Infectious Diseases (all articles)
Global analysis suggests COVID-19 is seasonal
28 Jan, 2021 | 01:45h | UTCGlobal analysis suggests COVID-19 is seasonal – University of Illinois
Original study: Temperature and Latitude Correlate with SARS-CoV-2 Epidemiological Variables but not with Genomic Change Worldwide – Evolutionary Bioinformatics
COVID-19 increases mortality rate among pregnant women
28 Jan, 2021 | 01:32h | UTCCOVID-19 increases mortality rate among pregnant women – University of Washington
Resurgence of COVID-19 in Manaus, Brazil, despite high seroprevalence
28 Jan, 2021 | 01:42h | UTCResurgence of COVID-19 in Manaus, Brazil, despite high seroprevalence – The Lancet
Commentary on Twitter
How could there be a surge of covid-19 in Manaus, Brazil, where ~75% of the population (≥ level of herd immunity) had already been infected?https://t.co/IGMzke7cWE @TheLancet
Analysis of 4 possible explanations implicates the P.1 (and newly described P.2) variants pic.twitter.com/w0q11QQrzU— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) January 28, 2021
Long Covid: Respiratory and psychophysical sequelae among patients with COVID-19 four months after hospital discharge
28 Jan, 2021 | 01:31h | UTCCommentary: Lung, mobility problems plague COVID-19 patients months after recovery – UPI
Pregnancy, breastfeeding and the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine: an ethics-based framework for shared decision-making
28 Jan, 2021 | 01:29h | UTCCommentary: Offer COVID-19 vaccines to pregnant or breastfeeding people – Canadian Medical Association Journal
RCT: In a population with a high prevalence of Rheumatic Heart Disease, screening schoolchildren with echocardiography can enable timely initiation of secondary antibiotic prophylaxis
27 Jan, 2021 | 01:05h | UTCCommentaries: Echo Screening for Rheumatic Heart Disease in Kids Gets a Boost – TCTMD
Editorial: Screening for Rheumatic Heart Disease—Quo Vadis?
Author interview: Systematic Echocardiographic Screening for Rheumatic Heart Disease in Nepalese Schoolchildren – JAMA
Commentary on Twitter
RHD accounts for the highest number of deaths due to #VHD worldwide. Cluster RCT in Nepal indicates effectiveness of early detection of clinically silent #RHD by echocardiographic screening of schoolchildren and timely initiation of secondary prophylaxis https://t.co/gCCt4LzV7X
— JAMA Cardiology (@JAMACardio) January 20, 2021
https://twitter.com/ThomPilgrim/status/1352028977519583235
CDC: One in five people in U.S. has a sexually transmitted infection
27 Jan, 2021 | 00:58h | UTCCDC: One in five people in U.S. has a sexually transmitted infection – UPI
Original study: Sexually Transmitted Infections Among US Women and Men: Prevalence and Incidence Estimates, 2018 – Sexually Transmitted Diseases
CDC Report: Low risk of COVID-19 transmission in schools with precautions in place
27 Jan, 2021 | 01:25h | UTCRelated viewpoint: Data and Policy to Guide Opening Schools Safely to Limit the Spread of SARS-CoV-2 Infection – JAMA
Commentary on Twitter
Important study:
While covid test + rates ranged from 7 to 40% in the community, K-12 schools were able to open with nearly no transmission linked to school.The harm of school closure will tear the fabric of society; these steps are worth it to reopen. https://t.co/q0SXpqJrqw pic.twitter.com/rsL7EkVsZZ
— Vinay Prasad MD MPH (@VPrasadMDMPH) January 26, 2021
Editorial: The world needs a single naming system for coronavirus variants (geographic associations risk stigma)
27 Jan, 2021 | 01:24h | UTCThe world needs a single naming system for coronavirus variants – Nature
Opinion: Monoclonal antibodies yet to show important clinical benefit in patients with Covid-19
27 Jan, 2021 | 01:23h | UTCSee also: PulmCrit Wee – Follow-up Bamlanivimab study unmasks statistical chicanery
[Press release – not published yet] Neutralizing antibodies bamlanivimab and etesevimab together reduced risk of COVID-19 hospitalizations and death by 70 percent
27 Jan, 2021 | 01:22h | UTCCommentary: Lilly antibody combo therapy cuts risk of COVID-19 deaths – Reuters
Commentary on Twitter
1st Phase 3 trial results on #SARSCoV2 monoclonal antibody combination with very positive results
1035 patients: 11 (2%) v (7%) for death or hospitalization and 0 vs 10 deaths in high-risk patients, given early https://t.co/BXnwCd64O9 (press release).
Coincides w/ EUA criteria. pic.twitter.com/3MjE0XtEqF— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) January 26, 2021
WHO Updated Guideline: COVID-19 clinical management
27 Jan, 2021 | 01:26h | UTCCOVID-19 Clinical management: living guidance – World Health Organization
News release: WHO recommends follow-up care, low-dose anticoagulants for COVID-19 patients
Commentary: WHO issues new clinical advice on treating COVID-19 patients – Reuters
[Press release – not published yet] REGENERON reports positive interim data with antibody cocktail used as passive vaccine to prevent COVID-19
27 Jan, 2021 | 01:21h | UTCCommentaries: Regeneron’s antibody cocktail effective in preventing COVID-19 infection: study – Reuters AND Regeneron says monoclonal antibodies prevent Covid-19 in study – STAT AND Expert reaction to press release from Regeneron giving interim data from its REGEN-COV™ antibody cocktail trial for the prevention of COVID-19 in people at high risk of infection – Science Media Centre
Early warnings of COVID-19 outbreaks across Europe from social media
27 Jan, 2021 | 01:17h | UTCEarly warnings of COVID-19 outbreaks across Europe from social media – Scientific Reports
Commentary on Twitter
Where do you go to find the 1st, earliest signs of covid-19 in Europe?@Twitter https://t.co/H5SuMpiR6K @SciReports @IMTLucca
Incorporate social media into digital surveillance efforts pic.twitter.com/SjcpZXlYTs— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) January 25, 2021
Israel sees 60% drop in hospitalizations for age 60-plus 3 weeks after 1st shot
27 Jan, 2021 | 01:19h | UTCRelated: No serious COVID-19 cases among Israelis given Pfizer shot, minister says – Reuters
Covid-19 vaccine tracker: The global race to vaccinate
26 Jan, 2021 | 00:59h | UTCCovid-19 vaccine tracker: the global race to vaccinate – Financial Times
See also: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Vaccinations – Our World in Data
Commentary on Twitter
Israel appears to be the only country that was ready for the vaccines. https://t.co/MPCqNdzi97 pic.twitter.com/bTT8zDpDDF
— Julia Belluz (@juliaoftoronto) January 25, 2021
Report: UK variant of Coronavirus possibly more deadly
26 Jan, 2021 | 00:58h | UTCNERVTAG paper on COVID-19 variant of concern B.1.1.7
Commentaries: Coronavirus: UK variant ‘may be more deadly’ – BBC AND CDC reviewing new data that suggests coronavirus variant identified in UK could be more deadly – CNN
Why scientists are more worried about the Covid-19 variant discovered in South Africa
26 Jan, 2021 | 00:56h | UTCWhy scientists are more worried about the Covid-19 variant discovered in South Africa – Vox
Original study (preprint and commentaries): South African COVID-19 variant escapes neutralization by antibodies in COVID-19 convalescent plasma
See also: Fast-spreading COVID variant can elude immune responses – Nature
Commentary on Twitter
Hot off the preprint press: Another new study, from the excellent @rjlessells @Tuliodna, used live virus to show that South Africa #coronavirus 501Y.V2 can in vitro escape antibody response from prior infectionhttps://t.co/mrryWtnXUu
Context here: https://t.co/V6WVSbUQGk
— Julia Belluz (@juliaoftoronto) January 22, 2021
[Press release – not published yet] Azithromycin and doxycycline are not generally effective against COVID-19 in patients treated at home, shows PRINCIPLE trial
26 Jan, 2021 | 01:03h | UTC
Moderna COVID-19 vaccine may be less effective against variant found in South Africa
26 Jan, 2021 | 00:54h | UTCModerna Finds COVID-19 Vaccine Less Effective Against Variant Found In South Africa – NPR
Moderna Press release: Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Retains Neutralizing Activity Against Emerging Variants First Identified in the U.K. and the Republic of South Africa
See also: Expert reaction to preprint from Moderna about neutralising activity of their vaccine against new variants and announcement of plans to trial a variant booster jab targeting the South African (B.1.351) variant – Science Media Centre AND Moderna Launches Trial For Covid-19 Vaccine Booster To Tackle South African Strain – Forbes
Commentary on Twitter
🔥Moderna preprint PUBLISHED🔥
A six-fold reduction in neutralizing titers was observed with B.1.351 variant relative to prior variants Despite this reduction, neutralizing titer levels with B.1.351 remain above levels that are expected to be protective https://t.co/pDfgRn6Ost pic.twitter.com/VLu3iOqAda— Antibiotic Steward Bassam Ghanem 🅱️C🆔🅿️🌟 (@ABsteward) January 25, 2021
New analysis does not support a major role of school reopening in the second COVID-19 wave in Israel
26 Jan, 2021 | 00:52h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter
Very interesting paper
Despite previous certainty about schools being the driving factor in the second wave in Israel, now looks unlikely
Easing restrictions of large gatherings in adults the predominant factor
Young adults, not children, as elsewherehttps://t.co/oWHbZynRpL
— Alasdair Munro (@apsmunro) January 25, 2021
UNICEF Executive Director Statement: “Children cannot afford another year of school disruption”
26 Jan, 2021 | 00:53h | UTCChildren cannot afford another year of school disruption – UNICEF
Commentary on Twitter
"Children cannot afford another year of school disruption."
Statement by UNICEF Executive Director @unicefchief Henrietta H. Fore
Find out more 👉https://t.co/DwuaHGub3B pic.twitter.com/jQbdLK2EE5
— UNICEF Rwanda (@unicefrw) January 13, 2021
German study provides evidence that opening schools may be safe
26 Jan, 2021 | 00:51h | UTCGerman Study Provides Evidence that Opening Schools May Be Safe – Physician’s Weekly
Original Study: Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Children and Their Parents in Southwest Germany – JAMA Pediatrics
Editorial: To Spread or Not to Spread SARS-CoV-2—Is That the Question?
Related: Three studies highlight low COVID risk of in-person school
WHO COVAX Announces new agreement, plans for first deliveries
26 Jan, 2021 | 00:49h | UTCCOVAX Announces new agreement, plans for first deliveries – World Health Organization
Commentary on Twitter
#COVAX has signed an agreement with Pfizer/BioNTech for up to 40M doses of its #COVID19 vaccine.
We also expect to distribute almost 150M doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine in the 1/4 of 2021, once the vaccine is listed for emergency use by @WHO. https://t.co/yx3FFl9bv8— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) January 23, 2021
Meta-analysis: Effect of micronutrient supplements on influenza and other respiratory tract infections among adults
25 Jan, 2021 | 01:17h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)
Our new article in @GlobalHealthBMJ suggests that zinc supplementation could almost halve the duration of symptoms of acute respiratory infection in adults. We also found small effects of vitamins C and D supplementation to prevent ARIs. [Thread]https://t.co/aJ4VfYFiBG
— Ibraheem Abioye (@DrAbioye) January 20, 2021