Infectious Diseases (all articles)
Early data from South Africa hints Omicron variant may cause less severe Covid, but more research is needed.
5 Dec, 2021 | 23:51h | UTCOriginal report: Tshwane District Omicron Variant Patient Profile – Early Features
Fauci says early reports encouraging about omicron variant – “Thus far, it does not look like there’s a great degree of severity to it”.
5 Dec, 2021 | 23:47h | UTCFauci says Omicron variant doesn’t look severe, but ‘got to be careful’ – Associated Press
WHO has no reports yet of Omicron Covid deaths.
5 Dec, 2021 | 23:48h | UTCWHO has no reports yet of Omicron Covid deaths – MedicalXpress
Commentary on Twitter
Despite #OmnicronVariant's global spread, the WHO says there are no Omicron deaths so far. The agency warns it may take weeks to determine how infectious the variant is, whether it causes more severe illness & how effective antivirals & vaccines are https://t.co/NSN6Ysf3gc pic.twitter.com/Wnp90HvUng
— delthia ricks 🔬 (@DelthiaRicks) December 4, 2021
Editorial: Emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 Variant of Concern Omicron (B.1.1.529) – highlights Africa’s research capabilities, but exposes major knowledge gaps, inequities of vaccine distribution, inadequacies in global COVID-19 response and control efforts.
5 Dec, 2021 | 23:46h | UTC
Pictorial Review: Spinal disorders mimicking infection.
5 Dec, 2021 | 23:10h | UTCSpinal disorders mimicking infection – Insights into Imaging
[Preprint] Preliminary data points to increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection associated with the emergence of Omicron variant in South Africa.
3 Dec, 2021 | 10:29h | UTCCommentaries:
Global Omicron COVID cases rise as evidence for immune escape grows – CIDRAP
Omicron seems to carry higher Covid reinfection risk, says South Africa – The Guardian
Reinfections three times more likely with Omicron: S. African research – MedicalXpress
Commentary from the author on Twitter (thread – click for more)
[Thread] We have updated our preprint on SARS-CoV-2 reinfection trends in South Africa to include data through late November. @hivepi @jd_mathbio @carivs @Dr_Groome @nicd_sa #SACEMAhttps://t.co/yvIRtfQH6I#notyetpeerreviewed https://t.co/EKr8fgJVba
— Juliet Pulliam, PhD (@jrcpulliam@mathstodon.xyz) (@jrcpulliam) December 2, 2021
Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant: a new chapter in the COVID-19 pandemic.
3 Dec, 2021 | 10:28h | UTCOmicron SARS-CoV-2 variant: a new chapter in the COVID-19 pandemic – The Lancet
Commentary on Twitter
NEW—Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant: a new chapter in the COVID-19 pandemic
In a Comment, @ProfAbdoolKarim provides preliminary indications on transmissibility, severity, and immune escape from what is known about #Omicron's mutations. https://t.co/fWJq2ZSlNK pic.twitter.com/ijpgirZ5wj
— The Lancet (@TheLancet) December 2, 2021
Podcast: The Omicron Variant of SARS-CoV-2.
3 Dec, 2021 | 10:21h | UTCThe Omicron Variant of SARS-CoV-2 – New England Journal of Medicine
Collection: What can the world learn from China’s response to covid-19?
3 Dec, 2021 | 10:24h | UTCHomepage: China’s response to Covid-19 – The BMJ
Editorial: What can the world learn from China’s response to covid-19?
Importance of public health tools in emerging infectious diseases
Non-pharmaceutical interventions during the roll out of covid-19 vaccines
Use of contact tracing, isolation, and mass testing to control transmission of covid-19 in China
Role of asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic infections in covid-19 pandemic
Effectiveness of 14 day quarantine strategy: Chinese experience of prevention and control
Cold chain logistics: a possible mode of SARS-CoV-2 transmission?
Better modelling of infectious diseases: lessons from covid-19 in China
Learning for the next pandemic: the Wuhan experience of managing critically ill people
Interactive Infographic: Visualizing SARS-CoV-2 transmission routes and mitigations.
3 Dec, 2021 | 10:26h | UTCVisualising SARS-CoV-2 transmission routes and mitigations – The BMJ
Commentary: New interactive graphic tool illustrates SARS-CoV-2 transmission routes and mitigations – News Medical
Commentary on Twitter
Is it risky to sing in a choir or eat in a small restaurant? How much difference does it make if I open windows or clean surfaces?
A new #BMJInfographic helps people decide what to do in everyday situations to protect themselves, and others, from covid-19 https://t.co/RMoEwZ9wTz pic.twitter.com/XV9ElCoOGa
— The BMJ (@bmj_latest) December 2, 2021
Omicron is supercharging the COVID vaccine booster debate – “The data are growing that booster jabs enhance protection — but their durability, impact and ability to quash the new variant are unknown”.
3 Dec, 2021 | 10:19h | UTCOmicron is supercharging the COVID vaccine booster debate – Nature
Omicron-variant border bans ignore the evidence, say scientists – “Researchers say travel restrictions in response to the newly detected coronavirus variant come too late and could even slow studies of Omicron”.
3 Dec, 2021 | 10:20h | UTCOmicron-variant border bans ignore the evidence, say scientists – Nature
How bad is Omicron? What scientists know so far.
3 Dec, 2021 | 10:18h | UTCHow bad is Omicron? What scientists know so far – Nature
Opinion | Omg, Omicron! Why it’s too soon to panic about COVID vaccines and the new variant.
3 Dec, 2021 | 10:16h | UTCOmg, Omicron! Why it’s too soon to panic about COVID vaccines and the new variant – The Conversation
Review: Interventions to optimize antimicrobial stewardship.
3 Dec, 2021 | 10:11h | UTC
Germany on Thursday announced a nationwide lockdown for the unvaccinated.
3 Dec, 2021 | 10:14h | UTCGermany locks down unvaccinated people, as leaders plan to make shots compulsory – CNN
See also: Germany locks unvaccinated out of public life; mandate looms – Associated Press
The Omicron Variant Is a Mystery. Here’s How Science Will Solve It – “So far, panic about the new Covid variant has outpaced actual information. Here’s what scientists around the world are trying to uncover”.
2 Dec, 2021 | 10:08h | UTCThe Omicron Variant Is a Mystery. Here’s How Science Will Solve It – Wired
See also the latest articles on the subject:
Where did ‘weird’ Omicron come from? – Science
We can prevail over Omicron. We just need to use the tools we have – The Guardian
How South African Researchers Identified the Omicron Variant of COVID – The New Yorker
The omicron variant has been found in 23 countries – NPR
These countries have found cases of the Omicron Covid-19 variant so far – CNN
Scientists say it will take weeks to tell how dangerous Omicron really is. Here’s why – CNN
Coronavirus variants: Here’s what we know – CNN
To catch variants like omicron, the world needs to sequence way more virus genes – Vox
Omicron’s Best- and Worst-Case Scenarios – The Atlantic
Africa: tackle HIV and COVID-19 together – Nature
The mystery of where omicron came from — and why it matters – NPR
A reason for optimism on Omicron: Our immune systems are not blank slates – STAT
Omicron – Science-Based Medicine
Covid: Omicron may require ‘very stringent response’, say Sage scientists – BBC
WHO warns against Omicron travel bans as nations shut borders – MedicalXpress
Israeli doctor believes he caught Omicron variant of Covid in London – The Guardian
First case of Omicron coronavirus variant identified in the U.S. – STAT
Retrospective Cohort Study: Except for Rituximab, most immunosuppressive medicines were not associated with increased risk of mechanical ventilation or death in patients hospitalized with Covid-19.
2 Dec, 2021 | 10:07h | UTCCommentaries:
What does endemic COVID-19 mean for the future of rituximab? – The Lancet Rheumatology
Study: Immune-suppressed not at higher risk of poor COVID outcomes – CIDRAP
Commentary on Twitter
NEW RESEARCH—Long-term use of immunosuppressive medicines and in-hospital #COVID19 outcomes: data from N3C shows no increased risk of mechanical ventilation or in-hospital death with the exception of #rituximab https://t.co/vEyTzfvK5q #LancetRheumatology
@JohnsHopkins pic.twitter.com/NqlttjGrpj— The Lancet Rheumatology (@TheLancetRheum) November 16, 2021
AAP Clinical Report | Tuberculosis Infection in Children and Adolescents.
2 Dec, 2021 | 09:58h | UTCTuberculosis Infection in Children and Adolescents: Testing and Treatment – Pediatrics
Systematic Review: Models of COVID-19 vaccine prioritization – “for countries seeking to minimize deaths, prioritizing vaccination of senior adults was the optimal strategy and for countries seeking to minimize cases the young were prioritized”.
2 Dec, 2021 | 10:02h | UTC
World Health Assembly agrees to launch process to develop historic global accord on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.
2 Dec, 2021 | 10:03h | UTCCommentary: Standing Ovation as WHO Member States Commit to Negotiating New Pandemic Accord – Health Policy Watch
Fluvoxamine for the early treatment of SARS-CoV-2 Infection: a review of current evidence.
2 Dec, 2021 | 10:04h | UTCFluvoxamine for the Early Treatment of SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Review of Current Evidence – Drugs
Related:
Complete countrywide mortality in COVID patients receiving ECMO in Germany throughout the first three waves of the pandemic.
1 Dec, 2021 | 09:52h | UTC
WHO advice for international traffic in relation to the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant (B.1.1.529).
1 Dec, 2021 | 10:02h | UTCCommentary: Over-60s, vulnerable should postpone travel due to Omicron: WHO – MedicalXpress
See also the latest articles on the subject:
WHO pleads for ‘rational’ Omicron response – MedicalXpress
Omicron: WHO warns of ‘high infection risk’ around globe – BBC
Video: Why Omicron is the most worrying Covid variant yet – video explainer – The Guardian
Doctors hope Omicron causes milder cases of Covid — but it’s still too early to say – STAT
Doctor: Many South Africans ill in surge have mild symptoms – Associated Press
New Findings Show the Omicron Variant Spread Widely At a Faster Pace Than Initially Thought – TIME
Why some researchers think the omicron variant could be the most infectious one yet – NPR
Omicron Covid variant ‘present in Europe at least 10 days ago’ – The Guardian
Netherlands says Omicron variant was already in country earlier than previously thought – CNN
Netherlands detections hint at earlier Omicron spread – CIDRAP
Epidemiologist awaits clearer picture on omicron – Harvard University
Pfizer research head envisions a sprint to develop Omicron vaccine, if it’s needed – STAT
Moderna boss predicts current vaccines may be less effective against Omicron – The Guardian
Travel restrictions by country following the Omicron variant outbreak – CNN
FDA panel narrowly recommends authorization of first antiviral pill to treat COVID.
1 Dec, 2021 | 09:56h | UTCFDA panel narrowly recommends authorization of first antiviral pill to treat COVID – STAT
See also: An FDA panel supports Merck COVID drug in mixed vote – NPR
Related:
8 lingering questions about the new Covid pills from Merck and Pfizer.
The U.K. approves Merck’s COVID-19 antiviral pill, calling it a world first.
Merck to allow other nations to produce new COVID-19 antiviral.
Video: Merck’s Covid pill could transform treatment. Here’s how it works.
How antiviral pill Molnupiravir shot ahead in the COVID drug hunt.
What we know — and don’t know — about Merck’s new Covid-19 pill.
Merck’s Covid-19 pill is great news but may not be a game-changer.
Video | A Pill For COVID? A Doctor Explains Molnupiravir.