Researchers at Tel Aviv University say that smartwatches with biomarkers that provide early detection of contagious diseases can prevent the spread of infections and even preempt global pandemics in the future.
Early diagnosis can be critical for inducing behavioral changes, such as reduced social contacts, when the disease is most infectious, said Prof. Dan Yamin, head of the Lab for Digital Epidemiology and Health Analytics, and Prof. Erez Shmueli, head of the Big Data Lab, both at Tel Avivs industrial engineering school, who led the team of researchers in Israel and at Stanford University.
The two-year study, which focused on three infectious diseases COVID-19, influenza, and group A streptococcus (GAS) was published last month in the prestigious peer-reviewed scientific journal Lancet Regional Health Europe.
The researchers also discovered that even after people reported their first symptoms, they postponed testing. During this critical period, they were spreading the disease to others.
The findings highlight a significant gap in timely disease management, the researchers said, and can help improve public health strategies.
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The researchers likened the spread of infectious diseases to controlling the spread of wildfires, as in both cases early detection is crucial.
Prof. Dan Yamin, head of the lab for Digital Epidemiology and Health Analytics at Tel Aviv University. (Tel Aviv University)
Nearly all infectious diseases begin silently and progressively worsen until clinical symptoms appear. During this period, people decide how to modify their social activities and when to seek diagnostic tests and treatment.
During the study, 4,795 Israelis over 18 years of age wore a smartwatch that continuously monitored key physiological parameters, including pulse and heart rate.
These biomarkers reveal information about our bodys two most important systems: the heart and the brain, said Yamin.
When a person becomes ill, most of the focus goes to the immune system that is battling the disease, he said. Our brain constantly consumes energy, burning oxygen provided by the cardiovascular system, and consequently, any change in our activity or condition is immediately reflected in a change in our heart rate.
In addition to wearing the smartwatches, the participants answered a daily series of questions about how they felt physically and mentally, including if they felt any specific symptoms.
A community outreach doula holds a home COVID-19 test kit, on February 3, 2022, while picking up supplies at Open Arms Perinatal Services before going out to visit some of her clients in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
They also received home test kits for the three diseases, which they used at their discretion.
Over the two years, the researchers collected 800,000 questionnaires; this data was compared with parallel data from the smartwatch.
Altogether, the data included 490 episodes of influenza, 2,206 episodes of COVID-19, and 320 episodes of GAS.
The researchers then built special models that identified the three points in time following exposure to an infectious disease.
With COVID-19, for example, the patients heart rate changed 96 hours after exposure, yet it took another 34 hours for the person to notice symptoms. Then, it took 64 more hours for them to use the home test confirming the disease.
Prof. Erez Shmueli, head of the Big Data Lab, Tel Aviv University, Dept. of Industrial Engineering. (Tel Aviv University)
Consequently, for quite a long interval, from exposure to testing, they did not change their social behavior, spreading the disease to others, said Shmueli.
We found that on average, people performed the test and changed their behavior when the disease was already past its peak and the chance of infecting others was lower, Shmueli said.
The subjects also waited 68 hours on average before they tested themselves for influenza and 58 hours for GAS.
The delay between digital diagnosis and testing is thus extremely crucial, Shmueli said.
Using digital diagnosis can significantly reduce the spread of infectious diseases because people might change their social behavior at a much earlier stage of the disease, Yamin said.
If this happens, then people with COVID, who normally infect an average of three people, would infect less than one other person.
If every sick individual transmits the disease to less than one other person, the disease soon dies out, he said,effectively eliminating the next pandemic.
Early diagnosis is also critical for effective treatment, the researchers said.
Existing treatments for COVID-19, for instance, are very effective only when given early on, preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and even death.
Infectious diseases pose the greatest threat for a global catastrophe, Yamin said. People travel all over the world and potentially spread new diseases.
Modern technology can help us combat this danger and devise more effective public health strategies, the researchers said.
Smartwatches are a relatively new technology, with enormous potential, said Yamin. There are ever more sensitive and accurate wearable sensors constantly being developed. Ultimately, this can be a high-impact tool for preempting future pandemics.
If you're looking to get your flu and COVID vaccine, there are some upcoming clinics you should know about.
Portland announced there will be several public clinics starting in early October that will run until mid-November.
The clinics are open to people both with and without insurance.
If you have insurance, you should bring proof.
The CDC recommends anyone aged 5 or older get a COVID vaccine and anyone six months or older get a flu shot.
Friday, October 4, 9:00 AM-12:00 PM
Friday, October 4, 2:00-5:00 PM
Sunday, October 6th, 2:45-4:45 PM
Thursday, October 10th, 1:30-4:30 PM
Tuesday, October 15th, 9-11:00 AM
Sunday, October 20th, 2:00-4:00 PM
Tuesday, November 12th, 1:30-3:30 PM
September 3, 3:30-6:30 PM
Tuesday, September 17, 1-3:30 PM
Tuesday, September 17, 1-3:30 PM
A health care worker prepares an injection of Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine Comirnaty, Sept. 14, 2023.
Irfan Khan | Los Angeles Times | Getty Images
A version of this article first appeared in CNBC's Healthy Returns newsletter, which brings the latest health-care news straight to your inbox. Subscribe here to receive future editions.
Vaccine makers have set their eyes on the next big thing: Developing combination shots targeting both Covid and the flu.
As Covid vaccination rates in the U.S. dwindle, Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax, among other companies, hope that more convenient combo shots offering protection against two viruses rather than one will increase uptake among Americans. Some health experts have cast doubt on that belief, CNBC previously reported.
Still, combo jabs may also reduce the burden that respiratory viruses which typically spread at the same time each year put on pharmacists and the broader U.S. health-care system.
The race to develop those jabs is heating up, as all three companies test their respective vaccines in mid- or late-stage trials.
But Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech faced a setback last week that may allow rival Moderna to pull ahead.
Pfizer on Friday said its messenger RNA-based vaccine that combines its approved Covid shot with an experimental flu shot failed to meet one of the main goals of a phase three trial on more than 8,000 adults, potentially jeopardizing the jab's future.
The vaccine produced a more effective immune response against influenza A strain than a licensed flu vaccine and was as effective against Covid as Pfizer's existing product. But the shot showed a weaker immune response against another flu strain called influenza B compared with the licensed flu vaccine.
Pfizer and BioNTech will consider adjustments to the combo shot and "discuss next steps with health authorities," according to a release.
"We remain optimistic about our combination COVID-19 and influenza program, for which we are evaluating the next steps," Annaliesa Anderson, Pfizer's head of vaccine research and development, said in the release.
Mikael Dolsten, Pfizer's outgoing chief scientific officer, said at a conference in March that the company hopes to launch its combination shot in 2025. It's unclear whether Friday's results change that timeline.
If it does, that could be good news for Moderna. The biotech company's mRNA-based combination shot succeeded in a late-stage trial in June, showing higher immune responses than existing standalone shots for Covid and the flu.
Moderna plans to file for regulatory approval for that shot and hopes it can enter the market in 2025.
"Failure of this [Pfizer and BioNTech] combo vaccine study puts [Moderna] in the lead in the mRNA combo vaccine development," Leerink Partners analyst David Risinger said in a note Friday, adding that Pfizer's "update incrementally improves the odds that [Moderna's shot] could be the first commercially available combo mRNA vaccine."
Pfizer's stumble could also be good news for Novavax and Sanofi, which partnered earlier this year to develop protein-based combination Covid and flu shots. In May, Sanofi, a top flu shot maker, agreed to pay Novavax up to $1.2 billion up front and future milestones in part to work on combining the companies' vaccines.
Still, there is a chance that Pfizer could make the right tweaks to its vaccine to get it back on track toward regulatory approval. For example, Moderna's initial standalone flu vaccine similarly failed to show an immune response as effective as an approved vaccine against influenza B before the company made adjustments to overcome that setback.
We'll be watching closely for any updates in the combination shot space, so stay tuned.
Feel free to send any tips, suggestions, story ideas and data to Annika atannikakim.constantino@nbcuni.com.
The eponymous sign outside Epic headquarters in Verona, Wisconsin.
Source: Yiem via Wikipedia CC
This is Ashley, reporting live from Verona, Wisconsin!
I'm here attending Epic Systems' annual Users Group Meeting, or UGM, for the first time, and it's sure to be an eventful day.
Epic is a health-care software giant whose technology is used in thousands of hospitals and clinics across the country. Its 1,670-acre headquarters is nestled about 30 minutes away from Madison, and thousands of health-care leaders are gathered here to talk tech this week.
The main event will be Tuesday's executive address, where Epic's CEO Judy Faulkner and other senior leaders will share updates about the company's latest initiatives. It takes place in a partially underground auditorium called "Deep Space," which can seat more than 11,000 people.
Deep Space is a central fixture of Epic's notoriously quirky campus, which is adorned with statues of wizards and buildings themed like "The Wizard of Oz" and "Alice in Wonderland." Don't worry, I'm going on a guided tour this afternoon, so I'll have much more to share about this soon.
But if that isn't enough to pique your interest, Epic executives will also deliver the address in costume. The theme of this year's UGM is "Storytime," according to the company's website. Remember this next time anyone tries to tell you health care is boring.
As far as announcements go, I expect we'll hear a lot about Epic's work to integrate artificial intelligence into its software. The company already has more than 60 AI development projects underway, according to its website, and its high-profile partnerships with AI scribing companies such as Abridge and Microsoft's Nuance Communications have generated a lot of industry chatter this year.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, both Nuance and Abridge are here attending UGM.
Epic has also made waves in the health-tech interoperability space this summer. The company is one of the organizations that's been helping the federal government establish the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement, or TEFCA, to provide a legal and technical framework for securely sharing patient data.
Epic said Friday that it's planning to move all of its customers to TEFCA by the end of next year. It's a big move: Because of Epic's dramatic reach and its 45-year history on the market, the company's commitment to TEFCA will likely bolster the exchange's credibility.
I would bet Epic's leadership will touch on these efforts, as well as other ways the company is working to leverage its vast network.
Stay tuned for lots more UGM content from me this week! And if you have tips about where I can track down the best cheese curds on campus, please get in touch.
Feel free to send any tips, suggestions, story ideas and data to Ashley atashley.capoot@nbcuni.com.
A new universal flu vaccine candidate has shown promising results in animal models, providing protection against various influenza strains and paving the way for upcoming human trials.
Cleveland Clinic researchers have developed a universal flu vaccine candidate showing strong immune responses in animals, with human trials expected soon. This vaccine could potentially protect against various influenza strains over multiple seasons.
Annual flu vaccines protect against severe infection, but they vary in efficacy and may not match the most virulent strains of the season. The reality of a universal flu vaccine, which would protect people from all strains, and ideally longer than a single season, remains elusive.
Findings published this week in the Journal of Virology suggest were getting closer. Researchers at Cleveland Clinics Lerner Research Institute have reported that their universal flu vaccine candidate, tested on animal models, elicited a strong immune response and provided protection against severe infection after viral exposure. The new work builds on previous, similarly promising preclinical studies on mice from the same group, led by Ted M. Ross, Ph.D., Director of Global Vaccine Development at Cleveland Clinic.
The researchers hope to launch human clinical trials within 1-3 years, said virologist Naoko Uno, Ph.D., who led the new study. We want to make sure our vaccine can span multiple seasons, not just one, and protect against all the strains that affect humans, she said.
Scientists have identified 4 types of influenza virus, but 2 of themInfluenza A and Influenza Bpose the greatest risks to humans. Seasonal flu vaccines include proteins from 3 or 4 circulating subtypes of those viruses, which include H1N1, H3N2 and IBV. But because the virus mutates so quickly, predicting which strains will pose the biggest risk, and thus choosing which ingredients to include, is a guessing game.
Researchers in Ross lab designed their new vaccine candidate using a methodology called COBRA, or Computationally Optimized Broadly Reactive Antigens. They began by downloading thousands of genetic sequences of pathogenic influenza strains, spanning multiple seasons, from an online database. Then they digitally analyzed those sequences to identify which amino acidsthe building blocks of proteinsare conserved across viruses and seasons.
The researchers identified groups of proteins for different subtypes. To develop a wider-reaching vaccine, Uno said, the group identified 8 proteins from those previous studies associated with a sustained immune response. Weve been able to whittle down this list, to say these are the best at spanning multiple seasons and eliciting a broadly reactive antibody response, she said. Its like creating a greatest hits album. We want to put only the best ones back in the vaccine.
Those greatest hits included proteins from H1 and H3 types of influenza viruses, Uno said, but they also included proteins from H2, H5, and H7 viruses, which are strains against which most people dont have antibodies. Some of these have pandemic potential, Uno said. Past outbreaks of bird flu, or H5N1, have led to a high rate of human mortality, and in March 2024 the virus was found in dairy cattle in Texas. Since then, 4 people who work with cattle have been diagnosed. In addition, it has spread to dozens of herds in multiple states, and in other species including sea lions, birds, cats and alpacas.
Weve shown that our H5 vaccine does cover many different clades, Uno said.
For the new work, the Cleveland Clinic researchers administered the vaccine candidate intranasally. Blood tests showed that 4 weeks later the animals had developed antibodies against the virus, and when the animals were exposed to the pathogen they were protected against developing infection.
Ross currently leads his groups efforts to advance testing of the candidate in the U.S., and Uno is collaborating with researchers in India and the European Union on an international effort.
Uno noted that the COBRA methodology isnt limited to finding and assembling recombinant proteins for the flu. It might be used to analyze mRNA or other biomolecules, she said, or explored for developing vaccines to viral diseases like dengue. This can be used in a lot of viruses, she said.
Reference: 22 August 2024, Journal of Virology. DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00354-24
THURSDAY, Aug. 22, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- A universal flu vaccine that would protect against all influenza strains -- and that people might not need to take every year -- could be close at hand, researchers report.
An experimental vaccine candidate produced a strong immune response in lab mice, and it provided protection against severe infection after the critters were exposed to the virus, researchers reported Aug. 22 in the Journal of Virology.
The candidate flu vaccine combines eight proteins from five different types of influenza virus, in hopes of providing immune protection against any type of flu that might strike the United States, researchers said. However, more investigation needs to be done, since animal-based trials don't always pan out in humans.
Using data from previous studies, researchers concluded that these eight proteins together could provide a sustained and universal immune response against the flu, said lead researcher Naoko Uno, a virologist and postdoctoral fellow with the Cleveland Clinic.
Weve been able to whittle down this list, to say these are the best at spanning multiple seasons and eliciting a broadly reactive antibody response, Uno said of the eight proteins. Its like creating a greatest hits album. We want to put only the best ones back in the vaccine.
Researchers believe the vaccine also might be able to last longer than a single season, potentially ending the annual ritual of flu jabs.
We want to make sure our vaccine can span multiple seasons, not just one, and protect against all the strains that affect humans, Uno said in a journal news release.
Seasonal flu vaccines include proteins from three or four flu strains, which are chosen by looking at which strains are circulating on the other side of the world during their influenza season.
But its a guessing game, because the flu virus mutates so quickly. An unanticipated flu strain could burst into the United States without warning, or a chosen protein might produce an inadequate immune response because the virus has changed subtly but significantly.
To craft a potential universal flu vaccine, researchers downloaded thousands of genetic sequences of flu strains spanning multiple seasons.
They then analyzed those sequences to identify which proteins were common across all flu strains.
The resulting vaccine includes proteins from H1, H2, H3, H5 and H7 types of influenza virus, researchers said.
H1 and H3 commonly circulate among humans, while the other types occur in animalsbut have pandemic potential if they leap into humans, researchers said.
For example, the H5N1 bird flu has been spreading rapidly through poultry and livestock in the United States, raising concerns that the flu could jump into people.
Researchers hope to launch human clinical trials for the universal vaccine within one to three years, Uno said.
More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on the seasonal flu vaccine.
SOURCE: American Society of Microbiology, news release, Aug. 22, 2024
Flu season typically starts later in the fall, however, to avoid symptoms like fever, coughing and body aches, it's important to vaccinate early.
EAU CLAIRE (WQOW) -Summer is still in swing, but with fall around the corner also comes flu season.
Flu season typically starts later in the fall, however, to avoid symptoms like fever, coughing and body aches, it's important to vaccinate early.
Allison Gosbin, a public health nurse with the Eau Claire City-County Health Department, advises anytime between September and October is the best time to get the seasonal vaccine. However, it's important to note that it still takes roughly two weeks for the shot to be fully effective.
"In recent years we have seen flu activity already starting in the end of October and peaking in December, so we don't know if that will be the case this year, but if you have your flu shot before the end of October, you're prepared then," Gosbin said.
The vaccine for this year also comes with a change. In previous years the shot has included four strains of the flu virus, now it contains just three. This is because the fourth strain hasn't been detected globally since 2020.
Some places, like Walgreens, are offering the flu vaccine now.
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Mpox cases are rising in South Florida as a new variant is causing concerns overseas.
Doctors say the new Clade 1 variant is deadlier and seems to be spreading faster than Clade 2 did during anoutbreak in 2022, that spread across the world, including South Florida.
Unlike Clade 2, Dr. Jyoti Somani of Jackson Health Systems says 75% of cases involving Clade 1 are in children.
It seems to be much closer contact, not necessarily intimate contact, said Dr. Somani. The death rate historically has been higher at about 10 percent compared to Clade 2.
Dr. Somani says the new variant also produces a rash that seems to spread across the body whereas rashes due to Clade 2 were in limited areas of the body.
Other symptoms can include fever, swollen lymph nodes, muscle aches, headache, and respiratory symptoms.
Last week, the World Health Organization declared an emergency due to the spread of Clade 1, which originated out of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Africa. At least one case has now been reported in Sweden.
Dr. Somani says South Florida could be more susceptible to disease spread because its an international destination.
Robert Boo, the CEO of the Pride Center at Equality Park is already preparing to use grant funding to launch an awareness campaign and conduct town halls, like they did in 2022.
Its a matter of time, said Boo. Our goal is to reach, at a minimum 26,000 individuals. Mpox is still an issue for not just the LGBTQ community. It is for the entire community.
The Florida Department of Health has not activated any health advisories but tells NBC6 there is plenty of vaccine supply if needed.
Although the new variant has yet to be recorded in Florida, Mpox Clade 2 cases are already eclipsing last years numbers. As of Monday, Miami-Dade is reporting 48 cases and Broward is reporting 23 cases.
Still, its a far cry from the hundreds of cases in both counties just two years ago.
We are prepared, we have the vaccine so we should be able to keep this under control, Dr. Somani said.
But, what is it, where did it come from and how can the world deal with the threat, which inevitably raises the spectre of pandemics past such as COVID-19 and the early spread of HIV infections?
Heres what you need to know:
Mpox lesions often appear on the palms of hands. (file)
Formerly known as monkeypox, the viral diseasecan spread between people, mainly through close contact, and occasionally from the environment to people via objects and surfaces that have been touched by a person with mpox.
Originating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1970, mpox was neglected there, according to WHO.
It is time to act decisively to prevent history from repeating itself, said Dimie Ogoina, who chairs theInternational Health Regulations Emergency Committee, which advises WHO on such matters.
Endemic in central and West Africa, the infectious disease later caused a global outbreak in 2022, leading to a WHO public health emergency in July as it became a multi-country outbreak.
Following a series of consultations with global experts, WHO has begun using a new preferred term mpox as a synonym for monkeypox. Find out more about that decision here.
CDC/Cynthia S. Goldsmith
Mpox is similar to the eradicated smallpox virus. (file)
Common symptoms of mpox include a rash lasting for two to four weeks, which may be started with or followed by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and swollen lymph nodes.
The rash looks like blisters and can affect the face, palms of the hands, soles of the feet, groin, genital and/or anal regions, mouth, throat or the eyes. The number of sores can range from one to several thousand.
People with mpox are considered infectious at least until all their blisters have crusted over, the scabs have fallen off and a new layer of skin has formed underneath, and all lesions on the eyes and in the body have healed. Typically this takes two to four weeks. Reports show that people can be re-infected after theyve had mpox.
People with severe mpox may require hospitalisation, supportive care and antiviral medicines to reduce the severity of lesions and shorten time to recovery.
CDC: NHS England High Consequence infectious Diseases Network
WHO continues to work with patients and community advocates to develop and deliver information tailored to communities affected by monkeypox.
Human to human: Touching, sex and talking or breathing close to someone with mpox can generate infectious respiratory particles, but more research is needed on how the virus spreads during outbreaks in different settings and conditions, says WHO.
What scientists do know is that it is also possible for the virus to persist for some time on clothing, bedding, towels, objects, electronics and surfaces that have been touched by a person with mpox. Someone else who is in contact with these items may become infected without first washing their hands before touching their eyes, nose and mouth.
The virus can also spread during pregnancy to the fetus, during or after birth through skin-to-skin contact, or from a parent with mpox to an infant or child during close contact.
Although getting mpox from someone who is asymptomatic has been reported, there is still limited information on whether the virus can be transmitted from someone with the virus before they get symptoms or after their lesions have healed.
Humans to animals: Since many species of animals are known to be susceptible to the virus, there is the potential for spillback of the virus from humans to animals in different settings.
People who have confirmed or suspected mpox should avoid close physical contact with animals, including such pets as cats, dogs, hamsters and gerbils, as well as livestock and wildlife.
Animals to humans: Someone who comes into physical contact with an animal which carries the virus, such as some species of monkey - or a terrestrial rodent like a tree squirrel - may also develop mpox. Such exposure can occur through bites or scratches, or during activities such as hunting, skinning, trapping or preparing a meal. The virus can also be caught through eating contaminated meat which is not cooked thoroughly.
A health worker checks on a two-year-old being treated for mpox north of Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Yes, for a small minority. Between 0.1 per cent and 10 per cent of people who have become infected with mpox, have died.
It is important to note that death rates in different settings may differ due to several factors, such as access to health care and underlying immunosuppression, including because of undiagnosed HIV or advanced HIV, according to the UN health agency.
In most cases, the symptoms of mpox go away on their own within a few weeks with supportive care, such as medication for pain or fever, but, in some people, the illness can be severe or lead to complications and eventual death.
Newborn babies, children, people who are pregnant and people with underlying immune deficiencies - such as from advanced HIV - may be at higher risk of more serious mpox disease and death.
A single-dose of the mpox vaccine.
Yes. The UN health agency recommends several vaccines for use against mpox. However, mass vaccination, which rolled out during the COVID-19 global pandemic, is not currently recommended.
Many years of research have led to the development of newer and safer vaccines for the now eradicated disease smallpox. Some of these vaccines have been approved in various countries for use against mpox.
At present, WHO recommends use of MVA-BN or LC16 vaccines, or the ACAM2000 vaccine when the others are not available.
Only people who are at risk of exposure to mpox should be considered for vaccination, according to WHO. Travellers who may be at risk based on an individual risk assessment with their healthcare provider, may wish to consider vaccination.
One of the ways to prevent mpox from spreading is washing your hands after touching contaminated surfaces.
Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces or objects and cleaning your hands after touching surfaces or objects that may be contaminated can help prevent transmission.
The risk of getting mpox from animals can be reduced by avoiding unprotected contact with wild animals, especially those that are sick or dead, including their meat and blood.
In countries where animals carry the virus, any food containing animal parts or meat should be cooked thoroughly before eating.
Learn more about mpoxhere.
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