loss or dysregulated inflammatory responses, and lower mortality rates.

"The fact that viral RNA alone seems to be able to trigger memory in macrophages lays the foundation of this memory being antigen independent," Lercher says. "They're recognizing a pattern that is shared by many viruses, unlike a virus-specific antigen."

The researchers confirmed this by exposing mice to a synthetic mimic of an RNA virus, and found similar memory responses as they had seen following SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Interestingly, when it came to battling the secondary flu infection, memory-attuned macrophages outperformed adaptive T cells. "The macrophages are really the ones driving this response," Lercher says.

Finally, to test how sharp the macrophages' memory was, the researchers extracted them from recovered mice, transferred them into naive mice and then infected those mice with influenza A virus. So, if the recovered macrophages were up to the task, the recipient mice should develop less severe disease upon influenza A infection.

They were. "The naive mice with the implanted recovered macrophages fared better against influenza than mice implanted with naive macrophages," Lercher says.


Pandemic preparedness

In the future, the researchers want to identify what the critical factors for establishing innate immune memory are. "In an ideal world, we would find one or a few factors that lead to this memory formation in macrophages and other innate cells, and then exploit it to develop therapies that offer broad protection against many viruses," Rice says.

This approach could be especially useful in the face of a potential pandemic. "If there were a new emerging pathogen on the horizon, for example, it would be nice to have a therapy that boosted your general antiviral immunity for the next month or so," says Lercher. "That's still very far away, and a lot more research needs to be done, but I think it could be possible one day."

More information: Alexander Lercher et al, Antiviral innate immune memory in alveolar macrophages following SARS-CoV-2 infection ameliorates secondary influenza A virus disease, Immunity (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2024.08.018
Journal information: Immunity
Provided by Rockefeller University

 

[mzkitty]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1841101324974194786

View: https://fxtwitter.com/i/status/1841101324974194786

 

[Zoner]

mRNA, Gene Therapies and Biomanufacturing Fraud

Covid vaccines associated with ALL cases of heart inflammation in children in a large UK health dataset Sasha Latypova​

Conclusions of this observational study in ~800K children and adolescents in the UK: covid vaccines had no efficacy and were associated with ALL cases of myocarditis and pericarditis! Anyone injecting kids with this garbage is simply poisoning them for no reason at all.You can read for yourself: This paper has been published in peer review.​

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

How COVID-19 Messes Up Your Gut Health

It's not just a respiratory disease.

www.yahoo.com

(fair use applies)


How COVID-19 Messes Up Your Gut Health
Jamie Ducharme - TIME
Tue, October 1, 2024 at 3:19 PM UTC

When you reach for a COVID-19 test, it’s probably because you’ve got a scratchy throat, runny nose, or cough. But those are far from the only symptoms that make Dr. Rohit Jain, an internal medicine doctor at PennState Health, suspect the virus.

These days, when someone complains of nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting, “I always get a COVID test on that patient,” Jain says.

Why? Despite its reputation as a respiratory virus, SARS-CoV-2 can also have a profound impact on the gut. Although most people don’t realize it, “COVID-19 really is a GI-tract disease” as well as a respiratory illness, says Dr. Mark Rupp, chief of infectious diseases at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Here’s what to know about the gastrointestinal symptoms of COVID-19.


What are the GI symptoms of COVID-19?

While some people experience no gastrointestinal symptoms or mild ones, a subset of COVID-19 patients have experienced significant digestive symptoms since the early days of the pandemic.

Loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain are common GI symptoms of COVID-19, according to Jain’s research. Some people experience these issues as their first signs of infection, he says, while others initially experience cold-like symptoms and develop gastrointestinal issues as their illness progresses.

It’s not entirely clear why the same virus can affect people so differently, but it’s good to be aware that SARS-CoV-2 can result in a wide range of symptoms, Rupp says.


How long do GI symptoms of COVID-19 last?

Some patients recover in a matter of days, Jain says, while others may suffer from diarrhea and other symptoms for weeks.

Still others may be sick for even longer. Gastrointestinal problems are a common manifestation of Long COVID, the name for chronic symptoms that follow a case of COVID-19 and can last indefinitely.

One recent study in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology found that, among a small group of adults who were hospitalized when they had acute COVID-19, more than 40% who originally experienced GI problems such as stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea still had at least one a year or more later. Overall, whether they were hospitalized or not, adults who have had COVID-19 are about 36% more likely than uninfected people to develop gastrointestinal disorders including ulcers, pancreatitis, IBS, and acid reflux, according to a 2023 study published in Nature Communications.

GI problems are also common among kids with Long COVID. Stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting are telltale signs of the condition among children younger than 12, according to 2024 research published in JAMA.


Why a respiratory virus affects the gut

How can the same virus cause both a runny nose and the runs?

Once SARS-CoV-2 gets into your body, it infects cells by binding to a protein called ACE2, which is found throughout the body. ACE2 is prevalent in the lungs, which helps explain COVID-19’s respiratory symptoms—but it’s also found in high concentrations in the gastrointestinal tract, “so it makes sense that the GI tract would be a target for the virus,” Rupp says. It’s in part because SARS-CoV-2 collects in the gut that wastewater surveillance is a useful tool for tracking the virus’ spread, Rupp adds.

Studies have shown that the virus can hide out in the “nooks and crannies” of the digestive system for months or even years, says Ziyad Al-Aly, a clinical epidemiologist at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis who co-authored the Nature Communications study on chronic post-COVID GI symptoms. This may explain why gut-related symptoms can long outlast an acute infection, Al-Aly says—but there are many potential hypotheses in play, and researchers don’t know for sure which one or ones are correct.

For example, many researchers also think the virus is capable of causing widespread and sometimes long-lasting inflammation, potentially affecting organs throughout the body. This inflammatory response may have trickle-down effects on the gut microbiome, the colony of bacteria and other microbes that live in the GI tract, Rupp says. “We’re just scratching the surface as to what happens there,” Rupp says, but studies have already shown that SARS-CoV-2 can change the composition of the gut microbiome both during an acute infection and chronically.

There’s also a complex relationship between the gut and the brain, adds Dr. Badih Joseph Elmunzer, a gastroenterologist at the Medical University of South Carolina and co-author of the Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology study on prolonged post-COVID GI symptoms. His research suggests people are particularly likely to suffer long-term GI problems if they also have signs of PTSD from their acute illness or hospitalization.

That’s not to say GI symptoms are all in patients’ heads; on the contrary, Elmunzer says, they are very real. But, he says, there’s a lot left to learn about the microbiome, the gut, and the myriad ways they interact with other bodily systems.