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WHO reports 4 more MERS cases from Saudi Arabia

… cases have declined substantially since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. It said reasons could include public health actions prioritizing COVID-19 case detections or COVID-19 mitigation actions such as masking and physical …
Lisa Schnirring

Kids' mental health worsened with pandemic-related German school closures

… pandemic-related German school closures Body Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, German school closures were likely linked … spread," the authors conclude. Infectious disease topic COVID-19 Date Mon, 08/21/2023 - 14:18 Byline Stephanie Soucheray, MA Teaser text Early during COVID-19, school closures were likely linked to a surge in …
Stephanie Soucheray

Healthcare workers had high rates of depression during early pandemic, Brazil data show

… 59.7% had anxiety, and 61.7% reported stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study is published in PLOS One . Some … in depression, anxiety, or stress also reported having had COVID-19 (64.22%, 63.30%, and 64.82%, respectively), and … education , " the authors wrote. Infectious disease topic COVID-19 Date Wed, 06/07/2023 - 14:18 Byline Stephanie …
Stephanie Soucheray

WHO scraps plan for phase 2 of SARS-CoV-2 origin study

… Maria Van Kerkhove, PhD, the WHO's technical lead for COVID-19. An international team led by the WHO spent 4 weeks … licensing in Europe and Brazil. Infectious disease topic COVID-19 Date Tue, 02/14/2023 - 15:34 Byline Lisa Schnirring …
Lisa Schnirring

SARS-CoV-2 infections may trigger islet autoantibodies in kids at risk for diabetes

… SARS-CoV-2, illustrating a temporal relationship between COVID-19 and islet autoantibodies not seen with influenza. … study builds on the understanding of type 1 diabetes and COVID-19, the researchers said. Many clinicians reported a … 1 diabetes," the authors wrote. Infectious disease topic COVID-19 Date Mon, 09/11/2023 - 13:34 Byline Stephanie …
Stephanie Soucheray

Data suggest SARS-CoV-2 could jump from raccoon dogs to people, but species barrier may interfere

… the Jaguar / Flickr cc Raccoon dogs may carry and transmit COVID-19–causing SARS-CoV-2 to humans, although critical … SARS-CoV-2 interspecies jump to humans, which led to the COVID-19 pandemic. The animals, along with palm civets, are … between species," they concluded. Infectious disease topic COVID-19 Date Fri, 05/10/2024 - 15:15 Byline Mary Van …
Mary Van Beusekom

US respiratory virus activity holds steady at low levels

… in the United States for the week ending November 23, with COVID levels remaining low and stable for most areas and flu … updates . Direct Relief, Mark Perlstein / Flickr cc For COVID, two early indicators—emergency department (ED) visits … moderate level and are rising.  Infectious disease topic COVID-19 Influenza Vaccines Influenza, General Respiratory …
Lisa Schnirring

CDC reports slight flu rise in children, first kid's flu death of season

… updates on other respiratory viruses, today the CDC said COVID-19 activity is stable and declining in most areas. … with a downward trend over the past 3 weeks. Shifting COVID variant proportions, rising RSV activity In a … children. Infectious disease topic Influenza, General COVID-19 Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Date Fri, …
Lisa Schnirring

Quick takes: Washington pertussis death, PAHO dengue alert, US SARS-CoV-2 variants

… that cases in 2024 were higher than levels seen before the COVID pandemic. The SRHD said though pertussis was the cause … disease topic Childhood Vaccines Pertussis Dengue COVID-19 Date Mon, 02/10/2025 - 10:26 Byline Lisa Schnirring …
Lisa Schnirring

Mouse study suggests prolonged post-mortem SARS-CoV-2 infectivity

… virus (RSV), and SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in euthanized transgenic mice tissues suggests … ranging from a few hours for flu to a week or more for COVID. For the study, published this week in the Journal of … pathogens," they concluded. Infectious disease topic COVID-19 Influenza, General Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) …
Mary Van Beusekom
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161

Episode 161: What's Going On and Why Does it Matter?

In "What's Going On and Why Does it Matter?," Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall discuss the SARS-CoV-2 wastewater surveillance data, the H5N1 influenza outbreak in dairy cattle, and a CDC Health Alert on dengue virus. 

Increased Risk of Dengue Virus Infections in the United States (Health Alert Network, CDC)

Dr. Joseph Goldberger & the War on Pellagra (Office of NIH History & Stetten Museum, National Institutes of Health)

Joseph Goldberger’s Filth Parties (Sam Kean, Science History Institute)

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July 11, 2024
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180

Episode 180: The April Fool's Tragedy

In "The April Fool's Tragedy," Dr. Osterholm and guest host Dr. Cory Anderson discuss the devastating layoffs and funding cuts in public health that have unfolded over the past two weeks. Dr. Osterholm also shares the the latest news on the growing measles outbreak in Texas and answers an ID query about COVID lockdowns.

CDC clone site, rife with false vaccine claims, hosted by group previously led by HHS Secretary (InfoEpi Lab)

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April 3, 2025

Care-seeking for heart-related illness fell amid pandemic—with long-term fallout likely

… (−10%) and December (−20%). Infectious disease topics COVID-19 Byline Mary Van Beusekom, MS Body Rates of long-term … major adverse cardiovascular events (CVEs) fell after the COVID-19 pandemic began in early 2020 and remained lower over … and claims data from Harvard Pilgrim Health Care from COVID-19 patients with commercial or Medicare Advantage …
Mary Van Beusekom
Man having heart attack

Report: Improving oxygen access, pandemic preparedness could save millions of lives

… effects.  Infectious disease topics Resilient Drug Supply COVID-19 Business Preparedness Climate Change Public Health … was convened in 2022 to prevent crises such as the COVID-19 supply shortages from recurring and to speed … including the major investments in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, largely focused on the delivery of …
Mary Van Beusekom
Blue oxygen tanks

Pandemic relief efforts did not reach immigrant families

… States took some of the hardest economic hits during COVID-19. Infectious disease topics COVID-19 Byline Stephanie Soucheray, MA Body Immigrant … States took some of the hardest economic hits during the COVID-19 pandemic, but benefited less from government …
Stephanie Soucheray
SNAP window

Review finds hybrid immunity provides best protection against Omicron

… from the need for vaccination. Infectious disease topics COVID-19 Byline Chris Dall, MA Body A review and … rates, helping to inform the use and timing of COVID-19 vaccination as an important public health tool." …
Chris Dall
Man getting COVID vaccine

US respiratory virus activity remains high, with flu B rising in 2 regions

… the Midwest and Central regions. Infectious disease topics COVID-19 Influenza, General Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) … the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said COVID-19 indicators declined last week, with respiratory … other was H3N2. One of the deaths was due to influenza B. COVID markers show more declines In its latest COVID-19 data …
Lisa Schnirring
sick schoolkid fever

Even kids with most severe MIS-C typically fully recover by 6 months, study reveals

… 690 of 1,140 participants (61%). Infectious disease topics COVID-19 Byline Stephanie Soucheray, MA Body A study … condition that affects multiple organ systems after COVID-19 infections recover fully by 6 months after … inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) associated with COVID-19 infection, one of the most severe outcomes seen …
Stephanie Soucheray
MIS-c in bed

New coalition to target viral spillovers

… influenza, 2009 influenza, and HIV), and more recently, COVID-19. Commission to produce report within 3 years … be early foci for the commission. Infectious disease topic COVID-19 Pandemic Influenza Date Thu, 10/12/2023 - 13:59 …
Stephanie Soucheray

US respiratory virus activity still high but continues to ebb

… the season has been moderate. Infectious disease topics COVID-19 Influenza, General Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) … across most of the country. More specifically, flu and COVID-19 activity are stabilizing or decreasing, and … for flu had no known underlying health conditions. COVID wastewater levels high, but declining In the CDC's …
Lisa Schnirring
older woman checking temp

Undiagnosed pneumonia outbreak in China puts pressure on pediatric hospitals, prompts questions

… in late 2019 in Wuhan, which heralded the emergence of COVID-19. Children's main symptoms are high fever, with some … be anything. She also said respiratory syncytial virus, COVID-19, and flu could be contributing factors. "The point is we need information." Infectious disease topic COVID-19 Influenza, General Misc Emerging Topics Pneumonia …
Lisa Schnirring

Study shows pandemic tied to lower confidence in vaccines in sub-Saharan Africa

… South Africa, and Uganda. In addition to being queried on COVID-19 vaccines, participants were asked seven questions … Uganda (14%) and Nigeria (10.5%). Trust in the safety of COVID-19 vaccine did not fall during the study period, but in seven of the eight countries study participants said COVID-19 vaccines were less important in 2022 than in 2020. …
Stephanie Soucheray

European study shows mental health impact of pandemic

… has yet to rebound fully. Infectious disease topics COVID-19 Byline Stephanie Soucheray, MA Body The first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic affected the mental health of millions of … and during-pandemic comparator. "We found that the Covid-19 pandemic had a considerable effect on mental health …
Stephanie Soucheray
lonely woman

Key SARS-CoV-2 enzyme behind virus's infectiousness, researchers say

… Body NIAID / Flickr cc SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is more infectious than severe acute respiratory … target than that of SARS-CoV-2. Infectious disease topic COVID-19 Date Tue, 10/22/2024 - 11:13 Byline Mary Van … help guide the development of more effective and selective COVID-19 inhibitors that target SARS-CoV-2's nucleocapsid …
Mary Van Beusekom

US study: Disparities in death rates persist after acute phase of pandemic

… research letter in JAMA Network Open demonstrates that pre-COVID disparities in all-cause mortality have largely … does not permanently alter them." Infectious disease topic COVID-19 Date Wed, 02/21/2024 - 12:58 Byline Stephanie …
Stephanie Soucheray

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