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National Academies report reveals dire pandemic effects on at-risk kids, families

… for 65% of those who have lost a primary caregiver to COVID-19. Infectious disease topics COVID-19 Byline Mary Van Beusekom, MS Body The latest report … for 65% of those who have lost a primary caregiver to COVID-19. The Academies' Committee on Addressing the …
Mary Van Beusekom
Mom working on math with son
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127

Episode 127: A Tough Two Weeks

In "A Tough Two Weeks," Dr. Osterholm shares why the past two weeks have been among the most challenging of the pandemic for him. He also provides an update on global and national COVID trends, examines the latest data on the possible source of the pandemic, and answers a COVID query on booster shots following COVID infection.

    Here’s why the science Is clear that masks work (Zeynep Tufekci, New York Times)
March 23, 2023

Excess deaths decreased in second pandemic year, likely tied to vaccination

… excess deaths in states with low, medium, and high COVID-19 vaccination rates, defined as those in which less … because minorities were initially much more susceptible to COVID-related deaths in the beginning of the pandemic. Those … when vaccines became available." Infectious disease topic COVID-19 Date Wed, 05/24/2023 - 15:53 Byline Stephanie …
Stephanie Soucheray

Studies detail Omicron immune protection after infection, vaccination

… 'quite stable' Researchers in Portugal mined a national COVID-19 registry for data on more than 9.3 million … at 8 months. Their relative risk, compared with that of COVID-naïve participants, was 0.24 initially and 0.32 at 3 … conducted a meta-analysis of 14 observational studies on COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness (VE) in children and …
Mary Van Beusekom
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126

Episode 126: Truth in the Midst of Political Theater

In this episode, Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall discuss the state of the pandemic in the U.S. and around the world, the role of booster doses and masks in the months ahead, and the debate on the origin of the pandemic.

    Elizabeth's Beautiful Place
March 9, 2023

Among SARS-CoV-2 variants, Beta had highest death rate, meta-analysis suggests

… rates ranging from 1% to 4%. Infectious disease topics COVID-19 Byline Mary Van Beusekom, MS Body A global  … Sciences in Beijing reviewed 112 epidemiologic studies on COVID-19's CFR published from January 2020 to March 2023. … study authors wrote. "These changes have profoundly shaped COVID-19 outbreaks, posing challenges for global epidemic …
Mary Van Beusekom
Woman posting COVID poster in Africa

Paring PPE to just N95s in pandemic kept hospital staff safe, slashed waste and costs, study finds

… study finds Teaser image Teaser text Staff-to-community COVID-19 rates were similar before and after de-escalation … 2.6 before and 1.5 after).  Infectious disease topics COVID-19 Byline Mary Van Beusekom, MS Body Limiting the use … equipment (PPE) to only N95 respirators late in the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore healthcare facilities kept …
Mary Van Beusekom
Full personal protective equipment on healthcare worker
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150

Episode 150: A Family Discussion

In "A Family Discussion," Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall discuss the latest SARS-CoV-2 variant, consider the current and future challenges accessing Paxlovid, and explore new long COVID research. Dr. Osterholm also revisits last episode's discussion on changing public health guidelines and celebrates some canine heroes in the "This Week in Public Health History" segment. 

    Viral afterlife: SARS-CoV-2 as a reservoir of immunomimetic peptides that reassemble into proinflammatory supramolecular complexes (Yue Zhang, PNAS)
    Minnesota hospitals say 65,000 days of care were avoidable if patients had somewhere to go (Jeremy Olson, Star Tribune)
    Have a Paxlovid Prescription? Low Cost Options Available (Minnesota Department of Health)
    Find COVID-19 Medications (Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, HHS)
    Homeless man leaves puppies at N.C. shelter with heart-tugging note (Cathy Free, Washington Post)
February 8, 2024
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157

Episode 157: Lungs & Udders

In "Lungs & Udders," Dr. Osterholm provides updates on H5N1 influenza, COVID-19, and mpox. He also shares his thoughts on a recent WHO report about airborne transmission and a study on the use of a diabetes drug to treat COVID-19.

Airborne pathogens: controlling words won’t control transmission (Greenhalgh et al., The Lancet)

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May 16, 2024
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125

Episode 125: Masks, Memories, & Middle Ground

In "Masks, Memories, & Middle Ground," Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall discuss the state of the pandemic in the US and around the world, the newly released CIDRAP Coronavirus Vaccine R&D Roadmap, and the rise of vaccine misinformation and disinformation.

    CIDRAP's Coronavirus Vaccines R&D Roadmap
    A research and development (R&D) roadmap for broadly protective coronavirus vaccines: a pandemic preparedness strategy (Moore et al., Vaccine)
    The time is now for committed and comprehensive action to attain more broadly protective coronavirus vaccines: the coronavirus vaccines R&D roadmap (Margaret Hamburg and Gregory A. Poland, Vaccine)
    COMMENTARY: Wear a respirator, not a cloth or surgical mask, to protect against respiratory viruses (Brosseau et al.)
    Max
    A Fly Fisherman and his Fly Fishing Companion
    Gayle's Beautiful Place
February 23, 2023
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172

Episode 172: A Tunnel of Uncertainty

In "A Tunnel of Uncertainty," Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall discuss several of Trump's recent HHS nominations, the latest respiratory virus data, and two recent studies on long COVID. Dr. Osterholm also provides an update on the unfolding H5N1 situation and shares another "This Week in Public Health History" segment. 

The effect of pre-COVID and post-COVID vaccination on long COVID: a systematic review and meta-analysis (Chow et al., Journal of Infection)

Association of messenger RNA coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination and reductions in post COVID conditions following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection in a US prospective cohort of essential workers (Mak et al., Journal of Infectious Diseases)

Photos of Dr. Osterholm in Wicked

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December 5, 2024

Possible big city risk: Sewer rats infected with SARS-CoV-2

… image Teaser text Of 79 rats, 4 (5%) tested positive for COVID-19, and 13 (16.5%) tested positive for wild-type … or immunoglobulin M antibodies. Infectious disease topics COVID-19 Byline Mary Van Beusekom, MS Body SARS-CoV-2 can … in the New York City sewer system that tested positive for COVID-19 and/or antibodies against a strain circulating among …
Mary Van Beusekom
Sewer rat

Investigators dig deep to solve melioidosis mystery

… even know where to begin with it." Compared with the COVID-19 pandemic, which has dominated our every waking …
Chris Dall | News Reporter | CIDRAP News
Scientist at microscope

Data-sharing initiative aims to help fight against antibiotic resistance

… will be coming out of these data sets. CIDRAP News: The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us, among other things, the …
Chris Dall | News Reporter | CIDRAP News

Foundation aims to help people 'see' C difficile

… who diagnoses it. HIV is a national notifiable disease. COVID swiftly became a national notifiable disease. Syphilis …
Chris Dall | News Reporter | CIDRAP News
Chrisian Lillis speaking at a podium
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164

Episode 164: Only the Beginning

In "Only the Beginning," Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall discuss the mpox public health emergency and the latest COVID-19 and H5N1 trends. Dr. Osterholm also answers an ID Query on COVID-19 vaccine access and commemorates the legacy of Ryan White.

Use of COVID-19 Vaccines in the United States: Interim Clinical Considerations (CDC)

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August 22, 2024

Quick takes: Perceptions on childhood vaccines and low uptake in Africa, African mRNA vaccine hub

… misinformation and political polarization. In Africa, COVID-related interruptions have derailed progress with … efforts to boost equitable access to vaccines against COVID and future health threats. The company is currently scaling up a COVID vaccine candidate called AfriVac 2121 for use in phase …
Lisa Schnirring

Study shows no link between remdesivir, cardiac events

… of adverse cardiac events in patients hospitalized with COVID-19, according to newly published results of the … control trial of outcome seen in patients hospitalized for COVID-19 infections. The study , published in Clinical … that reduces mortality in patients hospitalized for COVID-19." Infectious disease topic COVID-19 Date Wed, …
Stephanie Soucheray

Study shows increase in serious alcohol-related complications early in pandemic

… in serious alcohol-related complications in 4 of 18 COVID-19 pandemic months studied (through September 2021), … to 56.0% increase), mostly of ALD complications.   The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with increased alcohol … women, likely due to social isolation and stress. " The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with increased alcohol …
Stephanie Soucheray

96% of US blood donors had SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in 2022, CDC reports

… estimated 96.4% of US blood donors had antibodies against COVID-19 from a previous infection or vaccination, including … had the highest (59.6%). From January through June 2022, COVID-19 incidence among unvaccinated participants was 21.7%, … 22.9% among their vaccinated peers. The incidence of first COVID-19 infections was higher among younger than older …
Mary Van Beusekom

Antivirals—not monoclonal antibodies—neutralize Omicron BQ.1.1, XBB

… US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to lower the risk of COVID-19 is tixagevimab-cilgavimab ( Evusheld), and the FDA … more mutations in the spike protein, the main target of COVID-19 vaccines and monoclonal antibodies, and thus are … the need for new therapeutic monoclonal antibodies for Covid-19," they wrote. Infectious disease topic COVID-19 Date …
Mary Van Beusekom

CEPI announces $3.2 million toward CIDRAP's roadmap

… at developing vaccines to target coronaviruses, including COVID-19, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), or future … support from The Rockefeller and Gates Foundations. COVID-19 was the third new coronavirus to strike in the past … coronaviruses with epidemic and pandemic potential. " COVID-19 was the third new coronavirus to strike in the past …
Stephanie Soucheray

Study: Higher risk of accompanying bacterial infections with flu, RSV than SARS-CoV-2

… Diseases.  But the risk of bacterial infections in COVID-19 patients was substantially elevated after 48 hours … of 12,744 (3.4%) RSV patients, and 2,519 of 841,026 (0.3%) COVID-19 patients. The most prevalent species causing … "Antimicrobial prescribing is common in patients with COVID-19 which can adversely impact antimicrobial …
Chris Dall

CDC to expand testing for respiratory viruses at airports

… will expand testing of international air travelers beyond COVID-19 to provide early detection of other respiratory … a press release . "The TGS program, which began during the COVID-19 pandemic, acted as an early-warning system to detect … more than 360,000 air travelers. Infectious disease topic COVID-19 Influenza, General Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) …
Chris Dall

Three vaccine doses most protective for children during Omicron in Brazil

… during the Omicron wave of the pandemic reveals a two-dose COVID vaccine effectiveness (VE) of 49.4%, 26.0%, and 7.2% … literature on the effectiveness of the booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines among children and adolescent recipients. … adolescents and young adults." Infectious disease topic COVID-19 Date Tue, 08/01/2023 - 15:18 Byline Stephanie …
Stephanie Soucheray

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