Coronavirus: five months on, what scientists now know about Covid-19
Medical researchers have been studying everything we know about coronavirus. What have they learned – and is it enough to halt the pandemic?Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageCoronaviruses have been causing problems for humanity for a long time. Several versions are known to trigger common colds and more recently two types have set off outbreaks of deadly illnesses: severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (Mers).But their impact has been mild compared with the global havoc unleashed by the coronavirus that is causing the Covid-19 pandemic. In only a few mon...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - April 17, 2020 Category: Science Authors: Robin McKie Science editor Tags: Coronavirus outbreak Infectious diseases Medical research Microbiology Science Source Type: news
Investigational chimp adenovirus MERS-CoV vaccine protects monkeys
Vaccine neutralizes multiple MERS-CoV strains. (Source: National Institutes of Health (NIH) News Releases)
Source: National Institutes of Health (NIH) News Releases - April 17, 2020 Category: American Health Source Type: news
Vaccines, Antibodies and Drug Libraries. The Possible COVID-19 Treatments Researchers Are Excited About
In early April, about four months after a new, highly infectious coronavirus was first identified in China, an international group of scientists reported encouraging results from a study of an experimental drug for treating the viral disease known as COVID-19.
It was a small study, reported in the New England Journal of Medicine, but showed that remdesivir, an unapproved drug that was originally developed to fight Ebola, helped 68% of patients with severe breathing problems due to COVID-19 to improve; 60% of those who relied on a ventilator to breathe and took the drug were able to wean themselves off the machines after 18...
Source: TIME: Health - April 14, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Alice Park Tags: Uncategorized COVID-19 Source Type: news
Debunking 9 Popular Myths Doing the Rounds in Africa About the Coronavirus
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
The post Debunking 9 Popular Myths Doing the Rounds in Africa About the Coronavirus appeared first on Inter Press Service. (Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health)
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - April 13, 2020 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: External Source Tags: Africa Headlines Health TerraViva United Nations Coronavirus Source Type: news
Study finds remdesivir effective against a key enzyme of coronavirus that causes COVID-19
(University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine& Dentistry) Scientists at the University of Alberta have shown that the drug remdesivir is highly effective in stopping the replication mechanism of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, according to new research published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.The paper follows closely on research published by the same lab in late February that demonstrated how the drug worked against the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus, a related coronavirus. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - April 13, 2020 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news
Why Are Some People So Much More Infectious Than Others?
Solving the mystery of “superspreaders” could help control the coronavirus pandemic. (Source: NYT Health)
Source: NYT Health - April 12, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Gina Kolata Tags: Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Epidemics SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) Source Type: news
Five months on, what scientists now know about the coronavirus
Medical researchers have been studying everything we know about Covid-19. What have they learned – and is it enough to halt the pandemic?Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageCoronaviruses have been causing problems for humanity for a long time. Several versions are known to trigger common colds and more recently two types have set off outbreaks of deadly illnesses: severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (Mers).But their impact has been mild compared with the global havoc unleashed by the coronavirus that is causing the Covid-19 pandemic. In only a few months...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - April 12, 2020 Category: Science Authors: Robin McKie Science Editor Tags: Coronavirus outbreak Infectious diseases Medical research Microbiology Science Source Type: news
Daniel Streicker: What If We Could Stop A Virus At Its Animal Source?
MERS, Ebola, and COVID-19—the viruses that cause these diseases likely have the same patient zero: bats. For researcher Daniel Streicker, the key to preventing an outbreak is the bats themselves.(Image credit: TED) (Source: NPR Health and Science)
Source: NPR Health and Science - April 10, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: NPR/TED Staff Source Type: news
Clinical Care for Severe Acute Respiratory Infection Toolkit: COVID-19 Adaptation
Source: World Health Organization (WHO). Published: 4/9/2020.
This 196-page toolkit is intended for clinicians working in intensive care units in low- and middle-income countries, managing adult and pediatric patients with severe forms of acute respiratory infection, including severe pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis, and septic shock. It is a hands-on practical guide to be used by healthcare professionals involved in critical care management during the COVID-19 pandemic and outbreaks of influenza (seasonal or avian influenza), Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), or other emerging...
Source: Disaster Lit: Resource Guide for Disaster Medicine and Public Health - April 9, 2020 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news
How effective is quarantine alone or in combination with other public health measures to control coronavirus (COVID-19)?
Today, Cochrane publishes anew Rapid Review assessing the effectiveness of quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic.The review summarizes evidence available from modelling studies that show how quarantining affects the spread of COVID-19. The studies included in the review consistently conclude that quarantine can play a role in controlling the spread of coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. While early implementation of quarantine and its combination with other public health measures helps to ensure effectiveness, key uncertainties remain as to how these measures can best be adopted and when they can be relaxed.Currently, there are no e...
Source: Cochrane News and Events - April 8, 2020 Category: Information Technology Authors: Lydia Parsonson Source Type: news
Updated Cochrane Rapid Review assesses the effectiveness of quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic
Cochrane has published an update to theRapid Review assessing the effectiveness of quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemicThe updated review summarizes evidence available from studies that show how quarantine affects the spread of COVID-19. The studies included in the review consistently conclude that quarantine can play a role in controlling the spread of coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. While early implementation of quarantine and its combination with other public health measures helps to ensure effectiveness, key uncertainties remain as to how these measures can best be adopted and when they can be relaxed.Currently, there are n...
Source: Cochrane News and Events - April 8, 2020 Category: Information Technology Authors: Lydia Parsonson Source Type: news
Want to Stop the Next Pandemic? Start Protecting Wildlife Habitats
(Bloomberg) — There are four critical facets of pandemic prevention, according to Lee Hannah, senior scientist at Conservation International. Three of them make immediate sense against the backdrop of our current emergency: stockpile masks and respirators; have testing infrastructure ready; and ban the global wildlife trade, including the open animal markets where COVID-19 may have first infected people.
His fourth recommendation is more grandiose: “Take care of nature.”
The assault on ecosystems that allowed COVID-19 to jump from animals to humans went far beyond merchants hunting and selling rare wildli...
Source: TIME: Science - April 8, 2020 Category: Science Authors: Eric Roston / Bloomberg Tags: Uncategorized COVID-19 News Desk wire Source Type: news
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
From 1 through 29 February 2020, the National IHR Focal Point of Saudi Arabia reported 18 additional cases of MERS-CoV infection, including five associated deaths. The cases were reported from Riyadh (seven cases), Hafer Albatin (two cases), Najran (two cases), Eastern (two cases), Aljouf (one case), Makkah (one case), Hail (one case), Taif (one case) and Jeddah (one case) regions. Among reported cases of MERS-CoV infection, majority (16 cases) were male, and only two cases were female. The age of reported cases ranged from 34 to 81 years. No cases were reported among healthcare workers. The link below provides details of...
Source: WHO Disease Outbreaks - April 8, 2020 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: news Source Type: news
Engineered virus might be able to block coronavirus infections, mouse study shows
(American Society for Microbiology) No vaccines exist that protect people against infections by coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, or the ones that cause SARS and MERS. As COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc, many labs around the world have developed a laser-like focus on understanding the virus and finding the best strategy for stopping it. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - April 7, 2020 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news
Successful MERS vaccine in mice may hold promise for COVID-19 vaccine
(University of Iowa Health Care) In a new study, published April 7 in mBio, researchers from the University of Iowa and the University of Georgia demonstrate that a new vaccine fully protects mice against a lethal dose of MERS, a close cousin of COVID-19. Using the same strategy, COVID-19 vaccine candidates have been generated and are also being tested in mice. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - April 7, 2020 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news
