Category: Infectious Disease
The longer you can avoid Covid, the better
The “no point delaying infection” argument falls down in a number of places. First, infections aren’t risk free. Second, better treatments and vaccines are on the horizon.
China could face a catastrophic COVID surge as it lifts restrictions – here’s how it might play out
Given the low level of immunity in China, a major surge would likely see large numbers of hospitalisations and might lead to a dramatic death toll. If we assume, say, 70% of the Chinese population becomes infected over the coming months, then if 0.1% of those infected die (a conservative estimate ), a back-of-the-envelope calculation suggests we’d see around one million deaths.
Strep A: three doctors explain what you need to look out for
Group A streptococcus is a type of bacteria that can live in the back of the throat or on the skin, especially in children. It can spread between people through close contact or coughing and sneezing. In most people, it either causes no illness or only mild throat or skin infections or scarlet fever. Children with scarlet fever have a sandpaper-like rash over their body, often with fever and sore throat and a “strawberry tongue” – where the tongue is red with a white covering.
Pandoravirus: the melting Arctic is releasing ancient germs – how worried should we be?
All the viruses cultured so far are far from viruses that affect mammals, let alone, humans and would be very unlikely to pose a danger to humans. A more relevant area of concern is that as the permafrost thaws it could release the bodies of long-dead people who might have died of an infectious disease and so release that infection back into the world.
Sexually active women 45 and under who have not been tested for syphilis since Jan. 2021 should be tested, say King County health officials
There has been a nearly 5-fold increase in syphilis in cisgender women since 2015
King County reports first child flu death of the 2022-2023 flu season
This death comes on top of a steep and unprecedented rise in illnesses and hospitalizations in King County and nationally among children for infections caused by multiple respiratory viruses.
Free at-home COVID-19 tests available in Washington state through the end of the year
Washington State Department of Health (DOH) will continue to provide free COVID-19 home test kits to residents at least through the end of 2022, despite the end of federal financial support for testing programs. Washingtonians can order up to 10 free at-home test kits per month through the “Say Yes! COVID Test” program.
COVID-19, RSV and the flu are straining health care systems – two epidemiologists explain what the ‘triple threat’ means for children
The underlying reasons for the convergence of these viruses and the increase in infections so early in the season are not yet clear. But health experts have some clues about contributing factors and what it could mean for the coming months.
WAISTLINES AND BOTTOM LINES
They say they got canned advice and unresponsive clinicians — and some report they couldn’t get the newest drugs.
How to reduce risk of COVID-19 by improving ventilation at your holiday gatherings
Opening windows and using filtration tools are effective ways to reduce indoor COVID-19 transmission.
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.