desertsun.com wants to ensure the best experience for all of our readers, so we built our site to take advantage of the latest technology, making it faster and easier to use.
Unfortunately, your browser is not supported. Please download one of these browsers for the best experience on desertsun.com
MONDAY, July 29, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- The virus responsible for COVID-19 is widespread among wildlife, a new study finds.
SARS-CoV-2 was detected in six common backyard species, including deer mice, opossums, raccoons, groundhogs, cottontail rabbits and red bats, researchers reported July 29 in the journal Nature Communications.
Further, antibodies indicating prior exposure to the coronavirus were found in five animal species, with rates of exposure ranging from 40% to 60% between species.
The highest exposure to the COVID virus was found in animals near hiking trails and high-traffic public areas, suggesting that the virus passed from humans to wildlife, researchers said.
There was no evidence of COVID passing from animals to humans, so people dont need to worry about getting the illness from any critters they come across while on a hike, researchers added.
The virus can jump from humans to wildlife when we are in contact with them, like a hitchhiker switching rides to a new, more suitable host, said researcher Carla Finkielstein, a professor of biological sciences with Virginia Techs Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC.
The goal of the virus is to spread in order to survive. The virus aims to infect more humans, but vaccinations protect many humans, Finkielstein added in a Virginia Tech news release. So, the virus turns to animals, adapting and mutating to thrive in the new hosts.
SARS-CoV-2 infections have previously been found in wildlife, primarily in white-tailed deer and feral mink, researchers noted.
The new study significantly expands the number of species in which the COVID virus has been found, and suggests that areas with high human activity can serve as points of contact for transmission between humans and animals.
For the study, researchers collected nearly 800 nasal and oral swabs in Virginia from animals either live-trapped in the field and released or receiving treatment in a wildlife rehabilitation center.
The team also obtained 126 blood samples from six different species.
On one day, researchers identified two mice at the same site with the exact same COVID variant, indicating that they either both got it from the same human or one infected the other.
In addition, COVID isolated from one opossum showed viral mutations that had not been seen before, which could potentially make the virus more dangerous to humans.
I think the big take-home message is the virus is pretty ubiquitous, said lead researcher Amanda Goldberg, a former postdoctoral associate with the Virginia Tech College of Science. We found positives in a large suite of common backyard animals.
Many of the species that tested positive in Virginia are common throughout North America, and its likely theyre being exposed in other areas as well, Finkielstein said.
The virus is indifferent to whether its host walks on two legs or four. Its primary objective is survival, Finkielstein said. Mutations that do not confer a survival or replication advantage to the virus will not persist and will eventually disappear.
Surveillance for COVID transmission in animals needs to continue, and new mutations taken seriously as a potential threat to human health, researchers said.
This study highlights the potentially large host range SARS-CoV-2 can have in nature and really how widespread it might be, said researcher Joseph Hoyt, an assistant professor of biological sciences at Virginia Tech. There is a lot of work to be done to understand which species of wildlife, if any, will be important in the long-term maintenance of SARS-CoV-2 in humans.
More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about COVID-19.
SOURCE: Virginia Tech, news release, July 29, 2024
usatoday.com wants to ensure the best experience for all of our readers, so we built our site to take advantage of the latest technology, making it faster and easier to use.
Unfortunately, your browser is not supported. Please download one of these browsers for the best experience on usatoday.com
image:
A Virginia Tech study of wildlife common in Virginia found that SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, is widespread in animals, particularly around areas of high human activity. The researchers identified variants consistent with those circulating in humans at the time, and one opossum with previously unreported viral mutations, underscoring the potential for changes that can potentially impact humans and their immune response.
Credit: Joseph Hoyt/Virginia Tech
SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, is widespread among wildlife species, according to Virginia Tech research published Monday (July 29, 2024) in Nature Communications. The virus was detected in six common backyard species, and antibodies indicating prior exposure to the virus were found in five species, with rates of exposure ranging from 40 to 60 percent depending on the species.
Genetic tracking in wild animals confirmed both the presence of SARS-CoV-2 and the existence of unique viral mutations with lineages closely matching variants circulating in humans at the time, further supporting human-to-animal transmission, the study found.
The highest exposure to SARS CoV-2 was found in animals near hiking trails and high-traffic public areas, suggesting the virus passed from humans to wildlife, according to scientists at theFralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, theDepartment of Biological Sciencesin Virginia TechsCollege of Science, and theFralin Life Sciences Institute.
The findings highlight the identification of novel mutations in SARS-CoV-2 in wildlife and the need for broad surveillance, researchers say. These mutations could be more harmful and transmissible, creating challenges for vaccine development.
The scientists stressed, however, that they found no evidence of the virus being transmitted from animals to humans, and people should not fear typical interactions with wildlife.
Investigators tested animals from 23 common Virginia species for both active infections and antibodies indicating previous infections. They found signs of the virus in deer mice, Virginia opossums, raccoons, groundhogs, Eastern cottontail rabbits, and Eastern red bats. The virus isolated from one opossum showed viral mutations that were previously unreported and can potentially impact how the virus affects humans and their immune response.
The virus can jump from humans to wildlife when we are in contact with them, like a hitchhiker switching rides to a new, more suitable host, saidCarla Finkielstein, professor of biological sciences at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC and one of the papers corresponding authors. The goal of the virus is to spread in order to survive. The virus aims to infect more humans, but vaccinations protect many humans. So, the virus turns to animals, adapting and mutating to thrive in the new hosts.
SARS CoV-2 infections were previously identified in wildlife, primarily in white-tailed deer and feral mink. The Virginia Tech study significantly expands the number of species examined and the understanding of virus transmission to and among wildlife.The data suggests exposure to the virus has been widespread in wildlife and that areas with high human activity may serve as points of contact for cross-species transmission.
This study was really motivated by seeing a large, important gap in our knowledge about SARS-CoV-2 transmission in a broader wildlife community, saidJoseph Hoyt, assistant professor of Biological Sciences in Virginia Techs College of Science and corresponding author on the paper. A lot of studies to date have focused on white-tailed deer, while what is happening in much of our common backyard wildlife remains unknown.
The research team collected 798 nasal and oral swabs across in Virginia from animals either live-trapped in the field and released, or being treated by wildlife rehabilitation centers. The team also obtained 126 blood samples from six species.The locations were chosen to compare the presence of the virus in animals in sites with varying levels of human activity, from urban areas to remote wilderness.
The study also identified two mice at the same site on the same day with the exact same variant, indicating they either both got it from the same human, or one infected the other.
Researchers are not certain about the means of transmission from humans to animals. One possibility is wastewater, but the Virginia Tech scientists believe trash receptacles and discarded food are more likely sources.
I think the big take home message is the virus is pretty ubiquitous, said Amanda Goldberg, a former postdoctoral associate in Hoyts lab, who is the studys first author. We found positives in a large suite of common backyard animals.
While this study focused on the state of Virginia, many of the species that tested positive are common wildlife found throughout North America. It is likely they are being exposed in other areas as well, and surveillance across a broader region is urgently needed, Hoyt said.
The virus is indifferent to whether its host walks on two legs or four. Its primary objective is survival. Mutations that do not confer a survival or replication advantage to the virus will not persist and will eventually disappear, said Finkielstein, who is also director of the Virginia Tech Molecular Diagnostics Lab. The Roanoke lab was established in April 2020 to expand COVID-19 testing.
We understood the critical importance of sequencing the genome of the virus infecting those species, Finkielstein said. It was a monumental task that could only be accomplished by a talented group of molecular biologists, bioinformaticians, and modelers in a state-of-the-art facility. I am proud of my team and my collaborators, their professionalism, and everything they contributed to ensure our success.
Surveillance for these mutations should continue and not be dismissed, the scientists said. More research is needed about how the virus is transmitted from humans to wildlife, how it might spread within a species, and perhaps from one species to another.
This study highlights the potentially large hostrange SARS-CoV-2 can have in nature and really how widespread it might be, Hoyt said. There is a lot of work to be done to understand which species of wildlife, if any, will be important in the long-term maintenance of SARS-CoV-2 in humans.
But what weve already learned, Finkielstein said, is that SARS CoV-2 is not only a human problem, and that it takes a multidisciplinary team to address its impact on various species and ecosystems effectively.
Written by Matt Chittum/Virginia Tech
Nature Communications
Experimental study
Animals
Widespread exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in wildlife communities
29-Jul-2024
The authors declare no competing interests.
If it seems like many people around you are getting COVID-19, youre not alone.
Federal data show coronavirus levels in Californias wastewater are surging to levels not seen in summertime since 2022, indicating a wide and worsening spread of COVID.
We are seeing ... a definite, definite surge, said Dr. Elizabeth Hudson, regional chief of infectious disease at Kaiser Permanente Southern California.
The surge is clearly apparent in doctors offices and clinics where people are seeking outpatient treatment, Hudson said. But, thankfully, not many people are having to be hospitalized because of COVID-19 at this point.
The wastewater numbers are still headed up. So were definitely seeing more and more cases, Hudson said.
She urged people to test for COVID-19 if they have respiratory symptoms.
If you have cough-and-cold symptoms, at this point, living in Los Angeles, you should really think that they are COVID until proven otherwise, she said.
This latest surge is being fueled in large part by the FLiRT variants a collection of highly transmissible sibling strains that have out-muscled last winters dominant strain, JN.1.
In particular, one of the FLiRT strains, known as KP.3.1.1, has really taken off, Hudson said. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that that strain accounted for 17.7% of coronavirus samples nationwide for the two-week period that ended July 20, up from 6.8% for the prior comparable period.
At that rate of growth, that strain is likely to become increasingly dominant in the next few weeks, Hudson said. So, unfortunately, I think we are going to see a lot more cases.
Coronavirus levels in California sewage are considered very high for a third consecutive week, the CDC said Friday. Thirty-seven states and the District of Columbia home to nearly 3 in 4 Americans have either high or very high coronavirus levels in wastewater.
For the seven-day period that ended July 20, the most recent data available, coronavirus levels in California wastewater were at 93% of the peak from the summer of 2022. Theyve already exceeded last summers height.
And there are indications that this summers COVID-19 wave might have some staying power. Coronavirus levels in California wastewater have been high or very high for seven straight weeks, with no sign of cresting. The wave from the summer of 2022 played out over 16 weeks during which viral levels were high or very high, and last summers wave lasted eight weeks.
The proliferation of the FLiRT variants may lengthen this summers surge, experts say, since they show a particular knack for immune evasion.
It does seem like we are spitting out more and more variants a lot more quickly, and thats probably to be expected, Hudson said. This virus is still very, very new to humans, and the virus wants to live, and the way that it lives is by evading immunity circumventing peoples defenses by evolving in a way to keep the chain of infection going.
Also, things are pretty much back to normal, Hudson said, with many people abandoning their once-cautious pandemic behaviors.
Even at the Olympics in Paris, COVID-19 is now treated like any other respiratory illness. The protocol among infected athletes is if theyre feeling well enough to train to have them wear masks, isolate when theyre not training and avoid certain communal areas such as the gym.
Regions across California are reporting high coronavirus levels in sewage. In the San Francisco Bay Area, San Jos and Palo Alto have generally had high coronavirus levels since the end of May. Fresno County health officials said last week that coronavirus levels were high across the San Joaquin Valley.
The rate at which Californias COVID-19 tests are turning up positive has now exceeded last summers peak. For the seven-day period that ended July 22, 13.8% of coronavirus tests came back positive. That exceeds last summers maximum of 13.1%.
Anecdotally, there are many reports of people getting COVID-19 from events including weddings, work meetings and flights, causing symptoms strong enough to make them miserable for days. Some have been surprised by nastier symptoms this time around compared with earlier bouts of COVID-19, although there are no indications that the latest subvariants result in more severe illness overall.
Those who are older or immunocompromised remain at highest risk.
Hundreds of COVID-19 deaths are still reported nationally every week. Among those who have recently died of complications from COVID-19 and pneumonia was the journalist Dan Collins, 80, who co-wrote Grand Illusion: The Untold Story of Rudy Giuliani and 9/11.
His wife, New York Times columnist Gail Collins, wrote that she and her husband both got COVID-19. It felt like a bad cold on my end, but Dan woke up one night unable to breathe at all. We went to the closest hospitals intensive care unit, and he never recovered, she wrote.
Overall, deaths and hospitalizations from COVID appear to be lower than those last summer.
In Los Angeles County, the nations most populous, there were an average of 286 COVID-19-positive people in hospitals for the week that ended July 20. Thats flat from the prior weeks figure of 291, and about half as many as last summers peak and one-quarter as many as the peak of summer 2022.
At UC San Francisco, COVID-19 hospitalizations seem to have stabilized, but theres a lot of COVID outside the hospital. Almost everybody has it: Theres been outbreaks at, you know, music gatherings and peoples dinners, said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious diseases expert there.
There may be several reasons behind the initial signs of hospitalizations stabilizing, Chin-Hong said. In general, population immunity against COVID-19 is higher. Also, its possible that the introduction of COVID-19 antiviral pills such as Paxlovid and its widespread availability may be keeping at-risk people from the hospital.
But with COVID-19 infections growing or likely growing in 35 states, as well as the nations capital, Chin-Hong suggested that higher-risk people who arent up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccine should get it now, and not wait until the updated autumn version becomes available.
Everyone age 6 months and above should have received an updated COVID-19 vaccination starting in September, according to CDC guidelines. Those 65 and older should have received a second vaccination dose four months after their first updated dose. Many seniors, however, havent had even a single updated dose.
Immunocompromised people should have received one or two doses of the updated vaccine since September, and may get additional vaccine doses two months after their last recommended dose.
Its not showing any signs that its going down, Chin-Hong said of the COVID-19 wave. Its a good idea for those who are older or immune-compromised to still get it right now. Because by now, I would have thought that COVID would be plateauing and going down, but it doesnt seem that way probably, because the rest of the country has caught up with states such as California.
In only one state, Hawaii, did the CDC estimate that COVID-19 is likely to be declining.
By a number of metrics, COVID-19 indicators are continuing to rise in L.A. County. For the week that ended July 21, L.A. County reported an average of 413 cases a day, up from 359 the prior week. Officially reported cases are considered an undercount, as they dont account for at-home tests or the fact that fewer people are testing in general, but the figures are still helpful in understanding transmission trends.
Coronavirus levels in L.A. County wastewater were at 40% of last winters peak over the 10-day period that ended July 13. Thats up from 36% for the 10-day period that ended July 6.
For the weekly period that ended July 21, 3.4% of emergency-room visits in L.A. County were related to the coronavirus. Thats up from 2.8% for the prior week.
Hudson encouraged people to test repeatedly if they have symptoms of COVID-19, even as far as the fifth day after the onset of illness. People who feel sick might test negative over the first or second days of symptoms, but may end up testing positive later on.
Knowing whether you have COVID is important, because if you dont think you have COVID, you may go back to your regular activities you may go to work and not wear a mask. And unfortunately, that is going to be a very easy way to continue to spread COVID, Hudson said.
The CDC urges people to stay home and away from others if theyre sick. People can resume normal activities 24 hours after their symptoms have improved and theyve been fever-free without using medicine such as Tylenol or Advil. But the CDC also advises added precautions for five additional days to avoid infecting others, such as wearing a mask and keeping distance from others.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health suggests that infected people who have symptoms get a negative test result before leaving isolation. The agency also suggests that people who are infected whether or not they have symptoms wear a mask around others for 10 days after they start feeling sick or, if asymptomatic, get their first positive test result. However, they can remove their mask sooner if they have two sequential negative tests at least one day apart.
L.A. County also suggests that those who are infected avoid contact with high-risk people for 10 days after the onset of symptoms or their first positive test result.
If patients recover and then get sick again, they may have COVID rebound and need to isolate.
For people who want to avoid getting COVID-19, wearing a mask in indoor public settings reduces the risk of infection. The strategy can be particularly effective when traveling, such as on a plane. Travel is a very common, common way that we are seeing people get exposed, Hudson said.
Its still wise to take prudent measures to avoid getting COVID-19, including avoiding sick people, doctors say. Each new infection carries the risk of long COVID-19 when someone develops enduring, sometimes punishing symptoms that can persist months or years after an infection.
The risk of getting long COVID-19 has decreased since the start of the pandemic, in part thanks to vaccines. But the risk of getting long COVID-19 still remains significant.
There are still people that do get long COVID, Hudson said. And long COVID is something that we all want to avoid.
Good morning. Its Monday, July 29. Heres what you need to know to start your day.
Newsletter
You're reading the Essential California newsletter
Our reporters guide you through our biggest news, features and recommendations every morning
Enter email address
Sign Me Up
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
We interrupt Californians fun-filled summer to note once more that COVID is surging in the Golden State if anyone cares.
Its hard to tell with all the sold-out concert venues, packed beaches and theme parks, plus record-breaking air travel.
The level of the virus in state wastewater continues to climb, The Times Rong-Gong Lin II reports, already exceeding last summers increase and nearing the peak in the summer of 2022.
And there are indications this summers COVID wave might have some staying power, he wrote. Coronavirus levels in California wastewater have been high or very high for seven straight weeks, with no sign of cresting.
Infections are rising as the virus mutates and spreads more easily. The FLiRT subvariants now dominate the U.S. caseload. Hospitalizations have, thankfully, not spiked, and the risk of developing long COVID is lower now than early in the pandemic, according to a recent study, particularly among vaccinated individuals.
Still, the risks remain significant, and health officials continue to urge caution across the board. Dr. Elizabeth Hudson, regional chief of infectious disease at Kaiser Permanente Southern California, offered her perspective to Lin:
If you have cough-and-cold symptoms, at this point, living in Los Angeles, you should really think that they are COVID until proven otherwise.
If youve been out and about pretty much anywhere, its obvious many people didnt pack that caution for their summer fun.
A Pew Research Center survey conducted in March found that just 20% of U.S. adults consider the coronavirus a major public health threat.
I previously reflected on how Id let my guard down over time. But we also asked to hear from you, our readers, to learn how your own perceptions and behaviors have changed (or not) five summers into living with COVID.
The hundreds of responses you shared revealed a range of concern, from the extremely cautious to the not at all worried.
Its mostly an afterthought/inconvenience in my community now, wrote Joseph S. of Hermosa Beach. [Like] Oh sorry to hear, get well soon. I think the average person in my social group is about the same, with exceptions for people close to older/vulnerable family members.
Many readers expressed a feeling that nobody around them is taking coronavirus as seriously as they do.
I dont shake hands, nor do I go out in public without a mask, said Stephen B. of San Jose. People are coughing without covering their mouth or not wearing masks anymore. People just dont care anymore.
Some shared that theyd recently contracted COVID or knew someone who had.
For some, that heightened their concerns, while others who experienced mild symptoms said it alleviated their worries.
Its a complicated thing because people want things to be how they were pre-pandemic, Eli L. of Los Angeles shared. I get that, I want that too!! But the pandemic is ongoing, long COVID is a real threat, and wishing it away isnt an effective strategy.
Heres more of what you shared with us (edited for clarity and brevity).
A lot of people see me in the mask and roll their eyes. Ive overheard people joke about how many times theyve had COVID and either how it was never a big deal or how oh, the first three times I got it were nothing but then the fourth time kicked my butt.
Sarah B., Los Angeles
The precautions I take are minimal compared to the height of the pandemic. I dont wear a mask, although Im always on alert for people who are coughing and sneezing. I do my best to avoid or step away from them. At restaurants or bars, I prefer sitting outside but if inside, Im mindful of the ventilation system.
Bob Z., Davis
Is COVID on my mind every day? Absolutely not. That would be to live in fear, and not really to live at all. COVID is with us to stay, but it should not destroy everyday living or require divisive mandates. Its up to individuals, with the tools that have been developed and are available, to manage it for themselves.
Andi E., San Diego County
At first, like most everybody, we took all the precautions like wiping down our groceries when we brought them into the house. Now, I probably wash my hands more.
Karen W., Indio
My workplace has very regular outbreaks and Im actually grateful that some of my coworkers will test, but not all. But with zero guidelines, its not good enough for me so I still wear an N95 at work and at stores. Its the long COVID and potential brain damage, and well, damage to every organ including the heart that keeps me very concerned.
Josh R., West Hollywood
Im still very concerned, especially about long COVID. Its on my mind every week and I still test before and after all business travel and attending conferences (which are frequent for my job), this to ensure that Im not an asymptomatic carrier.
Dawn W., Redlands
I think people dont care. They say its just like the flu. Although when my husband got it this time, people were shocked and asked if he knew how he got it. Of course we dont know but we alerted everyone who had been near my husband before his positive test. People appreciated that we shared the information.
Jill S., Pacific Palisades
Many immunocompromised people cannot leave their homes because of the lack of restrictions, especially in medical settings. Therefore, I feel its important I go out into my community wearing my mask so other people feel okay to wear one too. I have had a positive response to my mask and the precautions Im taking. I think we need to be kind to each other, so that we can live in a society that is accessible to everyone.
Lauren S., Los Angeles
Cal Fire firefighter Nick Martinez puts out hot spots from the Park blaze near Forest Ranch on Saturday.
(Nic Coury / Associated Press)
The Park fire (and other fires)
More on climate
Politics and power
The Olympics California ties
More big stories
Bonus
Get unlimited access to the Los Angeles Times. Subscribe here.
(Photo illustration L.A. Times; photos by New Millennium Concepts and Unsplash)
A high-end water filter has built a cult following. But as Times contributor Adam Markovitz writes: [T]he full, unfiltered account of Berkeys rise is a murkier tale, involving fights with the Environmental Protection Agency and the state of California, doomsday preppers and a right-wing media blitz.
How can we make this newsletter more useful? Send comments to essentialcalifornia@latimes.com.
About 100 25-pound cases of New Mexico Hatch chiles were roasted at the Gelsons Chile Roasting Festival at the La Caada Flintridge store back in 2016.
Going out
Staying in
Show us your favorite place in California! Were running low on submissions. Send us photos that scream California and we may feature them in an edition of Essential California.
A view of the Pacific at Sonoma Coast State Park.
(Laura Sneddon)
Todays great photo is from Laura Sneddon of Los Gatos: Sonoma Coast State Park.
Laura writes: [The] park has a beautiful coastline that is easy to visit and enjoy the water and wildlife.
Have a great day, from the Essential California team
Ryan Fonseca, reporter Amy Hubbard, deputy editor, Fast Break
Check our top stories, topics and the latest articles on latimes.com.
Evidence shows the increase.
FREDERICK, MD (LG) There seems to be an uptick in COVID cases in the state of Maryland. Thats according to Monique Duwell, with the Maryland Health Department. So we have been seeing an uptick in Covid cases in Maryland. Theres several different types of COVID related data that we look at to monitor Covid activities. We are seeing an increase across the board in terms of COVID cases, case rate, hospitalizations, waste water, so there is a lot of evidence that shows that there is an increase of COVID across the state.
Duwell says COVID is not as bad as it was in the past. We dont know the kind of trajectory, in other words, how much of that activity is going to increase, but we will monitor the data closely, she added.
Reseach shows that people with COVID-19 have reported a wide range of symptoms COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Most people with COVID-19 have mild symptoms, but some people become severely ill. Older adults and people who have certain underlying medical conditions are more likely to get severely ill. Post-COVID conditions can include a wide range of health problems that can last four or more weeks after contracting COVID-19. Even those who do not become severely ill from COVID-19 may experience post-COVID conditions, sometimes referred to as Long COVID.
What we are seeing is that all populations in Maryland continue to be affected with COVID. It isnt necessarily a particular age group, or a geographic region, we are seeing a statewide population, Duwell added.
COVID-19 is spread in three main ways:
COVID-19 vaccines are the best way to prevent serious illness due to COVID-19. The vaccine teaches our immune system how to recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID-19.
The COVID virus continues to mutate and shift, and that is quite common for respiratory viruses. Immunity and protection that we have, over time, can wane. And thats why there is a new vaccine in the Fall that we are going to be recommending Marylanders to get that vaccine.
By Loretta Gaines
En espaol
Julia Wall/AP
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says most people are eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations.
People 5 and older should get one dose of the updated vaccine, regardless of how many and which vaccines they previously received. Children 6 months to 4 years old may need more than one shot, depending on their age and vaccination status, according toCDC recommendations.
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine isno longer availablein the U.S.
The CDC recommends that adults 65 and older get a dose of the 2023/2024 vaccine for added protection, as long as it's been at least four months since the last shot.
People with compromised immune systems may receive additional doses, depending on their vaccination history. More information is available at theCDCs website.
Vaccines are administered at retail pharmacies, including Walgreens, Walmart and CVS, clinics and other locations, such as doctors offices. Use the federal governments website Vaccines.gov to search for vaccination sites by ZIP code. Get the same information by texting your ZIP code to 438829 or by calling 800-232-0233. You can check with your primary care physicians office to see if COVID-19 vaccinations are offered. If you are a veteran, the Department of Veterans Affairs offers COVID-19 vaccinations at VA facilities. Sign up online or call 800-827-1000 to make an appointment.
More information about COVID-19 vaccines is available on the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services' COVID-19 website. Or you can call the state's COVID-19 hotline at 800-232-4636.
The federal government no longer covers the cost of the vaccines, but most people with Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance will not have to pay.
Children 18 and younger may qualify to receive no-cost or low-cost vaccines through the Vaccines for Children program.
Its safe and effective to receive an updated Pfizer, Moderna or Novavax vaccine at least two months after your last dose no matter which brand youve received, including Johnson & Johnson.
The updated vaccines only target one strain of the omicron variant, called XBB.1.5, and are recommended by the CDC to protect against more recently circulating strains of the virus. The bivalent boosters, released in 2022, targeted the original strain of the virus and two omicron subvariants, BA.4 and BA.5. The Novavax booster targeted only the original strain of the virus.
Vaccine manufacturers are once again working to update the vaccines for the 2024-2025 respiratory virus season. The redesigned shots, which should be available in the fall, will target a strain of the virus that is causing a significant share of infections this summer.
Some vaccination sites ask for proof of identity or eligibility. Bring a drivers license or other state-issued ID that shows your name, age and state of residency, along with your health insurance card.
The CDC no longer distributes vaccine cards, andthey are not required to receive a vaccine. If youve lost your vaccine card, you can call the site where you were vaccinated to request a new one or a copy of your vaccination record.
Its common to experience mild to moderate side effects after getting vaccinated, such as soreness in the arm, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, nausea, fever or chills but these are temporary and normal signs that your body is building protection, the CDC says.
A small number of vaccine recipients have experienced adverse reactions to the shots.
According to the CDC, it is safe to receive the flu vaccine and updated COVID-19 vaccines simultaneously, although you are a little more likely to experience side effects, such as a headache and fatigue. Adults 75 or older (and those 60 to 74 with certain underlying health conditions) who are encouraged to get the RSV vaccine may receive that at the same time as the others, but some health experts suggestspacing them out. If you had the RSV vaccine last year, you dont need another one this year.
Contact your health care provider for more information.
The U.S. government is no longer distributing COVID-19 vaccines to long-term care facilities. That means that nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other long-term care settings are now responsible for coordinating COVID-19 vaccination programs for their residents and staff. Most long-term care facilities have existing partnerships with local pharmacies or health departments to provide a variety of vaccinations, such as flu vaccines, COVID-19 vaccines and others.
Long-term care facilities that receive Medicare and/or Medicaid dollars are required by federal law to educate residents, their representatives and staff about COVID19 vaccines and offer a COVID19 vaccine to residents, resident representatives and staff.
All vaccines reduce the risk of COVID-19 infections and are highly effective at preventing severe illness and death from the disease. No vaccine is 100 percent effective, and infections can still occur postvaccination.
Be aware that scammers often purport to offer COVID-19 vaccines and treatments and try to charge for them. The AARP Fraud Watch Network is tracking the latest scams.
North Carolina residents who believe theyve encountered a COVID-19 scam can report it to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General by calling 800-447-8477 or by submitting a complaint online.
Editor's note: This guide was last published Oct. 6, 2023, and has been updated with new information.
Natalie Missakian covers federal and state policy and writes AARPs Fighting for You Every Day blog. She previously worked as a reporter for the New Haven Register and daily newspapers in Ohio. She has also written for the AARP Bulletin, the Hartford Business Journal and other publications
A possum in the wild. (Joseph Hoyt / Virginia Tech via SWNS)
By Stephen Beech via SWNS
The virus that causes COVID-19 is "widespread" among wildlife, reveals new research.
Six out of 23 common species - including rabbits and bats - showed signs of SARS-CoV-2 infections during an examination of animals in the United States.
Antibodies indicating previous exposure to the virus were also found in five species - with rates of exposure ranging from 40% to 60%, depending on the species.
Genetic tracking of wild animals in Virginia confirmed both the presence of SARS-CoV-2 and the existence of "unique" viral mutations with lineages closely matching variants circulating in humans at the time.
The findings, published in the journal Nature Communications, are further evidence of human-to-animal Covid transmission, say scientists.
The study showed that the highest exposure to SARS-CoV-2 was found in animals near hiking trails and high-traffic public areas, suggesting the virus passed from humans to wildlife.
The research team from Virginia Tech says their findings highlight the identification of novel mutations in SARS-CoV-2 in wildlife and the need for broad surveillance.
They warned that the mutations could be more harmful and transmissible, creating further challenges for vaccine development.
But the team stressed, that they found no evidence of the virus being transmitted from animals to humans, and people should not fear any interactions with wildlife.
The researchers tested animals from 23 common species for both active infections and antibodies indicating previous infections.
They found signs of the virus in Eastern cottontail rabbits, deer mice, Virginia opossums, raccoons, groundhogs and Eastern red bats.
The key S-protein acquired at least two mutations, displayed in yellow in this simulation, that provided an evolutionary path for the virus to jump and transmit to other species. The purple part is the receptor thats recognized by the S-protein so the virus can enter. (Carla Finkielstein/Virginia Tech via SWNS)
The virus isolated from one opossum showed viral mutations that were previously unreported - and could potentially impact how the virus affects humans and their immune response.
Professor Carla Finkielstein said: The virus can jump from humans to wildlife when we are in contact with them, like a hitchhiker switching rides to a new, more suitable host.
The goal of the virus is to spread in order to survive.
"The virus aims to infect more humans, but vaccinations protect many humans.
"So, the virus turns to animals, adapting and mutating to thrive in the new hosts.
Covid infections were previously identified in wildlife, primarily in white-tailed deer and feral mink.
The Virginia Tech study significantly expands the number of species examined and the understanding of virus transmission to and among wildlife.
The data suggests exposure to the virus has been "widespread" in wildlife and that areas with high human activity may serve as points of contact for cross-species transmission.
Lab work inside the Virginia Tech Molecular Diagnostics Lab, pictured right: Professor Carla Finkielstein, co-corresponding author of the paper. (Virginia Tech via SWNS)
Professor Joseph Hoyt, of Virginia Tech's College of Science, said: This study was really motivated by seeing a large, important gap in our knowledge about SARS-CoV-2 transmission in a broader wildlife community.
A lot of studies to date have focused on white-tailed deer, while what is happening in much of our common backyard wildlife remains unknown.
Researchers collected 798 nasal and oral swabs across Virginia from animals either live-trapped in the field and released, or being treated by wildlife rehabilitation centers. They also obtained 126 blood samples from six species.
The locations were chosen to compare the presence of the virus in animals in sites with varying levels of human activity, from urban areas to remote wilderness.
The study also identified two mice at the same site on the same day with the exact same variant, indicating they either both got it from the same human, or one infected the other.
Researchers are not certain about the means of transmission from humans to animals.
They say one possibility is wastewater, but the team believes rubbish bins and discarded food are more likely sources.
Study first author Dr. Amanda Goldberg said: I think the big take-home message is the virus is pretty ubiquitous.
We found positives in a large suite of common backyard animals.
The researchers say that while the study focused on Virginia, many of the species that tested positive are also common elsewhere, so it is likely they are being exposed in other areas as well.
Professor Finkielstein said: The virus is indifferent to whether its host walks on two legs or four. Its primary objective is survival.
A raccoon in the wild. (Joseph Hoyt / Virginia Tech via SWNS)
"Mutations that do not confer a survival or replication advantage to the virus will not persist and will eventually disappear."
The team say further research is needed to establish how the virus is transmitted from humans to wildlife, how it might spread within a species, and perhaps from one species to another.
Hoyt said: This study highlights the potentially large host range SARS-CoV-2 can have in nature and really how widespread it might be.
There is a lot of work to be done to understand which species of wildlife, if any, will be important in the long-term maintenance of SARS-CoV-2 in humans.
Finkielstein added: "What weve already learned is that SARS CoV-2 is not only a human problem, and it takes a multidisciplinary team to address its impact on various species and ecosystems effectively.
Wastewater data shows an uptick in COVID-19 infections in many parts of the U.S., including Minnesota, this July.
It definitely seems that COVID case counts are rising both nationally and locally, said Dr. Priya Sampathkumar, an internal medicine physician and head of Infection Prevention and Control at Mayo Clinic.
Data from WastewaterSCAN, which has Minnesota data from St. Cloud, Red Wing, Mankato and Rochester, shows a rising level of COVID RNA found in Rochesters wastewater since late June. The amount of virus detected had been low and stable through the early summer. Now, the level detected mirrors the amount of virus found in late January 2024, as a spike of winter cases fell.
That has translated to primary care providers seeing more patients lately with respiratory illness symptoms, Sampathkumar said, although the number of self-reported positive tests has increased. And thoughthe number of people hospitalized with COVID has increased slightly this month, Sampathkumar said, most cases still seem to be relatively mild, probably because of prior immunity either from vaccination or prior COVID illness.
The percentage of visits to local emergency rooms is still declining, however, said Matthew Giljork, an Olmsted County Public Health epidemiologist.
Hospitalizations have not translated to an increase in ICU utilization or deaths so far, Giljork said.
At Olmsted Medical Center, they have not observed an increase in hospitalizations, said Dr. Odette El Helou, an infectious disease physician at OMC.
At the state level, per the Minnesota Department of Healths July 25 update, COVID hospitalization rates increased slightly over the previous week but still remain low.
A summer wave of COVID infections is not necessarily unusual Sampathkumar said it appears that COVID is settling into a seasonal pattern: a peak of cases in the winter, and a smaller peak in the summer.
Other factors, El Helou said, are people traveling more during the summer and therefore being more exposed to the virus and the level of protection from last falls COVID vaccines is beginning to wane.
To avoid getting sick, the same precautions that health professionals have been sharing since the start of the pandemic still work.
Practice good hygiene, wash hands, said El Helou, good ventilation stay outdoors if possible, open the windows of your home if you have other people in.
For vaccinations, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last month recommended that everyone 6 months and older receive an updated 2024-2025 COVID vaccine this fall alongside the seasonal influenza vaccine.
COVID boosters, we hope, will be available by early September, Sampathkumar said. Everyone should definitely seek out that vaccine and get it. As weve all seen, getting vaccinated may not completely protect you from getting a COVID infection, but its very, very effective at preventing serious illness and preventing deaths.
If you do get sick, get tested early to see if it is COVID, Sampathkumar said, so you can seek treatment like Paxlovid if you are eligible.
We recommend you stay home if you have symptoms and that you wear a mask for at least the time that you have symptoms and potentially for up to five days after your symptoms improve to protect everyone else around you, Sampathkumar said.
Originally Published: July 28, 2024 at 9:16 p.m.
