Covid-19 Updates & Info

All the other crazy stuff we talk about. Politics, Science, News, the Kitchen, other hobbies.
User avatar
dryrunguy
Posts: 1532
Joined: Thu Dec 10, 2020 6:31 am
Has thanked: 693 times
Been thanked: 1155 times

Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

#2341

Post by dryrunguy »

Here's the latest Situation Report. Haven't read it yet.

::

EPI UPDATE The WHO COVID-19 Dashboard reports 524.3 million cumulative cases and 6.28 million deaths worldwide as of May 25. The global weekly incidence decreased slightly (-0.8%) over the previous week. The weekly trends are increasing in the Americas (+13.2%) and Western Pacific (+5.7%) regions, while decreasing trends were observed in the remaining 4 regions. The trend in reported global weekly mortality decreased for a seventh consecutive week, down 6% from the previous week. The number of new weekly deaths increased in the Eastern Mediterranean region (+30%) after the region reported major increases in daily incidence over the past couple weeks. The number of new weekly deaths remained stable in the Western Pacific and the Americas regions (both <1%), and decreased in the other 3 regions.

UNITED STATES
The US CDC is reporting 83.4 million cumulative cases of COVID-19 and 1,000,254 deaths. As expected, the cumulative number of COVID-19 deaths surpassed 1 million on May 24. The current average daily incidence continues to increase, up to 104,399 on May 24 from 99,215 new cases per day on May 17. The daily mortality is fairly steady at an average of 288 deaths per day*, and we have not yet observed an increase corresponding to the surge in daily incidence. New COVID-19 hospital admissions continue to trend upwards, with an increase of 14% over the past week. New cases are now being driven by the the BA.2.12.1 sublineage of Omicron (58%), which this week became the predominant variant over the BA.2 subvariant (39%).
*Changes in state-level reporting may affect the accuracy of recently reported data, particularly over weekends. In an effort to reflect the longer-term trends, the numbers reported here may not correspond to the most recent dates.

OMICRON SUBVARIANTS The US recently began averaging more than 100,000 new daily COVID-19 cases for the first time since February. As of the end of last week, 58% of new US cases are caused by the Omicron subvariant known as BA.2.12.1. There is no indication the variant causes more severe disease than previous Omicron variants, but new hospitalizations also are increasing. However, BA.2.12.1—as well as the other Omicron sublineages BA.4 and BA.5, which the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC) have deemed variants of concern and are currently circulating at low levels in the US—are even more transmissible than the BA.1 version of Omicron that caused high caseloads in early 2022. The 3 sublineages also likely are capable of escaping some of the immunity produced by infection with BA.1 and BA.2. The consistent resurgence of viral variants creates challenges to maintaining long-lasting defense against COVID-19, but the best defense against severe disease and death remains staying up-to-date on vaccinations.

US CDC PAXLOVID ADVISORY The US CDC on May 24 issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to inform healthcare providers and the public about the possible recurrence of COVID-19 following Paxlovid treatment, commonly referred to as “COVID-19 rebound” or “Paxlovid rebound.” Paxlovid, an oral antiviral drug for early-stage treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19, was authorized for emergency use in December 2021 for persons aged 12 years and older who are at high risk for progression to severe illness. The drug has shown to reduce the risk of hospitalization and death due to COVID-19. In the advisory, the CDC emphasized that brief recurrence of COVID-19 symptoms could be part of the natural history of infection, regardless of treatment and vaccination status. However, individuals with recurrent symptoms or a new positive viral test are advised to follow current CDC recommendations for isolation by re-isolating for at least 5 days and when fever has resolved for 24 hours.

Today, the administration of US President Joe Biden announced plans to make Paxlovid even more accessible as the nation experiences another surge in new COVID-19 cases. The nation’s first federally supported test-to-treat site opened today in Rhode Island to provide Paxlovid to individuals who test positive. Other test-to-treat sites are expected to open soon in Massachusetts and New York City, and established testing sites across the country will soon be equipped to transition to test-to-treat locations, according to the administration.

LONG COVID/PASC In the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers are beginning to learn more about post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC), commonly known as long COVID. The condition—characterized by a broad range of symptoms lasting anywhere from 4 weeks to 2 years or longer—could prove one of the biggest hurdles to pandemic recovery. Estimates of the proportion of people who have had COVID-19 and continue to experience symptoms range from 5% to 80%, although the WHO puts the range at 10% to 20%. Results from a large study published this week in the US CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) estimates that 1 in 5 COVID-19 survivors aged 18-64 and 1 in 4 survivors aged 65 or older experienced at least 1 of 26 conditions often attributable to long COVID at 30 days and up to 1 year following diagnosis. Both age groups had twice the risk of uninfected people of developing respiratory symptoms or other lung problems, including pulmonary embolism. The older cohort was at greater risk than the younger group to develop kidney failure, neurological conditions, and mental health conditions. The authors of the study, members of the CDC COVID-19 Emergency Response Team, encouraged people who survive COVID-19 to undergo routine assessment for post-COVID conditions.

Another study, published in Nature Medicine on May 23, found that 1 in 8 adults who were hospitalized with COVID-19 developed myocarditis 28 to 60 days post-discharge, and many COVID-19 survivors experienced reduced exercise capacity, lower quality of life, and persistent abnormalities in heart, lung, and kidney exams. The researchers said study participants’ post-COVID conditions were more closely correlated with the severity of their COVID-19 infection, not their underlying health condition prior to infection, and they cautioned these persistent health problems could place a substantial demand on healthcare services in the future, as more people survive COVID-19.

US NIH researchers conducting an ongoing study comparing 189 COVID-19 patients to 120 similar patients who did not have COVID-19 found no indications of underlying cause for the COVID-19 group to have more persistent symptoms. The study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, showed no evidence of persistent viral infection, autoimmunity, or abnormal immune activation among long COVID patients. They did note that women and those with a history of anxiety disorder were at increased risk of PASC/long COVID, but they also stressed the findings do not mean the condition is psychological. A third study, published in the Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology, found that neurological symptoms—including brain fog, numbness/tingling, headache, dizziness, blurred vision, tinnitus, and fatigue—among many of the 52 non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients in the study persisted for nearly 15 months after initial diagnosis. Some symptoms, including variations in heart rate and blood pressure and gastrointestinal problems, increased over time, but loss of taste and smell generally improved. Among the participants, 77% were vaccinated against COVID-19, but vaccination did not have a positive or negative impact on cognitive function or fatigue.

Notably, a large study conducted by the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and published in Nature Medicine showed that SARS-CoV-2 vaccination appears to reduce the risk of lung and blood clot disorders among COVID-19 survivors, but vaccination does little to protect against long-term symptoms among those who had breakthrough infections, about 1% of the study participants. Overall, vaccinated people who had breakthrough infections had lower risks of death (HR=0.66, 95% CI: 0.58, 0.74) and long-term symptoms (HR=0.85, 95% CI: 0.82, 0.89). The data confirm that vaccination strongly protects against serious disease and death but suggest that vaccination prior to infection confers only partial protection against PASC and should not be relied upon as a sole mitigation strategy, the researchers noted. The VA study was conducted prior to the emergence of the Omicron variant, and a preprint study conducted in Japan and posted this week to medRxiv suggests the prevalence of long-term symptoms following infection with Omicron might be less than with other variants.

PFIZER PRICING DEAL During the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, this week, Pfizer pledged to provide 23 of its patented medicines and vaccines to treat infectious diseases, certain cancers, and rare and inflammatory diseases—including those for COVID-19—at not-for-profit pricing to 45 lower-income countries. The company’s “An Accord for a Healthier World” also includes future products and is expected to benefit 1.2 billion people. Rwanda, Ghana, Malawi, Senegal, and Uganda are the first nations included in the deal. Haiti, Bangladesh, and Tajikistan also are on the list. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said the plan also includes strategies aimed at improving access to diagnostics, technical assistance, and training of healthcare workers. Some advocates welcomed the announcement, while others criticized the effort as being too little, too late.

Also at the meeting, the Serum Institute of India (SII), the world's largest vaccine manufacturer, announced it is looking into establishing a manufacturing plant in Africa. SII CEO Adar Poonawalla said he is working to distribute a draft global treaty to help ensure more equitable access to vaccines and other healthcare during this pandemic and future outbreak emergencies.

PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS The World Health Assembly (WHA) is meeting this week in Geneva, the first time the WHO decision-making body has met in person since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. On May 24, the WHA approved a report from the Working Group on Preparedness and Response to Health Emergencies that includes a roadmap for the creation of a new instrument for pandemic preparedness and response. The report proposes actions to address critical gaps in prevention, preparedness and response to health emergencies, including pandemics; categorizes 131 recommendations by priority, feasibility, and implementation pathway; and highlights which steps are currently underway. High priority recommendations include recommitment to the binding obligations of the International Health Regulations (IHR). Other priorities include building capacity for local manufacturing with the support of technology transfer and research hubs, international coordination to quickly identify and sound alerts to emerging zoonotic diseases, and expanding regional capacities for genomic sequencing. In June, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body will meet to discuss the roadmap and recommendations.

The WHA has faced online conspiracy theories regarding the discussion of a pandemic treaty, with misinformation accusing the WHO of attempting to impede national sovereignty. While Member States agreed that a new agreement is needed, negotiations for such an agreement will take years to produce a final draft. The false ideas of the treaty being used to take power from national governments have been popularized by various internet figures and boosted by mainstream politicians. Despite these statements, the WHA remains focused on navigating the end of the COVID-19 pandemic and preparing for the next health emergency.

CHILDHOOD LEARNING LOSS The COVID-19 pandemic caused the greatest disruption to education in history, causing students worldwide to miss an average of 4.5 months of schooling or up to 22 weeks of learning. Many students fell behind in standards of learning, and some developed behavioral or psychological problems. Those students in the poorest countries have been hit hardest, as have disadvantaged and vulnerable children in wealthier nations, exacerbating existing inequities. As school systems and teachers try to get students back on track, some nations are looking to decades of research to inform their COVID-19 responses, with a focus on tutoring, voluntary summer school, and other evidence-based education recovery strategies. Proponents of evidence-informed education encourage more quality research be conducted and urge educators and policymakers to seriously consider the results and implement reforms specific to their settings in order to strengthen education systems. Additionally, they encourage the coupling of education research and continuing education for teachers, making teachers researchers and vice versa. But advocates warn that national, state, and local leaders must act quickly to fill the educational gaps created by school closures during the pandemic.

CHINA Full economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to be a gradual process for China. But the country is taking the matter seriously, with China’s cabinet holding an emergency meeting of more than 100,000 provincial, city, and council leaders to discuss new measures to stabilize the economy. Shanghai, the nation’s financial hub, looks to be making steps toward normalization after dealing with months of severe pandemic prevention restrictions. China continues to pursue a “zero COVID” policy, but increasingly strict control measures are causing tension in some metropolitan areas. The government has used extreme measures, including locking residents in their buildings, relocating thousands of residents to other cities for quarantine, and invading private residences to spray disinfectants. Now, some cities and provinces are instituting regular mass SARS-CoV-2 testing to try to keep the virus at bay. The 99 million residents of Henan Province will be required to take PCR tests every other day as of June, and people in Beijing must test in order to ride the subway or enter any public space. The intense restrictions on personal life and freedom have been a major cause of discontent among younger populations, and many are now seeking to leave China or are protesting the restrictions by refusing to have children. The discontented populations claim they do not want to have children because they feel they could never protect them from an authoritarian regime that has little regard for personal liberties.

RESEARCH ROUNDUP The research roundup provides quick synopses of COVID-19-related research.

From JAMA Network Open, a small cohort study of 50 healthy young and middle-aged individuals examining factors associated with blood levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies at 6 months following vaccination. The study found that anti-SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody levels were inversely correlated with bodyweight, body mass index, body fat amount, and body weight to height ratio, sustained up to 6 months post-vaccination. The researchers concluded that young and middle-aged healthy persons with low body weight could wait at least 6 months after finishing a primary 2-dose vaccination series to receive a booster dose.

From The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, a randomized, open-label, controlled clinical trial evaluating the safety and immune response of a heterologous high- or low-dose booster of an adenovirus vector-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (CanSino Biologic’s Convidecia) administered via oral aerosolization or a homologous intramuscular vaccination with CoronaVac among Chinese adults who previously received 2 doses of CoronaVac. The researchers found that participants in both the high- and low-dose heterologous booster groups had fewer side effects and higher neutralizing antibody responses compared with the CoronaVac group. The interim analysis serves as a proof of concept for an inhaled aerosolized vaccination, and an additional trial to evaluate the vaccine as a booster is planned.

From eClinicalMedicine, a systematic review of 156 studies published through March 13, 2022, analyzing social media use and attitudes toward and behaviors related to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. The researchers—from Italy, Serbia, and the US—conclude that public health interventions could effectively use social media platforms to promote vaccine uptake.

From JAMA, a research letter describing a prospective study examining the outcomes of children with multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) as a complication of SARS-CoV-2 infection who were evaluated at 12 Israeli hospitals over 16-week periods in each of the Alpha, Delta, and Omicron variant waves. The researchers found that cardiac outcomes were more favorable, fewer children were admitted to intensive care units (ICUs), and median hospital length of stay was shorter during the Omicron wave compared with the Alpha and Delta waves. None of the patients needed mechanical ventilation during the Omicron wave, compared with 8.5% during Alpha and 8.9% during Delta. The results suggest that MIS-C was less severe during the Omicron wave compared with other COVID-19 pandemic waves, a finding that is consistent with other studies.

From BMJ, a retrospective, test-negative, case-control study examining the relative vaccine effectiveness (VE) of a fourth dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccine compared with 3 doses over a 10-week span. The study included nearly 97,500 individuals aged 60 and older in Israel. The researchers concluded that a fourth vaccine dose appears to provide additional protection from COVID-19-related severe disease and death but the relative VE of the fourth dose against infection wanes sooner than that of a third dose, peaking at 65% 3 weeks following the booster and falling to 22% at the end of week 10. However, relative VE against severe disease remained high (72%) through the 10-week follow-up, although severe disease was rare among participants who had received 3 or 4 doses.

From The Lancet Oncology, a population-based, test-negative, case-control study examining overall SARS-CoV-2 vaccine effectiveness (VE) against breakthrough infections at 3-6 months after the second dose among people with cancer and a control population in the UK. The researchers found that although SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is effective in most individuals with active or recent cancer, vaccination provides lower levels of protection against infection, hospitalization, and death than in the general population. Additionally, VE wanes more quickly among cancer patients than the general population and is lowest and wanes most quickly in those with lymphoma and leukemia. The researchers encouraged those with active or recent cancer, and especially those with blood cancers, to stay up-to-date on their vaccine doses, in some cases meaning 5 doses.

From Scientific Reports, a longitudinal study evaluating COVID-19 containment strategies across 50 different countries and territories, differentiating between pre-vaccine and vaccinating phases. The ranking shows that countries in Oceania and Asia outperformed countries in other regions on pandemic containment during the pre-vaccine phase, with success related to nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), early action, and policy adjustment when necessary. In the vaccinating phase, the researchers found that maintaining NPIs was the best way to protect populations, providing insight into the effectiveness of various infectious disease containment policies in different regions.

https://covid19.who.int/
User avatar
ponchi101 Venezuela
Site Admin
Posts: 14722
Joined: Mon Dec 07, 2020 4:40 pm
Location: New Macondo
Has thanked: 3857 times
Been thanked: 5565 times
Contact:

Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

#2342

Post by ponchi101 »

The pandemic preparedness paragraph looks promising.
Ego figere omnia et scio supellectilem
User avatar
dryrunguy
Posts: 1532
Joined: Thu Dec 10, 2020 6:31 am
Has thanked: 693 times
Been thanked: 1155 times

Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

#2343

Post by dryrunguy »

ponchi101 wrote: Thu May 26, 2022 7:57 pm The pandemic preparedness paragraph looks promising.
How? They indicate it will take YEARS to produce. I don't see anything promising in that. It's essential. It needs to happen. But we can't wait YEARS for it to come to fruition.
User avatar
Deuce Canada
Posts: 4531
Joined: Wed Dec 09, 2020 5:52 am
Location: An unparallel universe
Has thanked: 336 times
Been thanked: 977 times

Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

#2344

Post by Deuce »

Also, it is not possible to prepare anywhere near completely for something which is not understood. COVID-19 is still very much a mystery to the best doctors and scientists, even after more than 2 years.

One could prepare a plan of rather general conduct, I suppose... but nothing specific to an individual virus or bacteria.
R.I.P. Amal...

“The opposite of courage is not cowardice - it’s conformity. Even a dead fish can go with the flow.”- Jim Hightower
User avatar
ponchi101 Venezuela
Site Admin
Posts: 14722
Joined: Mon Dec 07, 2020 4:40 pm
Location: New Macondo
Has thanked: 3857 times
Been thanked: 5565 times
Contact:

Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

#2345

Post by ponchi101 »

dryrunguy wrote: Thu May 26, 2022 11:33 pm
ponchi101 wrote: Thu May 26, 2022 7:57 pm The pandemic preparedness paragraph looks promising.
How? They indicate it will take YEARS to produce. I don't see anything promising in that. It's essential. It needs to happen. But we can't wait YEARS for it to come to fruition.
Yes. And here in Latin America, just for example, years is the usual time-frame. If you put that in the hands of the politicians here, at least a frame of 10 years is to be expected. We have no infrastructure, not to mention the people with the skills, to produce any vaccines.
I said it early in the pandemic. Colombia dismantled ALL of its vaccine production industry about 12 years ago (it was ten when the pandemic started). So, we would have to start from scratch.
And remember: we need to buy Jet Fighters (Colombia and Chile) to protect ourselves and be ready for war. Vaccines can wait.
(I saw it a bit more positive, sorry. It is a bit of a start).
Ego figere omnia et scio supellectilem
User avatar
Deuce Canada
Posts: 4531
Joined: Wed Dec 09, 2020 5:52 am
Location: An unparallel universe
Has thanked: 336 times
Been thanked: 977 times

Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

#2346

Post by Deuce »

.

By the way (again)... the virus has not disappeared...

Omicron, Delta, and Immunity (not good news)...

.
R.I.P. Amal...

“The opposite of courage is not cowardice - it’s conformity. Even a dead fish can go with the flow.”- Jim Hightower
User avatar
ti-amie United States of America
Posts: 22985
Joined: Wed Dec 09, 2020 4:44 pm
Location: The Boogie Down, NY
Has thanked: 5302 times
Been thanked: 3284 times

Honorary_medal

Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

#2347

Post by ti-amie »

Deuce wrote: Sat May 28, 2022 4:18 am .

By the way (again)... the virus has not disappeared...

Omicron, Delta, and Immunity (not good news)...

.
Disturbing. Thanks for this.
“Do not grow old, no matter how long you live. Never cease to stand like curious children before the Great Mystery into which we were born.” Albert Einstein
User avatar
ponchi101 Venezuela
Site Admin
Posts: 14722
Joined: Mon Dec 07, 2020 4:40 pm
Location: New Macondo
Has thanked: 3857 times
Been thanked: 5565 times
Contact:

Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

#2348

Post by ponchi101 »

Got my second booster. 10 minute deal (if you don't count the 2, 1 hour bus rides).
I expect another strong reaction as with my 1st booster, so tonight might be rough.
Enough people there to believe that Colombians are still taking this seriously and people are getting their shots.
Ego figere omnia et scio supellectilem
User avatar
JazzNU United States of America
Posts: 6655
Joined: Sun Jan 03, 2021 6:57 pm
Location: Pennsylvania
Has thanked: 2786 times
Been thanked: 2374 times

Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

#2349

Post by JazzNU »

User avatar
JazzNU United States of America
Posts: 6655
Joined: Sun Jan 03, 2021 6:57 pm
Location: Pennsylvania
Has thanked: 2786 times
Been thanked: 2374 times

Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

#2350

Post by JazzNU »

^^ Just some food for thought. I know people here have travelled and will travel again in the near future. This is something you should consider when travelling abroad. It's not rare enough of an occurrence that you should ignore the possibility. I personally have friends who were in this situation. Fortunately they were able to extend their stay at the hotel they were already in, but that isn't always the case, and do make sure you consider the additional cost you will incur if this happens.
User avatar
Suliso Latvia
Posts: 4404
Joined: Fri Dec 11, 2020 2:30 pm
Location: Basel, Switzerland
Has thanked: 274 times
Been thanked: 1453 times

Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

#2351

Post by Suliso »

It could have happened before too with some other disease or injury. A co-worker once broke her shoulder while cycling in India...
User avatar
Deuce Canada
Posts: 4531
Joined: Wed Dec 09, 2020 5:52 am
Location: An unparallel universe
Has thanked: 336 times
Been thanked: 977 times

Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

#2352

Post by Deuce »

Just (another) reminder that COVID-19 is still very much a dangerous element...

Hospitals Facing Strain of Rising COVID-19 Cases...

.
R.I.P. Amal...

“The opposite of courage is not cowardice - it’s conformity. Even a dead fish can go with the flow.”- Jim Hightower
User avatar
dryrunguy
Posts: 1532
Joined: Thu Dec 10, 2020 6:31 am
Has thanked: 693 times
Been thanked: 1155 times

Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

#2353

Post by dryrunguy »

My apologies for falling behind on the Situation Reports. I have five proposals in the hopper. Here's the latest. Just arrived. Haven't read it yet.

::

SARS-CoV-2 ORIGINS On June 9, the WHO Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens (SAGO) published the first preliminary report from its efforts to determine key analyses necessary to identify the origin of SARS-CoV-2 and future emerging and re-emerging pathogens. While SAGO was not explicitly tasked with identifying the original source of SARS-CoV-2, the report indicates that the available evidence remains insufficient to fully characterize the circumstances around the emergence of the virus. The experts indicate that the available evidence suggests that the closest ancestor of the virus likely circulated in wild bat populations before the spillover event into humans. The report indicates that it is not possible to rule out that the virus escaped from a research laboratory, but additional investigation is required to more fully characterize that scenario. Several SAGO members included a note in the report, however, to emphasize that they identified “no new scientific evidence” to support this theory and did not support continuing this line of investigation.

The report includes a series of recommendations regarding data and analyses that would further support efforts to identify the original source of the COVID-19 pandemic. SAGO recommends further analysis of environmental specimens from the Hunan seafood market and of potential animal and environmental sources to identify the route of SARS-CoV-2 introduction to the market. Additionally, analysis of human respiratory pathogen specimens (eg, influenza, enteroviruses) collected prior to the emergence of COVID-19 could help identify previously undetected SARS-CoV-2 infections. Genetic analysis of infections in wild and livestock animal populations could similarly help identify related coronaviruses or intermediate hosts that may have facilitated spillover into human populations. The SAGO report also highlights the need for these types of analyses regarding the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants. Some independent experts continue to call attention to the lack of transparency by the Chinese government, including restrictions on access to specimens, facilities, and personnel necessary to conduct these investigations.

SAGO also outlines key components of a global framework to guide response activities and investigations into the emergence or re-emergence of future pathogens. This framework largely mirrors SAGO’s calls for additional data related to SARS-CoV-2. Specifically, the group notes the importance of investigating human and animal specimens; interactions between humans, animals, and the environment; genomics and phylogenetics; biosafety and biosecurity systems and processes; and research activities or other human interaction with related pathogens.

ACUTE HEPATITIS & LONG COVID Researchers from Israel published findings from their study on instances of long-term COVID-19 liver manifestation among children. The study, published in the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, involved a retrospective investigation of 5 patients hospitalized in an Israeli children’s hospital. Each of the patients had a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and presented with long-term liver injury stemming from their infection. Two of the patients in the study, both under 6 months of age, presented with acute liver failure, the other 3 patients, ranging between ages 8 and 13 years, presented with acute hepatitis and cholestasis.

This review adds to the growing list of evidence tying post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC/Long COVID) to cases of acute hepatitis of unknown origin. Last month, multiple technical and news media publications documented an international cohort of children with severe hepatitis. Many experts have suggested that COVID-19 could be a potential source for this unexplained manifestation, considering the lack of apparent epidemiological explanations. The US CDC is examining a series of US cases of acute hepatitis as well, and a recent update indicates that adenovirus type 41 could be a possible causative agent as well. While much has been written about Long COVID, many questions remain, and advocates continue to call for expanded research efforts into explanations and treatments.

US PEDIATRIC VACCINATION Last week, the Biden Administration outlined its SARS-CoV-2 vaccination plans for children under 5 years of age. The current estimates suggest that up to 18 million children may become eligible for SARS-CoV-2 vaccination once the US FDA authorize existing vaccines for emergency use in younger children. The White House has allocated 10 million doses for states to distribute to dispensing sites. Notably, the White House estimates that 85% of the newly eligible pediatric population lives within 5 miles of one of these sites. The allotment of vaccines is approximately even between the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines. Despite a ready supply of vaccines and a plan to make them accessible to a large number of children in this age group, questions remain regarding the willingness of parents and caretakers to get the children vaccinated. In the age group of children from 5-11 years, only one-third of eligible children have received the vaccine.

US TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS On June 12, the US CDC lifted its testing requirement for travelers arriving in the US on flights originating in other countries. In the CDC’s announcement rescinding the policy, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky noted that the availability of vaccines, therapeutics, and alternative testing options (eg, rapid at-home test kits)—as well as the current prevalence of vaccination coverage in the US—largely render the testing restrictions obsolete, and she emphasized that the CDC continues to recommend full vaccination against SARS-CoV-2, including with the appropriate booster dose/s.

Previously, international air travelers with destinations in the US were required to obtain a negative PCR-based or antigen test within 1 day of departure—or provide documentation of recent recovery from SARS-CoV-2 infection—regardless of vaccination status. The policy was instituted in the final days of the Trump Administration and continued under President Joe Biden. Notably, the restrictions only applied to international air travel and did not cover individuals entering the US via land borders nor domestic air travel. The travel industry, particularly airlines, has long called for the testing requirement to be eliminated, arguing that it was originally instituted at a time when the vast majority of the US was unvaccinated. Additionally, some health officials and other experts have argued that the testing mandate provided little protection for travelers or benefit in terms of slowing domestic transmission or the introduction of new SARS-CoV-2 variants into the US.

US SEROPREVALENCE The US CDC COVID-19 Response Team published updated analysis of infection- and vaccine-induced SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in the US. The findings, published in JAMA, are based on more than 2.4 million blood donations collected from individuals aged 16 years and older across all 50 states; Washington, DC; and Puerto Rico from July 2020-December 2021. The research does not include individuals with active SARS-CoV-2 infection or who were suspected COVID-19 cases, and results were weighted by demographic factors, including age, sex, race, and ethnicity.

The researchers observed increases in both infection-induced seroprevalence and combined seroprevalence between May 2021 and December 2021, increasing from 20.2% to 28.8% and 83.3% to 94.7%, respectively. At the end of the timeframe for the study, researchers observed the highest level of infection-induced seroprevalence in multiple demographic groups—including individuals aged 16-29 years (40.0%), non-Hispanic Black individuals (32.5%), and Hispanic individuals (32.5%)—as well as the Midwest (31.7%) and South (33.5%) regions.

Notably, regions with higher vaccine coverage seroprevalence exhibited a significantly smaller increase in infection-induced seroprevalence. In regions with vaccine-induced seroprevalence less than 60%, infection-induced seroprevalence increased by 19.8% over the course of 2021, compared to only 10.6% in regions with vaccine seroprevalence greater than 80%. Despite widespread combined seroprevalence at the end of 2021, the Omicron variant was still able to drive a major surge in early 2022, and the researchers note that this illustrates the transmissibility and immune escape potential of new variants.

BA.4 & BA.5 SUBVARIANTS IN EUROPE The European CDC published an epidemiological update on the emergence and prevalence of the BA.4 and BA.5 sublineages of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant of concern (VOC). The subvariants were first detected in Europe in March, and in May, Portugal was the first European country to report a COVID-19 surge associated with one of the subvariants (BA.5). Notably, Portugal’s daily incidence appeared to peak in late May/early June. While most European countries have reported relatively low prevalence of these subvariants, they represent an increasing proportion of new sequenced specimens in multiple countries over the past several weeks, including Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Spain and Sweden. In particular, the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants represent more than 25% of sequenced specimens in Belgium over the second half of May, and more than 10% in some communities in Spain. The increasing prevalence of BA.4/BA.5 corresponds to increasing COVID-19 daily incidence in most of those countries as well.

The ECDC projects that BA.4 and BA.5 will become the dominant variants across Europe “in the coming weeks” and that the continent can expect an associated COVID-19 surge like those in the countries noted above. The daily incidence in Europe has increased nearly 30% since June 6, with even larger increases in the UK. While there is “no evidence” these subvariants pose higher risk of severe disease, the ECDC notes that an overall increase in transmission can be associated with subsequent increases in hospitalizations and mortality.

WASTEWATER SURVEILLANCE Researchers from the University of Illinois and University of Florida published (preprint) findings from a study on the implementation of neighborhood-scale SARS-CoV-2 wastewater surveillance systems. The COVID-19 pandemic has popularized wastewater surveillance as a tool to provide early warning of impending outbreaks; however, most of these efforts have focused on large-scale sewer systems. Neighborhood-scale systems can provide more targeted early warning capacity, but as the catchment population decreases, the volume of fecal matter is less consistent, which can make it more difficult to analyze the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 and accurately detect emerging outbreaks.

This study covered 7 neighborhood-scale wastewater surveillance systems in Champaign County, Illinois, from January-November 2021, with catchment populations ranging from 853 to 2,402 individuals. In an effort to improve the system’s accuracy, the researchers developed a methodology to normalize the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 N gene fragments by the concentration of pepper mild mottle virus (PMMOV) detected in the system. The presence and concentration of PMMOV served as an analogue for the presence of fecal matter in the sample, which enabled the researchers to establish more accurate baseline metrics and better analyze the relative concentration of SARS-CoV-2. Based on the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 N gene fragments to PMMOV, the system output a binary risk assessment (ie, Low or High).

Over the 11 months of the study, the 7 neighborhoods experienced 26 total local COVID-19 outbreaks, and the surveillance system identified High COVID-19 risk corresponding to 19 of those time periods (73% sensitivity). The system identified 17 total High-risk time periods, and 12 of those corresponded to local COVID-19 outbreaks (71% specificity). The researchers also indicated that the surveillance system was capable of providing sufficiently accurate risk assessment for specific variants of SARS-CoV-2, which could provide early warning of the geographic spread of variants of concern. This study provides evidence that smaller-scale wastewater surveillance systems can provide indication of increased transmission risk among specific communities, particularly during periods of relatively low local incidence.
User avatar
ponchi101 Venezuela
Site Admin
Posts: 14722
Joined: Mon Dec 07, 2020 4:40 pm
Location: New Macondo
Has thanked: 3857 times
Been thanked: 5565 times
Contact:

Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

#2354

Post by ponchi101 »

We will never know where this originated because the Chinese will never cooperate.
I was reading the USA indeed had dropped the requirement for testing prior to entry, but will keep the mandate to show proof of vaccination. That spells real trouble for Novak, when the US summer circuit arrives.
Ego figere omnia et scio supellectilem
User avatar
Suliso Latvia
Posts: 4404
Joined: Fri Dec 11, 2020 2:30 pm
Location: Basel, Switzerland
Has thanked: 274 times
Been thanked: 1453 times

Re: Covid-19 Updates & Info

#2355

Post by Suliso »

Expect a lot more foreign travelers in US now. Europe is already super busy except with Asians.
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 5 guests