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Study links air quality improvements to fewer school COVID cases

The study took place at a school that serves vulnerable students in a setting where air quality improvements were made and then monitored.

Lisa Schnirring
ventilation system

Probe of febrile illness clusters in DR Congo points to malaria, other factors

Complicating factors could include other infectious diseases, such as meningitis, and the impact from a lack of medical care.

Lisa Schnirring
malaria rapid test

ASP Scan (Weekly) for May 14, 2021

… Examination Surveys (NHANES), which ask participants about medications taken over the past 30 days and have been …

COMMENTARY: Wear a respirator, not a cloth or surgical mask, to protect against respiratory viruses

Two recent papers claim there are no differences between surgical masks and respirators for preventing the spread of respiratory diseases like COVID-19 and flu, but the articles are deeply flawed.

Lisa Brosseau
C. R. MacIntyre
Angela Ulrich
Michael Osterholm
Healthcare workers with respirators

US policymakers acting to bolster drug supply chains amid critical shortages

… shortages of critically important drugs such as cancer medications , Adderall , and antibiotics, US policymakers are … strategies that balance the need for affordable medications with stringent quality control measures," he …
Mary Van Beusekom
Empty blister packs

USAID funding freeze disrupts global tuberculosis control efforts

… unable to obtain medicine or receive prompt diagnosis. TB medications that have already been purchased aren't being …
Chris Dall
World TB Day parade in Thailand

Brazilian study indicates Zika reinfection possible

Because Zika often does not require medical care, many reinfections may have gone unnoticed, the study authors say.

Mary Van Beusekom

WHO updates COVID treatment guidelines, risk estimates for hospitalization

The WHO lowered its treatment-benefit threshold from a 6% to a 2% reduction in the risk of hospitalization.

Mary Van Beusekom

Risk of severe flu outcomes 7-fold higher in poorer nations, analysis finds

Having 2 or more underlying medical conditions raised the risk of ICU admission, mechanical ventilation, and in-hospital death.

Mary Van Beusekom

COVID Omicron carries 4 times the risk of death as flu, new data show

… pneumonia) in combination with the use of antiviral medications," he wrote. "For future Omicron epidemics, wider …
Mary Van Beusekom

Study spotlights breakthrough mpox in gay, bisexual men

While breakthrough infections were mostly mild, infection- and vaccine-induced immunity don't fully protect against mpox.

Mary Van Beusekom

Pfizer COVID vaccine tracking confirms safety in kids, with myocarditis, pericarditis rare

The 2 heart conditions occurred within a week of vaccination in under 40 cases per million doses delivered in kids 5 to 17 years old.

Mary Van Beusekom
Row of Pfizer vaccine vials

Study shows dogs can detect COVID-19 faster, better than most PCR tests

Studies show that dogs can detect asymptomatic people, those who had long COVID, and new COVID variants.

Stephanie Soucheray
dog sniffing

MRI study reveals fetal, placental anomalies in pregnant COVID patients

The researchers say placentas of pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2 should be examined after testing positive.

Mary Van Beusekom

US flu activity remain low, but kids' deaths pass 100

The CDC points out that flu vaccine uptake in children this season is 6 percentage points lower than before the pandemic.

Lisa Schnirring
Baby in ICU

FDA removal of decongestants made with ineffective drug would disrupt drug supply chain, experts say

… US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) pulls cough and cold medications containing the active ingredient phenylephrine … During the study period, 732 unique phenylephrine medications (21 stand-alone, 711 combination products) and …
Mary Van Beusekom

GAO report: HHS mpox failures show persistent emergency response gaps

Many of the problems in the mpox response were due to a deflated and exhausted public health workforce across the country.

Stephanie Soucheray
mpox on hands

New AI tool ferrets out long-COVID cases from patient records, estimates 23% prevalence

The algorithm was roughly 3% more accurate than the relevant diagnostic code and less biased toward certain populations, the authors say.

Mary Van Beusekom

Review supports shorter antibiotic durations for uncomplicated respiratory infections

Researchers say evidence from systematic reviews supports short-course treatments for conditions like non-ICU community-acquired pneumonia.

Chris Dall
Woman coughing

During pandemic, ivermectin use rose 10-fold, hydroxychloroquine use doubled, study reveals

… the country to assess the use and spending for the two medications during the first 3 years of the pandemic.   … The authors said the study shows the widespread use of medications that were largely touted via misinformation, and …
Stephanie Soucheray
ivermectin

Imaging shows significant lung injury in kids with long COVID

In participants with long COVID, greater lung perfusion correlated with increased chronic fatigue severity.

Stephanie Soucheray
lung MRI

Despite guidelines, few US children receiving flu antivirals

More than a third of infants 6 months and younger were not treated with antivirals when hospitalized for the flu. 

Stephanie Soucheray
sick child in hospital

Does Paxlovid prevent long COVID? Maybe, experts suggest

Discordant findings on Paxlovid and long COVID illustrate why more trials are needed.

Stephanie Soucheray
paxlovid pills

Agreement will expand access to key drug for resistant TB

The agreement between Johnson & Johnson and the Stop TB Partnership will make cheaper, generic versions of bedaquiline available in low- and middle-income nations.

Chris Dall
TB treatment in Thailand

Routine lab tests can't reliably distinguish long COVID from other illnesses, NIH study suggests

The authors say that clinicians should continue to focus on symptoms and symptom relief rather than rely only on lab test results.

Mary Van Beusekom
Long-COVID patient dragging giant virus

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