Hepatitis

Study says dogs 97% sensitive at detecting COVID-19 in patients

Compared with reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing, dogs can detect COVID-19 infections via scent with high sensitivity (97%)—though lower specificity (91%)—even when patients are asymptomatic, according to a study in PLOS One yesterday.

Study: Vaccine could have averted 75% of COVID deaths in some Chicago areas

About 75% of COVID-19 deaths in the least-vaccinated Chicago areas could have been prevented if their uptake would have equaled that of the highest-coverage areas during the Alpha and Delta variant surges, suggests a study late last week in JAMA Network Open.

Asymptomatic COVID-19 may not spread as easily as symptomatic

Symptomatic COVID-19 cases are responsible for more viral transmission than asymptomatic infections, suggests an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of 130 studies published yesterday in PLOS Medicine.

COVID-19 vaccination tied to less disease spread, shorter virus shedding

Transmission of COVID-19 was significantly lower, and viable virus was detected for a shorter period, in fully vaccinated patients and staff isolated at a South Korean hospital than in their partially vaccinated and unvaccinated counterparts, finds a study published yesterday in JAMA Network Open.

COVID-related thyroiditis still detectable 1 year later in some patients

While COVID-19–related thyroid inflammation usually resolves shortly after the acute illness, about half of participants in a study presented today at the 24th European Congress of Endocrinology still had thyroid abnormalities a year later. The congress is being held May 21 to 24 in Milan, Italy.

Only 25% of long-COVID patients were hospitalized for their infections

Three quarters of US adult and pediatric patients with long COVID were never hospitalized for their infections, and 31% had no preexisting chronic conditions, concludes an observational Fair Health report released yesterday.

The New York City-based nonprofit analyzed its collection of private healthcare claims data from 78,252 long-COVID patients from Oct 1, 2021, to Jan 31, 2022.

Michigan reports avian flu in fox kits as US outbreaks increase

Michigan's Department of Natural Resources (DNR) yesterday reported three highly pathogenic avian flu cases in red fox kits in three different counties, which came closely on the heels of a similar report from Minnesota.

Study suggests link between diet and antibiotic resistance in gut bacteria

A study published yesterday in mBio suggests a diverse, high-fiber diet is associated with fewer antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) in gut bacteria.