Category: Corona Virus Vaccine

Yuki, K., Fujiogi, M. & Koutsogiannaki, S. COVID-19 pathophysiology: a review. Clin. Immunol. 215, 108427 (2020).

Article CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar

Davis, H. E., McCorkell, L., Vogel, J. M. & Topol, E. J. Long COVID: major findings, mechanisms and recommendations. Nat. Rev. Microbiol. 21, 133146 (2023). This comprehensive review of long COVID highlights important underlying pathophysiology and includes detailed information on both cardiac and noncardiac effects of this condition.

Article CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar

Thaweethai, T. et al. Development of a definition of postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection. JAMA https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2023.8823 (2023).

Bonilla, H. et al. Therapeutic trials for long COVID-19: a call to action from the interventions taskforce of the RECOVER initiative. Front. Immunol. 14, 1129459 (2023).

Article CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar

Phetsouphanh, C. et al. Immunological dysfunction persists for 8 months following initial mild-to-moderate SARS-CoV-2 infection. Nat. Immunol. 23, 210216 (2022).

Article CAS PubMed Google Scholar

Wiersinga, W. J., Rhodes, A., Cheng, A. C., Peacock, S. J. & Prescott, H. C. Pathophysiology, transmission, diagnosis, and treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): a review. JAMA 324, 782793 (2020).

Article CAS PubMed Google Scholar

Long, B. et al. Clinical update on COVID-19 for the emergency clinician: presentation and evaluation. Am. J. Emerg. Med. 54, 4657 (2022).

Article PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar

Tsampasian, V. et al. Risk factors associated with post-COVID-19 condition: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Intern. Med. 183, 566580 (2023).

Article PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar

Dessie, Z. G. & Zewotir, T. Mortality-related risk factors of COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 42 studies and 423,117 patients. BMC Infect. Dis. 21, 855 (2021).

Article CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar

Lundberg, D. J. et al. COVID-19 mortality by race and ethnicity in US metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, March 2020 to February 2022. JAMA Netw. Open 6, e2311098 (2023).

Article PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar

Minhas, A. S. et al. The role of sex and inflammation in cardiovascular outcomes and mortality in COVID-19. Int. J. Cardiol. 337, 127131 (2021).

Article PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar

Al-Aly, Z., Bowe, B. & Xie, Y. Long COVID after breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection. Nat. Med. 28, 14611467 (2022).

Article CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar

Tenforde, M. W. et al. Symptom duration and risk factors for delayed return to usual health among outpatients with COVID-19 in a multistate health care systems network - United States, MarchJune 2020. MMWR Morb. Mortal Wkly Rep. 69, 993998 (2020).

Article CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar

Hu, B., Guo, H., Zhou, P. & Shi, Z.-L. Characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19. Nat. Rev. Microbiol. 19, 141154 (2021).

Article CAS PubMed Google Scholar

Zaim, S., Chong, J. H., Sankaranarayanan, V. & Harky, A. COVID-19 and multiorgan response. Curr. Probl. Cardiol. 45, 100618 (2020).

Article PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar

Sette, A. & Crotty, S. Adaptive immunity to SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19. Cell 184, 861880 (2021).

Article CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar

Wong, K. et al. COVID-19 associated vasculitis: a systematic review of case reports and case series. Ann. Med. Surg. 74, 103249 (2022).

Article Google Scholar

Long, B., Brady, W. J., Koyfman, A. & Gottlieb, M. Cardiovascular complications in COVID-19. Am. J. Emerg. Med. 38, 15041507 (2020).

Article PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar

Luo, W., Liu, X., Bao, K. & Huang, C. Ischemic stroke associated with COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J. Neurol. 269, 17311740 (2022).

Article CAS PubMed Google Scholar

World Health Organization. A clinical case definition of post-COVID-19 condition by a Delphi consensus. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-2019-nCoV-Post_COVID-19_condition-Clinical_case_definition-2021.1 (2021).

Xie, Y., Xu, E., Bowe, B. & Al-Aly, Z. Long-term cardiovascular outcomes of COVID-19. Nat. Med. 28, 583590 (2022). This unique article utilized a large national database to highlight the heightened risk of several cardiovascular complications following COVID-19 infection, which helps frame the importance of a solid knowledge base in this topic for healthcare providers.

Gluckman, T. J.et al. 2022 ACC Expert Consensus Decision Pathway on cardiovascular sequelae of COVID-19 in adults: myocarditis and other myocardial involvement, post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and return to play: a report of the American College of Cardiology Solution Set Oversight Committee. J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. 79, 17171756 (2022). This important expert consensus document discusses different phenotypes of post-COVID-19 condition cardiovascular disease and provides recommendations on screening for myocardial involvement.

Article PubMed Google Scholar

Khan, M. S. et al. Cardiovascular implications of COVID-19 versus influenza infection: a review. BMC Med. 18, 403 (2020).

Article CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar

Chimenti, C. et al. Intramyocyte detection of EpsteinBarr virus genome by laser capture microdissection in patients with inflammatory cardiomyopathy. Circulation 110, 35343539 (2004).

Article CAS PubMed Google Scholar

Deumer, U.-S. et al. Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): an overview. J. Clin. Med. 10, 4786 (2021).

Article CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar

Zheng, Y. -Y., Ma, Y. -T., Zhang, J. -Y. & Xie, X. COVID-19 and the cardiovascular system. Nat. Rev. Cardiol. 17, 259260 (2020).

Article CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar

Raman, B., Bluemke, D. A., Lscher, T. F. & Neubauer, S. Long COVID: post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 with a cardiovascular focus. Eur. Heart J. 43, 11571172 (2022).

Article CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar

Bonaventura, A. et al. Endothelial dysfunction and immunothrombosis as key pathogenic mechanisms in COVID-19. Nat. Rev. Immunol. 21, 319329 (2021).

Article CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar

Beyerstedt, S., Casaro, E. B. & Rangel, . B. COVID-19: angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) expression and tissue susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 40, 905919 (2021).

Article CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar

Pretorius, E. et al. Persistent clotting protein pathology in long COVID/post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) is accompanied by increased levels of antiplasmin. Cardiovasc. Diabetol. 20, 172 (2021).

Article CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar

Osiaevi, I. et al. Persistent capillary rarefication in long COVID syndrome. Angiogenesis 26, 5361 (2023).

Article CAS PubMed Google Scholar

Patel, M. A. et al. Elevated vascular transformation blood biomarkers in long-COVID indicate angiogenesis as a key pathophysiological mechanism. Mol. Med. 28, 122 (2022).

Article CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar

Proal, A. D. & VanElzakker, M. B. Long COVID or post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC): an overview of biological factors that may contribute to persistent symptoms. Front. Microbiol. 12, 698169 (2021).

Article PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar

Naveed, Z. et al. Association of COVID-19 infection with incident diabetes. JAMA Netw Open 6, e238866 (2023).

Article PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar

Mohiuddin Chowdhury, A. T. M. et al. Clinical characteristics and the long-term post-recovery manifestations of the COVID-19 patientsa prospective multicenter cross-sectional study. Front. Med. 8, 663670 (2021).

Article Google Scholar

Gyngysi, M. et al. Long COVID and the cardiovascular system-elucidating causes and cellular mechanisms in order to develop targeted diagnostic and therapeutic strategies: a joint Scientific Statement of the ESC Working Groups on Cellular Biology of the Heart and Myocardial and Pericardial Diseases. Cardiovasc. Res. 119, 336356 (2023). This is a thorough Scientific Statement describing long COVID epidemiology, diagnosis, pathophysiology, and management with specific emphasis on the cardiovascular system.

Article PubMed Google Scholar

Miglis, M. G. et al. A case report of postural tachycardia syndrome after COVID-19. Clin. Auton. Res. 30, 449451 (2020).

Article PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar

Kanjwal, K., Jamal, S., Kichloo, A. & Grubb, B. P. New-onset postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome following coronavirus disease 2019 infection. J. Innov. Card. Rhythm Manag. 11, 43024304 (2020).

Article PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar

Ishibashi, Y., Yoneyama, K., Tsuchida, T. & Akashi, J. Y. Post-COVID-19 postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. Intern. Med. 60, 2345 (2021).

Article PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar

OSullivan, J. S., Lyne, A. & Vaughan, C. J. COVID-19-induced postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome treated with ivabradine. BMJ Case Rep. 14, e243585 (2021).

Article PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar

Schofield, J. R. Persistent antiphospholipid antibodies, mast cell activation syndrome, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome and post-COVID syndrome: 1 year on. Eur. J. Case Rep. Intern. Med. 8, 002378 (2021).

PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar

Johansson, M. et al. Long-haul post-COVID-19 symptoms presenting as a variant of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome: the Swedish experience. JACC Case Rep. 3, 573580 (2021).

Article PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar

Blitshteyn, S. & Whitelaw, S. Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and other autonomic disorders after COVID-19 infection: a case series of 20 patients. Immunol. Res. 69, 205211 (2021).

Article CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar

Bosco, J. & Titano, R. Severe post-COVID-19 dysautonomia: a case report. BMC Infect. Dis. 22, 214 (2022).

Article CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar

Wallukat, G. et al. Functional autoantibodies against G-protein-coupled receptors in patients with persistent long-COVID-19 symptoms. J. Transl. Autoimmun. 4, 100100 (2021).

Article CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar

Buoite Stella, A. et al. Autonomic dysfunction in post-COVID patients with and witfhout neurological symptoms: a prospective multidomain observational study. J. Neurol. 269, 587596 (2022).

Article CAS PubMed Google Scholar

Shouman, K. et al. Autonomic dysfunction following COVID-19 infection: an early experience. Clin. Auton. Res. 31, 385394 (2021).

Article PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar

Campen, C. L. M. C., van, Rowe, P. C. & Visser, F. C. Orthostatic symptoms and reductions in cerebral blood flow in long-haul COVID-19 patients: similarities with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. Medicina 58, 28 (2021).

Article PubMed Google Scholar

Novak, P. et al. Multisystem involvement in post-acute sequelae of coronavirus disease 19. Ann. Neurol. 91, 367379 (2022).

Article CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar

Jamal, S. M. et al. Prospective evaluation of autonomic dysfunction in post-acute sequela of COVID-19. J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. 79, 23252330 (2022).

Article PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar

Eldokla, A. M. & Ali, S. T. Autonomic function testing in long-COVID syndrome patients with orthostatic intolerance. Auton. Neurosci. 241, 102997 (2022).

Article CAS PubMed Google Scholar

Campen, C. L. M. Cvan & Visser, F. C. Long-haul COVID patients: prevalence of POTS are reduced but cerebral blood flow abnormalities remain abnormal with longer disease duration. Healthcare 10, 2105 (2022).

Read more:

Cardiovascular effects of the post-COVID-19 condition - Nature.com

A highly mutated version of the COVID-19 virus called JN.1 is currently driving a surge of infections in the United States. The extremely transmissible variant now accounts for about 86 percent of COVID cases a major jump from Thanksgiving, when fewer than 8 percent of infections were caused by JN.1.

While the variant is spreading fast, there is no evidence that JN.1 a subvariant of the omicron strain that first appeared in late 2021 is causing symptoms that are any different from or more severe than other circulating strains, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

JN.1 is fairly similar to the other omicron variants, causing run-of-the mill symptoms like sore throat, congestion and runny nose, fevers, chills, cough, and fatigue, says Minji Kang, MD, an assistant professor and infectious-disease specialist in the department of internal medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

Pavitra Roychoudhury, PhD, an associate in the vaccine and infectious disease division of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and a research assistant at the University of Washington in Seattle, adds that some changes to COVID-19 symptoms may be expected over time as the virus continues to mutate and evolve.

The symptoms can really vary person-to-person, she says, but I am not aware of any major changes in symptoms in JN.1 just yet.

In updated information from the end of December, the CDC lists the following symptoms of COVID-19:

While some people hit by JN.1 have said on social mediaand elsewhere that the variant triggers more digestive turmoil, such as diarrhea, than previous variants, there is no data yet to confirm it.

There have been speculations that JN.1 can cause more GI [gastrointestinal] troubles, including diarrhea, but there really haven't been any definitive studies demonstrating that, says Dr. Kang.

Certainly its possible that a new COVID-19 variant could bring with it a change in symptoms.For instance, before omicron, loss of smell and taste was thought to be a reliable way to identify a coronavirus infection. That symptom now appears to be declining.

Findings published last year in the journal OtolaryngologyHead and Neck Surgery indicated that loss of smell and taste from omicron variants was only 6 to 7 percent of what it was during the early stages of the outbreak.

Initially, at the beginning of the pandemic, loss of taste and smell were pretty common, says Kang. Now these symptoms are much less common, especially since the omicron variants [such as JN.1] have taken over.

What is certain about JN.1 is its ability to easily spread. JN.1 is a descendant of variant BA.2.86 (also called Pirola). These two members of the omicron family are closely related and highly mutated. JN.1, however, has evolved to have an additional mutation (L455S) in its so-called spike proteins the parts of the virus that attach to human cells which may make it much more transmissible, according to public health officials.

JN.1 is rising in frequency really quickly, and that usually suggests that its either really good at evading peoples preexisting immunity, or it has some sort of infectiousness advantage as a result of the mutations that it carries, says Dr. Roychoudhury.

The latest data from the CDC show that COVID activity remains high or very high throughout most of the country, with weekly hospital admissions up 3.2 percent and deaths climbing by over 14 percent.

COVID-19 surveillance data, hospital admission forecasts, and growth estimates indicate that COVID-19 activity has increased and is likely to continue increasing into January, says Jasmine Reed, a CDC spokesperson.

In most cases, COVID-19 causes mild illness that you can treat at home, but the virus still remains the primary cause of respiratory-virus-associated hospitalizations nationally, per the CDC.

Most of these hospitalizations are among the most vulnerable populations. Older adults have the highest odds of getting very sick from COVID-19. More than 81 percent of COVID-19 deaths occur in people over age 65.

COVID-19 targets the lungs, and those with chronic underlying health conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease, diabetes, and obesity are more likely to develop serious illness.

Infants and pregnant people are also among those who are most vulnerable.

Infectious-disease specialists suggest that everyone, but especially those at high risk for severe illness, may want to take extra precautions at this time of year to prevent the spread of JN.1. These measures include wearing masks, washing hands frequently, avoiding crowded indoor spaces, and getting the most recent updated COVID vaccine.

Besides protecting against hospitalization and severe illness, the vaccine has been shown to reduce the duration of illness in some, and in some people, it can also reduce the risk of getting long COVID, says Roychoudhury.

Unfortunately, vaccination rates are abysmally low. As of January 5, 2024, the portion of the U.S. population reporting theyd received the updated COVID-19 vaccine was 8 percent for children and just over 19 percent for adults.

The CDC also recommends antiviral treatments, such as Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir and ritonavir), for some individuals who are at high risk of becoming very sick and needing to be hospitalized. A 2023 National Institutes of Health study involving more than one million COVID-19 patients found that Paxlovid treatment within five days of a positive COVID-19 test reduced 28-day hospitalization by 26 percent and death by 73 percent compared with no Paxlovid treatment.

But based on the study, only about 15 percent of high-risk patients eligible for the drug are taking it.

Roychoudhury says it's an open question whether a more contagious variant that causes more serious symptoms could still be coming.

Were interested to see how this JN.1 lineage may diversify, and whether it will lead to a more infectious variant that causes more severe disease, she says. We can also not rule out the possibility that there's a completely novel variant out there, so its important that we continue to monitor to see how the virus evolves.

Read the original:

Understanding the JN.1 COVID Variant: Symptoms, Spread, and Prevention - Everyday Health

Work pressure and other factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic were associated with an increase in problematic substance use among first responders, new research published in the International Journal of Drug Policy found.1f

First responders, such as law enforcement personnel, emergency medical service providers, and firefighters, were on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic response. This put them at a high risk of developing stress at work, which may lead to the development of problematic substance use. However, there has so far been a lack of research on this subject.

Whilestudies highlight a potential risk for first responder substance use, they do not identify the role that work pressure, burnout, general workplace support strategies, and COVID-19-related support strategies play in progressing or mitigating problematic substance use, the authors wrote. These are important aspects to understand as they can help develop appropriate interventions within work settings.

Investigators from Florida Atlantic University conducted a study to understand the relationship between work pressures, workplace support strategies, and problematic substance use during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data was gathered from a nationwide online survey of first responders.

The study cohort included 2801 participants who worked in police departments, fire stations, and emergency medical service agencies. The survey asked questions on problematic substance use, work pressure, general workplace support strategies, COVID-19 support strategies, and burnout.

Investigators found that around 61% of respondents reported no concerns with substance use, even though nearly 40% said they used substances to relieve emotional discomfort. Of those who used substances, 22% said they used more than they meant to and 21% said they could not cut down on their use. Only 7.2% of respondents said their substance use resulted in neglecting work responsibilities.

Problematic substance use was highest among firefighters at 12.7%, followed by emergency medical technicians at 11.4%, and police officers at 8.1%. Additionally, general workplace strategies were not associated with problematic substance use. However, COVID-19-related strategies, such as providing compensation during quarantine, were positively associated with problematic substance use.

Although intended to reduce stress associated with the job, organizations should be mindful that not all support strategies will have their intended impact, and some may even unintentionally increase stress, burnout, and problematic substance use, Kaila Witkowski, senior author on the study, said in a release.2 While we are not contending that compensation during quarantine is a negative workplace strategy, our study highlights the nuances of the COVID-19 quarantine measure, suggesting that additional stressors may have been placed on first responders throughout this process or that other beneficial workplace strategies were not easily accessible or used during this time.

Go here to read the rest:

Work Pressure During COVID-19 Pandemic Increased Problematic Substance Use Among First Responders - Drug Topics

Without COVID-19 vaccines, the cumulative death toll in Europe would have been around 4 million, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

At least 1.4 million lives were saved in Europe due to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines, the World Health Organization (WHO)s European regional office said on Tuesday.

This was according to a new WHO study released on a preprint server analysing the influence of COVID-19 vaccines in 34 countries - all but one - in Europe.

COVID-19 vaccines reduced deaths by 57 per cent between December 2020 when the vaccine rollouts began and March 2023, the study found.

The cumulative death toll in the European region, which currently sits at 2.5 million lives, could have reached nearly 4 million people without vaccines, the WHO said.

Just think about it today and the 1.4 million people in our region, most of them elderly, who are around to enjoy life with their loved ones because they took the vital decision to be vaccinated against COVID-19, said Dr Hans Kluge, WHOs European regional director.

This is the power of vaccines. The evidence is irrefutable, he added.

He recommended once again that people who are at risk for severe COVID-19, such as those who are older or immunocompromised, get a booster vaccination six to 12 months after their most recent dose.

The study estimated, in particular, that 96 per cent of those whose lives were saved due to vaccination were over the age of 60.

The estimations about the number of lives saved by the vaccines were done by back-calculating based on the number of deaths reported, estimations about the vaccines effectiveness, and what would have happened if people in certain age groups had not been vaccinated.

There were discrepancies between the countries: those with higher vaccine uptake reduced deaths by a higher percentage than those with lower vaccine uptake.

The countries that reduced deaths by the highest percentage were Israel, Malta, Iceland, Denmark, Finland, and the UK, while those that reduced deaths by the smallest percentage were Romania and Ukraine.

Countries that vaccinated early and vaccinated at high levels were likely to see much higher deaths averted than countries who were vaccinating a bit later, said Dr Marc-Alain Widdowson, WHO Europes lead on infectious hazard management.

The WHO warned meanwhile that Europe faces high levels of influenza infections.

In the last two weeks, there has been a 58 per cent increase in reported hospitalisations and 21 per cent increase in ICU admissions compared to the previous two weeks, according to Kluge, with flu infections increasing fourfold between November and December.

In response to a question from Euronews Next about rising influenza levels, Widdowson said that with all viruses, we should expect the unexpected.

But he added that after the COVID-19 pandemic, many people havent been exposed to influenza, which could be contributing to rising cases as some people may still be susceptible.

WHO Europe also warned that the COVID-19 situation, with cases currently decreasing, could change in the region, as a new variant called JN.1 is rising in prevalence among cases.

Kluge warned that he was deeply concerned that health is slipping from the political agenda and that we are failing to address that ticking time bomb facing our health and care workforce.

Some 13 countries in the region, for instance, did not report their respiratory illness surveillance data despite it being a first line of defence to monitor pathogens.

WHO Europes Dr Natacha Azzopardi-Muscat, who is in charge of country health policies, also warned that addressing the strain on health systems is not about adding hospital beds, but rather addressing the main bottleneck of a health workforce shortage.

In many countries, our health workforce is ageing and needs to be replenished. Having said that, unfortunately some health systems are struggling even to retain the current health workforce because of the pressures that they are under, she said, adding that remuneration, demographics, and working conditions can also have an influence.

Multiple European countries, including Germany, France, Portugal, and the UK, have seen health workers go on strike over concerns about pay and worker shortages.

In response to Euronews Next, Kluge warned that health, which was at the top of many political agendas during the COVID-19 pandemic, has been replaced by other pressing issues such as inflation, energy, and war.

But while health may not be everything, without health there is nothing, he warned.

Read the rest here:

At least 1.4 million lives saved in Europe due to COVID vaccines - Euronews

Its been nearly five years since the COVID-19 pandemic began and, at this point, you probably have a good sense of the major signs of an infection. But the coronavirus and how people respond to it has changed over time. The COVID-19 symptoms in 2024 do not look the same as they used to for many people.

The rise of the JN.1 variant has also changed things. This COVID variant, which now makes up nearly 62% of COVID-19 cases in the U.S., tends to cause milder illness. However, the virus is still serious and deadly for some: Both hospital admissions and deaths from COVID-19 are on the rise in the U.S. right now.

So, what are the most current COVID-19 symptoms in 2024? And what should you look out for? Doctors break it all down.

Meet the experts: Thomas Russo, M.D., is a professor and chief of infectious diseases at the University at Buffalo in New York; Amesh Adalja, M.D., is an infectious disease expert and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security; William Schaffner, M.D., is a professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

Yes, there is a COVID surge happening right now. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) wastewater surveillance suggests that were now in the second-largest COVID-19 surge since the pandemic began.

Currently, hospital admissions are up more than 3% and deaths from the virus are up 14%, per CDC data. In general, the vast majority of infections are mildthey do not require hospitalization, says William Schaffner, M.D., a professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. It can be very difficult to distinguish that from a common cold or even influenza. So while some may experience a mild infection, others may not.

The JN.1 variant is the dominant strain of COVID-19 in the U.S. right now. It started as a blip on the CDCs radar in mid-November and quickly spread.

JN.1 descended from BA.2.86 and is a variant of Omicron, explains Thomas Russo, M.D., professor and chief of infectious diseases at the University at Buffalo in New York. JN.1 has more mutations on its spike protein from its parent strain, Dr. Russo says. (The spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is what the virus uses to grab onto your cells and make you sick.)

Its important to point this out: The CDC has not updated its official list of COVID-19 symptoms since October 2022. Those symptoms include:

COVID-19s symptoms are generally of the same spectrum that they have always been, with the exception of less frequently reported loss of taste and smell, says Amesh Adalja, M.D., an infectious disease expert and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.

Overall, COVID-19 tends to look more like a cold, with a sore throat, runny nose, and maybe a fever and aches, Dr. Russo says. Thats because people have built up immunity to the virus, whether from having a previous infection, getting vaccinated, or both, he says.

Some people are still getting seriously ill with COVID-19 and dying from the virus, though, Dr. Russo points out. Those include at-risk patients, including those who are very young or very old, people who are immunocompromised, pregnant people, and those with underlying lung conditions, he says. Those people can develop shortness of breath and chest pain, in addition to the other symptoms, he says.

The CDC recommends that everyone aged five and up get the updated COVID-19 vaccine. But the uptake of the updated COVID-19 vaccine hasnt been highonly an estimated 14% of Americans have gotten it. However, doctors say its still a good idea to get the vaccine if youre able. Its not too late, Dr. Russo says.

COVID guidelines havent changed much in the past year. If you develop symptoms of the virus, doctors say its important to test yourselfespecially if youre at high risk for developing severe disease from COVID-19. There is no way to tell whether someone has COVID-19 or any other respiratory viral infections except by testing, Dr. Adalja says.

If you test positive for COVID-19, contact your doctor. We have medicines that can help prevent milder illness from getting worse, Dr. Schaffner says. (If you test negative, but feel lousy, he also recommends contacting your doctorthey can test you for the flu, which also has medicine to treat it.)

If youre positive for COVID-19, the CDC currently recommends that you stay home for at least five days and isolate from other people in your home. Youll also want to wear a high-quality (KN95 or N95) Face Mask around others through day 10 of your illness.

This article is accurate as of press time. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic rapidly evolves and the scientific communitys understanding of the coronavirus develops, some of the information may have changed since it was last updated. While we aim to keep all of our stories up to date, please visit online resources provided by the CDC, WHO, and your local public health department to stay informed on the latest news. Always talk to your doctor for professional medical advice.

Korin Miller is a freelance writer specializing in general wellness, sexual health and relationships, and lifestyle trends, with work appearing in Mens Health, Womens Health, Self, Glamour, and more. She has a masters degree from American University, lives by the beach, and hopes to own a teacup pig and taco truck one day.

See the rest here:

The Most Current COVID Symptoms of 2024, According to Doctors - Prevention Magazine

State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada

Zip Code

Country United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe

Read the original post:

COVID-19 cases on the rise in many areas in NEPA - Scranton Times-Tribune

As I sit in class surrounded by coughing, sniffling and sneezing, my mind immediately runs through the possible illnesses that my fellow classmates at the University of Georgia may be spreading. Could it be coronavirus, strep throat, a common cold, influenza? My first instinct is to quickly use hand sanitizer and rub it in really well, sometimes even opting for a second sanitizing round just in case.

With the new year beginning, the season of sickness seems to be unrelenting. While students such as myself try their hardest to avoid getting sick right at the start of a fresh semester, it can seem impossible to avoid completely. However, its important to understand these different illnesses so that we can make the best of our college experience and prioritize not only our own health, but the health of our community.

Last year, there was a rise in hospitalizations due to new COVID-19 variants. According to the Center for Disease Control, the BA.2.86 variant may be more capable of causing an infection in those who have already had COVID-19 or received COVID-19 vaccines.

Andrea Garcia, the American Medical Association Vice President of Science, Medicine and Public Health, says that scientists are currently more concerned with this particular strain because of how many mutations it has, particularly in the spike protein, which our immune system recognizes to fight infections. As mutations accumulate, our body has a harder time detecting and protecting itself from invasion, overpowering existing immunity from vaccines and previous infections.

But, the CDCs current risk assessment suggests that there is no evidence to show that this particular variant is causing more severe illness. As of right now, there are not enough reported infections with this strain to accurately estimate the percentage of world-wide COVID infections caused by BA.2.86.

This winter, a new variant closely related to BA.2.86 has been brought into the spotlight: the JN.1 variant. In December, the CDC estimated that JN.1 made 15-29% of cases in the United States. The CDC also projects that cases will increase and that it is currently the fastest-growing variant. The quick spread and growth of this variant may suggest greater transmissibility or better immune evasion. However, there is no evidence that it poses an increased risk or threat to public health relative to any other variants.

In regard to the EG.5 variant, the World Health Organizations most recent risk evaluation suggests that this particular variant also carries additional mutations in the spike protein. Again, these unique mutations may allow the virus to evade immune responses acquired after vaccination or an infection.

Globally, EG.5 makes up 45.8% of sequences that are shared with Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System while also being categorized as the most prevalent variant of interest. In early August, the CDC reported an uptick of 14.3% in COVID-related hospitalizations. Yale Medicine Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Scott Roberts believes there is a strong possibility that this trend may be due to the new variant, which has a proven ability to bypass the immune defense previously established by vaccination or prior infection.

In addition, the CDC estimates that by the end of September, about 21.7% of COVID cases in the United States were caused by EG.5, a percentage that is the second highest rate of SARS-CoV-2 strains after HV.1 strains.

So, now that we know what we are fighting, we need to understand how to fight the new mutations. As of right now, the best way to protect oneself against these new variants is to follow similar preventative measures used against the older strains. Practicing hand hygiene, keeping distance from those who may be sick, staying hydrated, improving ventilation and wearing a mask in risky areas are the most basic but effective ways to prevent infection. New COVID-19 boosters and vaccines effectively protect against the more recent strains such as EG.5 and BA.2.86. Numerous local pharmacies such as CVS and MinuteClinic locations offer the newest COVID vaccines.Check out the locations closest to you!

Lastly, if you do catch COVID-19, treatments like Paxlovid are still effective against strains EG.5 and BA.2.86 in shortening the duration and severity of symptoms.

Listen up, Dawgs. It is our responsibility to take care of our own health and prevent the spread of disease across the UGA community. Simply washing our hands often, especially before and after meals, can make the biggest difference. We cannot let COVID-19 ruin our start to the semester. The more cautious we are this winter season, the greater our successes will be.

See more here:

OPINION: What you should know about the new COVID-19 variants - Red and Black

A Chinese researcher uploaded a genome sequence of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 to a U.S. government database two weeks before the Chinese government shared the virus sequence with the world, according to documents made public Wednesday by a U.S. congressional committee.

The U.S. National Institutes of Health said in response to a House Energy and Commerce Committee investigation that Chinese virologist Lili Ren submitted the sequence on December 28, 2019, but that the data was incomplete and "lacked the necessary information required for publication."

An NIH letter to the committee said data submitted to GenBank, a collection of publicly available DNA sequences, has to undergo a review before being published to ensure it meets standards for researchers to be able to use "trusted and reliable data."

NIH instructed Ren to submit the requested update, warning that if the data was not provided by January 14, 2020, the sequence submission would be rejected and deleted.

Ren did not respond to the NIH request, and the data was removed on January 16, 2020.

NIH said on January 12, 2020, a different entity submitted a "nearly identical" sequence for SARS-CoV-2, which was published and made available to the public.

Researchers had said that the extra two weeks could have given international health bodies a head start on figuring out how the disease spread and possible vaccines.

"This significant discovery further underscores why we cannot trust any of the so-called facts or data provided by the CCP and calls into serious question the legitimacy of any scientific theories based on such information," Representatives Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Brett Guthrie and Morgan Griffith said in a statement.

Go here to read the rest:

Chinese Researcher Submitted COVID Virus Sequence 2 Weeks Before China Made Data Public - Voice of America - VOA News

Saturday, January 20th 2024 - 10:32 UTC Bolsonaro has always claimed never to have taken a Covid-19 vaccine

Brazilian authorities have determined that former President Jair Bolsonaro produced false certificates attesting to his vaccination against Covid-19 to enter the United States, it was reported this week.

The Office of the Comptroller General of the Union (CGU) found inconsistencies regarding the document's date and place of issuance, it was explained. However, the authors of the forgery have not been identified. The CGU, a Federal Government body in charge of protecting public assets, transparency, and combating corruption, said in a statement that the conclusion was that it was a fraud against the state anti-COVID-19 vaccination registration system.

The CGU also recommended closing the case for lack of minimum elements about the authorship of the facts, after finding that many officials and health personnel had access to the vaccination computer system and could modify data.

According to local media, Bolsonaro was allegedly given his shot in Sao Paulo at a time when his itinerary would show that he could have not been there because he had left the city the day before. Bolsonaro's vaccination registration, dated July 2021 in So Paulo, was not done through the official system of the federal health agency. Nor was there any evidence of the involvement of any federal public servant in the fraud. It was also established that the vaccine Bolsonaro allegedly received was not available in the area at the time of the entry while the nurse listed on his vaccination card claimed she did not work at the facility mentioned in the certificate. In addition, no worker at that healthcare center recalled seeing Bolsonaro there.

The CGU's investigation also determined that the records of two other doses of vaccine allegedly given to Bolsonaro were removed, which would prove that they were also fake.

Bolsonaro has always claimed he had never taken a Covid-19 vaccine and questioned the convenience of these drugs as well as that of social distancing measures. He even linked the shots's possible side effects with the development of AIDS.

The former rightwing ruler is also under investigation in the United States alongside other family members and advisors who would have entered the country on false papers.

Among those arrested by the Federal Police in May 2023 for this case is Bolsonaro's former aide Lieutenant Colonel Mauro Cid Barbosa, whose connection to the scheme was confirmed by the CGU. Months later he was released after a plea bargain.

The former Brazilian president testified before the Federal Police in Braslia last May in this case. His house was raided as part of the investigation. In that statement, Bolsonaro, 68, denied the accusations and said the current authorities were trying to fabricate a case against him.

Days before the end of his term, Bolsonaro traveled to Florida with his family to avoid participating in the handover ceremony with arch-rival Luiz Incio Lula da Silva, to whom he had lost the runoff in October 2022. He stayed there for three months before returning to his country.

Read more here:

Bolsonaro's Covid-19 vax card proven to be fake - MercoPress

A new variant of COVID-19, known as JN.1, reportedly first emerged in the United States in September of last year.

Unlike its predecessors, this variant is more complex and has gradually become the dominant strain worldwide.

Disturbingly, it seems to possess resistance against the body's natural defense mechanisms and potentially the components of existing vaccines.

The Israeli Health Ministry confirms that this variant has reached Israel, with hundreds of cases identified thus far.

The JN.1 variant is a distant descendant of the Omicron family, which has been the primary cause of COVID-19 infections in recent years.

It has undergone numerous genetic changes, enabling it to infiltrate the body's cells differently. Consequently, the body finds it increasingly challenging to detect and neutralize this variant, allowing it to spread and infect others more rapidly.

While preliminary data suggests that existing vaccines offer some level of protection against JN1, this protection is not comprehensive. However, one advantage of mRNA vaccines is their ability to be swiftly updated to address new strains. Manufacturers are already working on adapting the vaccines to combat this specific variant.

A recent survey conducted in the UK identified several common symptoms among individuals infected with the JN.1 variant. These include a runny nose, cough, headache, weakness, fatigue, muscle pain, and sore throat. However, the loss of taste and smell, which was prevalent in previous variants, appears to be less common with JN.1. Interestingly, sleep problems and anxiety have been reported as new symptoms by roughly 10% of those infected with this variant.

Mutations are a natural result of genetic errors during the replication of the virus, leading to the emergence of new strains, some of which may possess advantageous characteristics. While most mutations ultimately lead to the extinction of new strains, certain variants demonstrate higher infectivity, immune system evasion, and rapid replication, which is why they gain attention. Given the high mutation rate of coronaviruses, it is likely that new strains will continue to emerge in the future. The most effective way to combat them will be through high vaccination rates within the population.

In response, the Health Ministry said, Like other countries worldwide, Israel has recently experienced a mild to moderate increase in COVID-19 cases. The ministry is continuing to closely monitor the situation, utilizing genetic sequencing and maintaining communication with other health authorities.

For now, the ministry has urged the public, particularly those at high risk, to receive the available COVID-19 vaccine, specifically tailored to address the current variants, as well as to get the flu vaccine.

Here is the original post:

JN.1: What is the new COVID variant in Israel? - explainer - The Jerusalem Post