Category: Infectious Disease
What is inflammation?
Two immunologists explain how the body responds to everything from stings to vaccination and why it sometimes goes wrong
COVID, flu, RSV – how this triple threat of respiratory viruses could collide this winter
As the days get shorter and the weather colder in the northern hemisphere, health officials have warned of a perfect storm of infectious respiratory diseases over the winter months.
Viral shedding ebbs over time with HSV-1 genital infections, UW study finds.
People with HSV-1 genital infections frequently shed the virus in the months after infection, but the shedding declined rapidly during the first year.
HOW DID COVID-19 IMPACT PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES?
Many talked about feeling socially isolated and experiencing worsening anxiety and depression during the pandemic. The isolation could be particularly acute for folks living with a disability that made it harder or not advisable for them to go out, such as people living with mobility restrictions or who are immunocompromised.
Gonorrhea became more drug resistant while attention was on COVID-19 – a molecular biologist explains the sexually transmitted superbug
Around half of gonorrhea infections are asymptomatic and can only be detected through screening. Infected people without symptoms can unknowingly spread gonorrhea to others.
The COVID-19 Booster’s Public Relations Problem
When it comes to the newest boosters, so far about 4.4 million people — about 1.5% of those eligible — had opted for the shots through Sept. 21/
Has the pandemic changed our personalities?
New research suggests we’re less open, agreeable and conscientious
Study confirms link between COVID-19 vaccination and temporary increase in menstrual cycle length
On average, vaccinated people experienced an increase of less than one day in each cycle in which they were vaccinated: a .71 day increase after the first dose and a .56 day increase after the second dose. Participants who received both doses in a single cycle had a 3.91 day increase in cycle length.
Is Covid ‘Under Control’ in the US? Experts Say Yes
There remains some debate among public health experts about whether the pandemic is “over” — or whether it realistically can ever be. There is no official arbiter for making that decision, and the word “over” suggests a finality that is not well suited for describing a pathogen that will exist in some form indefinitely. However, we found broad agreement among infectious-disease specialists that the pandemic by now is “under control.”
Most States Are Wary of Mandating COVID Shots for Kids
Many parents who have not gotten their children vaccinated say the absence of full FDA authorization is a factor, since it suggests that the vaccines have not been fully vetted.
COVID-19 vaccine clinics come to state colleges
While the focus of these clinics will be providing the recently released Omicron-targeted bivalent boosters, primary series vaccines from both Pfizer BioNTech and Moderna will also be available.
When does COVID become long COVID?
And what’s happening in the body when symptoms persist? Here’s what we’ve learnt so far
Inslee: Washington’s COVID-19 emergency to end Oct. 31
Nearly three-quarters of Inslee’s 85 emergency orders related to the virus have already been lifted, and an additional 13 health care related orders will end on Oct. 27. The remaining 10 orders, including the underlying state of emergency, will be lifted on Oct. 31.
Fears of a polio resurgence in the US have health officials on high alert
A virologist explains the history of this dreaded disease
Using nanotechnology and AI to diagnose TB in children
Combining nanotechnology with artificial intelligence can diagnose tuberculosis in children in whom the deadly disease might otherwise go undetected.