Category: Corona Virus

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that can cause a variety of diseases in many species, including respiratory diseases in cattle.

Texas A&M University School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

Researchers from the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) Veterinary Education, Research, and Outreach (VERO) program have joined an international team studying how coronaviruses are spread and whether an individuals microbiome (the collection of microbes living in or on the body) might impact that transmission.

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that can cause a variety of diseases in many species, from the common cold and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in people, to diarrhea in calves and respiratory disease in adult cattle.

The research team which includes researchers from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada has received $3.5 million from the United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA), the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).

Their work will use cattle as a model for viral transmission during group commingling events when unfamiliar animals or people come together in a defined space and time with intensive and sustained contact.

Commingling is associated with increased disease transmission risk and possible global consequences, as the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted. Commingling events in humans include large group events, air travel, incarceration, and classroom settings.

Among animals, commingling routinely occurs during livestock production when the bodys ability to fight disease may be lowered, while, at the same time, the body is being exposed to more pathogens.

Paul Morley, VEROs director of food animal research and one of the projects co-principal investigators

Texas A&M University School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

Its more and more the nature of our society that we have these types of commingling events, through travel, socialization, and the general nature of day-to-day interactions, said Dr. Paul Morley, VEROs director of food animal research and one of the projects co-principal investigators. Being able to understand how viruses behave would help us apply preventive measures, including vaccination and antiviral treatment, for both humans and cattle.

The researchers, led by Dr. Noelle Noyes, an associate professor in the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, will work to understand why some people and animals get infected and/or develop symptoms during commingling events but others do not.

At VERO, Morley and Dr. Matthew Scott, an assistant professor of microbial ecology and infectious disease, will work alongside three graduate students to collect samples from local beef and dairy cattle to track how bovine coronavirus, which is not able to infect people, spreads between animals.

The Texas Panhandle is one of the greatest epicenters of cattle production in the United States, Morley said. Were taking advantage of our great contacts in the cattle production industries, both beef and dairy, to look at coronavirus transmission in young calves during natural management circumstances.

Matthew Scott, an assistant professor of microbial ecology and infectious disease at VERO

Texas A&M University School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

Specifically, they will look at how the virus spreads depending on factors like how many cattle are housed together and if they are moved to new locations via livestock trailers. They will also measure the cattles immune systems and microbiomes to understand if differences have an impact on whether cattle get infected.

Well be looking at virus shedding before, during, and after commingling events, as well as immune function, genes that get turned on or off, and changes in the microbiomes of the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts, Morley said.

Using cattle from real livestock operations will ensure that data collected accurately represents real-world transmission factors.

We hope to uncover the complex multi-level mechanisms that underlie viral transmission during intensive mixing of unfamiliar calves, said Dr. Joseph Neary, principal investigator of the projects U.K. activities. These new insights will better inform calf husbandry practices to reduce infectious disease transmission risk, particularly where newly mixed calves have been sourced from multiple farms.

The study will also expand fundamental scientific understanding of viral behavior.

A unique aspect of this work is the integration of microbiome dynamics into models of virus transmission at the population level, Noyes said. Theres a lot of scientific evidence about the importance of the microbiome in individual health, but we dont have as much understanding of how population-level microbiome dynamics may influence disease transmission, particularly during situations of heightened disease risk, such as commingling.

The project is expected to last through 2026. In addition to Texas A&M University and the University of Minnesota, collaborators on the project include scientists from Mississippi State University, the University of Liverpool, and the University of Saskatchewan.

This project is the idealization of what were trying to do at VERO, working with people around the world on a big project with big impact, Morley said. The impact on our graduate students is going to be tremendous; theyll get to interact with this internationally renowned, extremely talented group of people. Its a great opportunity for them in their graduate programs.

Original post:

Texas A&M Researchers Contribute To International Project ... - Texas A&M University Today

WHO has updated its guidelines for COVID-19 therapeutics, with revised recommendations for patients with non-severe COVID-19. This is the 13th update to these guidelines.

The guidance includes updated risk rates for hospital admission in patients with non-severe COVID-19.

The current COVID-19 virus variants tend to cause less severe disease while immunity levels are higher due to vaccination, leading to lower risks of severe illness and death for most patients.

This update includes new baseline risk estimates for hospital admission in patients with non-severe COVID-19. The new moderate risk category now includes people previously considered to be high risk including older people and/or those with chronic conditions, disabilities, and comorbidities of chronic disease. The updated risk estimates will assist healthcare professionals to identify individuals at high, moderate or low risk of hospital admission, and to tailor treatment according to WHO guidelines:

WHO continues to strongly recommend nirmatrelvir-ritonavir (also known by its brand name Paxlovid) for people at high-risk and moderate risk of hospitalization. The recommendations state that nirmatrelvir-ritonavir is considered the best choice for most eligible patients, given its therapeutic benefits, ease of administration and fewer concerns about potential harms. Nirmatrelvir-ritonavir was first recommended by WHO in April 2022.

If nirmatrelvir-ritonavir is not available to patients at high-risk of hospitalization, WHO suggests the use of molnupiravir or remdesivir instead.

WHO suggests against the use of molnupiravir and remdesivir for patients at moderate risk, judging the potential harms to outweigh the limited benefits in patients at moderate risk of hospital admission.

For people at low risk of hospitalization, WHO does not recommend any antiviral therapy. Symptoms like fever and pain can continue to be managed with analgesics like paracetamol.

WHO also recommends against use of a new antiviral (VV116) for patients, except in clinical trials.

The update also includes a strong recommendation against the use of ivermectin for patients with non-severe COVID-19. WHO continues to advise that in patients with severe or critical COVID-19, ivermectin should only be used in clinical trials.

Go here to see the original:

WHO updates guidelines on treatments for COVID-19 - World Health Organization

MIAMI On Nov. 1, a Miami federal grand jury charged three Miami residents for their alleged role in a COVID-19 relief fraud scheme.

Heidi Cid, 54, Lazaro Verdecia Hernandez, 36, and Yadier Rodriguez Arteaga, 38 all of Miami, Florida, have been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering, in connection with a scheme to obtain fraudulent loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

According to the allegations in the indictment and statements made in court, Cid, Verdecia Hernandez, and Rodriguez Arteaga allegedly submitted fraudulent PPP loan applications to SBA-approved PPP lenders. In support of the fraudulent loan applications, the defendants allegedly submitted several false and fraudulent documents misrepresenting the number of the companies employees to make the businesses appear eligible for pandemic relief. According to the allegations, SBA-approved lenders disbursed over $14.5 million to bank accounts controlled by co-conspirators, who allegedly would then withdraw the money and give Cid, Verdecia Hernandez, and Rodriguez Arteaga a portion of the proceeds.

Cid, Verdecia Hernandez, and Rodriguez Arteaga made their initial appearance in federal magistrate court in Miami. If convicted, they face up to 20 years in prison on the conspiracy and fraud counts, and two years on the money laundering counts. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Rafael Barros for the United States Secret Service (USSS), and SBA OIGs Eastern Region Special Agent in Charge Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite, U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA OIG), Investigations Divisions Eastern Region, announced the charges.

USSS Miami and SBA OIG investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Haggerty is prosecuting it. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Paster is handling asset forfeiture.

The following defendants have pleaded guilty for their involvement in this COVID-19 relief fraud scheme (sentencing information is noted where available):

Nancy Bahos Serna, of Miami, Florida (23-cr-20310) has made her initial appearance in federal court. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Bernstein is prosecuting this case.

Javier Pico, of Miami, Florida, and Erisbel Gonzalez Gomez, of Palm Beach County, Florida (22-cr-20368) have been charged for their alleged involvement in the scheme but remain fugitives.

An indictment contains mere allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

In March 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was enacted. It was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Among other sources of relief, the CARES Act authorized and provided funding to the SBA to provide Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to eligible small businesses, including sole proprietorships and independent contractors, experiencing substantial financial disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic to allow them to meet financial obligations and operating expenses that could otherwise have been met had the disaster not occurred. EIDL applications were submitted directly to the SBA via the SBAs on-line application website, and the applications were processed and the loans funded for qualifying applicants directly by the SBA.

On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Departments response to the pandemic, please visithttps://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

On September 15, 2022, the Attorney General selected the Southern District of Floridas U.S. Attorneys Office to head one of three national COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force Teams. The Department of Justice established the Strike Force to enhance existing efforts to combat and prevent COVID-19 related financial fraud. For more information on the departments response to the pandemic, please clickhere.

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justices National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at:https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 23-cr-20421.

###

Read the rest here:

Three Miami residents charged with COVID-19 pandemic relief fraud - Department of Justice

% of population vaccinated by gender is the number of vaccinated New Yorkers who identify as male or female as a percent of 2018 Census estimates of the total male and female population. Due to federal Census data collection methods, information on other gender identities is not available and is not represented here.

% of population vaccinated by age is the number of vaccinated New Yorkers in each age group as a percent of 2018 Census estimates of the total population in each age group.

Region and County are based on the location where the vaccinated individual resides.

More:

Updated COVID-19 Vaccination Demographics | Department of Health - NY.gov

Experts have been working tirelessly to create and improve coronavirus vaccines year-over-year and this years shot is potent, Petri said. His advice is to get vaccinated for the coronavirus and the flu ahead of the holiday season.

If you get vaccinated right now, thats going to protect you at the greatest levels for about four months, he said.

Here are his answers to UVA Todays other questions about staying healthy as large gatherings with family and friends draw near.

Q. Do you have any general guidelines for people to follow as they prepare for the holidays?

A. In addition to getting vaccinated for coronavirus and the flu, be aware that there are very effective medications for COVID, the No. 1 being Paxlovid.

There are some commonsense things you can do to improve ventilation that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend. If we have nice weather, have that family gathering out on your porch or out in your yard. Or have the windows open. If you have a heat pump, if you have it on the on switch and not the auto switch, the fan runs all the time so youre going to be exchanging air faster out of your house.

Q. What is the current guidance for people who test positive for the coronavirus?

A. Number one is stay home for the first five days and then wear a mask outside for an additional five days, so youre not going to spread it inadvertently to vulnerable parts of the population.

Q. If you have the flu, what should you do?

A. If you have the flu, of course you cant test yourself at home. The reason to get diagnosed with the flu is we have medications that are very effective for treating flu. It makes sense to go to your primary care provider within the first day, maximum two days of illness, to be tested.

See the article here:

Almost Four Years In, Is It Time To Start Treating COVID Differently? - UVA Today

One area within COVID-19 care is the ability simplify testing to get more people to know if they in fact have the virus and get the proper treatment they need. Yesterday, the FDA announced it cleared the way for marketing the first over-the-counter (OTC) antigen test for COVID-19. ACON Laboratories Flowflex COVID-19 Antigen Home Test, originally authorized for emergency use in 2021, is now the second home COVID-19 test to successfully complete a traditional FDA premarket review pathway, and the first indicated for use in children under 18. That FDA announcement followed the clearance of a molecular home test earlier this year.1

The Flowflex COVID-19 Antigen Home Test is a visually-read test cleared for OTC home use by symptomatic individuals within six days of symptom onset. It is cleared for individuals aged 14 years or older testing themselves, or adults testing individuals aged two years or older. In a study reviewed by the FDA, this test correctly identified 89.8% of positive and 99.3% of negative samples in individuals with signs and symptoms of upper respiratory infection.1

This marks the latest step forward in our efforts to help test developers provide Americans with continued options for safe and effective COVID tests that can be performed entirely at home, said Jeff Shuren, MD, JD, director of the FDAs Center for Devices and Radiological Health said in a statement . The FDA continues to proactively work with test developers that desire to market their products beyond emergency use authorities. This is part of the FDAs broader effort to advance the development and availability of at-home tests for a variety of medical conditions to expand patient access to testing.1

The FDA's clearance of the Flowflex COVID-19 Antigen Home Test marks a significant step in advancing accessible COVID-19 testing.

The rise of at-home COVID-19 testing raises concerns about accurately capturing the true incidence rates of the virus.

The use of the 510(k) premarket review pathway for the ACON Flowflex COVID-19 Antigen Home Test underscores the importance of regulatory processes in ensuring the safety and effectiveness of these at-home testing options.

As with antigen tests authorized for emergency use, this test is intended to be used at least twice over three days with at least 48 hours between tests. This means that a symptomatic individual with an initial negative test result should be re-tested once between 48 and 72 hours after the first test using an antigen test for COVID-19 or followed up with a molecular COVID-19 test.1

The FDA reviewed the ACON Flowflex COVID-19 Antigen Home Test through the 510(k) premarket review pathway. A 510(k) is a premarket submission made to the FDA to demonstrate that a new device is substantially equivalent to a legally marketed predicate device.1

Will Home Testing Miss True COVID-19 Statistics?

In earlier reporting by Contagion, there are concerns of true incidence rates of COVID-19 so aspects needed for public health reporting including appropriations of needed COVID-19 treatment resources can be achieved. A JAMAstudy sought to collect data on the frequency and results of at-home COVID-19 testing.

Investigators utilized the COVID-19 Citizen Science Study for their research. Launched in March 2020, the cohort study invited participants by word of mouth, social media, email, telephone, or patient portal. The study participants provided informed consent and baseline information, self-reporting race and ethnicity to help the investigators analyze demographic differences in unreported rest frequency and test positivity.

Each week, participants reported their recent COVID-19 testing and test results. In March 2022, the investigators asked participants to distinguish whether they tested with a Fully at-home test kit, with my own sample collection and reading of my own results or whether a health care provider collected my sample and sent it to a clinical laboratory.

To compare the self-testing with nationally reported COVID-19 testing, the investigators downloaded data from the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center on August 15, 2022. They plotted averages of total daily tests and test positivity, fitting mixed logistic models with a random intercept for each participant. The participants testing data were controlled for time of test and demographic characteristics.

A total of 102,591 US participants enrolled in the study, 18% (n = 18642) of whom reported completing at least 1 COVID-19 diagnostic test from March 16-August 15, 2022. Of the 18,546 participants who submitted demographic information, the majority were female (67.8%; n = 12568) and non-Hispanic White (82.1%; n = 15231). The average age was 55 years.

During this study period, the proportion of COVID-19 tests conducted at home increased from 60% to more than 80%. From March until June 2022, the percentage of positive at-home tests was similar to that of officially reported tests. After June, at-home tests began to yield lower positivity rates than official tests.

According to the investigators, younger, female, non-Hispanic White individuals with higher social status were more likely than other participants to test for COVID-19 at home. However, positive at-home test results were most frequent among men and young adults.

Reference

FDA Clears First COVID-19 Home Antigen Test. FDA Press release. November 9, 2023. https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USFDA/bulletins/37a4680

Read the original:

FDA Clears Way for Marketing First OTC COVID-19 Antigen Test - Contagionlive.com

Officials authorised using human Covid treatments on cats in August in a desperate attempt to curb the outbreak.

The cat that tested positive in the UK is understood to have developed symptoms in Britain and has been sent for tests and treatment following isolation by its owner.

In the study, published before it has been peer-reviewed on bioRxiv, the scientists warn there is significant risk of this outbreak spreading further.

This is exemplified by the recent confirmation of a first UK-imported case with further investigations into other cases ongoing, they add.

The disease caused by the coronavirus, feline infection peritonitis (FIP), is common around the world, including in the UK.

Before the evolution of the new strain, however, the coronavirus lay dormant in cats and in most cases never caused an issue.

Around one in ten of the cats with the benign infection would go on to develop FIP when the virus mutated inside of them. Symptoms include lethargy, fever, a swollen abdomen, and inflammation. It is almost always fatal unless treated.

The new study found the recombination of canine and feline coronaviruses which includes the cat virus gaining the dog pathogens spike protein has led to the virus becoming more infectious and changing how it causes disease.

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is not usually spread directly from cat to cat, study author Dr Christine Tait-Burkard told The Telegraph.

This new virus appears to spread readily and no longer relies on changes or mutations in the host.

A veterinary drug called GS-441524 can treat FIP effectively if given early but it can be expensive. Human Covid drugs, such as remdesivir and molnupiravir, are also effective, but it is illegal for vets to use these human drugs to treat a cat with FIP in the UK.

Early data shows there is no evidence the new virus can infect dogs or humans. Experts say there is no reason for worried cat owners to keep their pets inside and away from other animals just yet.

Importing cats from Cyprus to the UK is a frequent and ongoing process, the scientists say, and the Edinburgh team advises against importing or adopting a cat from Cyprus while it works on more mitigations with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).

Our evidence suggests the virus may spread directly from cat to cat by faecal contamination, just like the cat and dog coronaviruses it originated from, Dr Tait-Burkard said.

For example, if a cat uses the same litter tray, or outdoor area, as an infected cat and then licks its paws.

There is no evidence of extensive spread of FCoV-23 in the UK. Therefore, there is no immediate requirement to keep cats indoors.

If a cat shows symptoms of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), has been diagnosed by your vet, and has been diagnosed with FCoV-23 or has links to Cyprus or recent contact with imported cats, then it should be kept strictly indoors until it has been proven that the virus has been eliminated (if the cat is undergoing treatment).

Go here to read the rest:

Coronavirus strain which killed 8,000 cats in Cyprus found in UK ... - The Telegraph

Suffolk County reported the following information related to COVID-19 on November 7, 2023

According to CDC, hospital admission rates and the percentage of COVID-19 deaths among all deaths are now the primary surveillance metrics.

COVID-19 Hospitalizations for the week ending October 28, 2023

Daily Hospitalization Summary for Suffolk County From November 3, 2023

NOTE: HOSPITALS ARE NO LONGER REPORTING DATA TO NYSDOH ON WEEKENDS OR HOLIDAYS.

Fatalities 11/6/23

COVID-19 Case Tracker November 4, 2023

Note: As of May 11, 2023, COVID-19 Community Levels (CCLs) and COVID-19 Community Transmission Levels are no longer calculatable, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

* As of 4/4/22, HHS no longer requires entities conducting COVID testing to report negative or indeterminate antigen test results. This may impact the number and interpretation of total test results reported to the state and also impacts calculation of test percent positivity. Because of this, as of 4/5/22, test percent positivity is calculated using PCR tests only. Reporting of total new daily cases (positive results) and cases per 100k will continue to include PCR and antigen tests.

COVID-19 Vaccination Information

Last updated 5/12/23

Vaccination Clinics

As of September 12, 2023, the Suffolk County Department of Health Services is not authorized to offer COVID-19 vaccines to ALL Suffolk County residents.

The department will offer the updated vaccine to only uninsured and underinsured patients through New York State's Vaccines for Children program and Vaccines for Adults program, also known as the Bridge Access Program.

Those with insurance that covers the COVID-19 vaccine are encouraged to receive their vaccines at their local pharmacies, health care providers offices, or local federally qualified health centers.

The department has ordered the updated COVID-19 vaccine and will announce when the vaccine becomes available.

FOR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS

New York State Links

CDC COVID Data Tracker Rates of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 hospitalizations by vaccination status

For additional information or explanation of data, click on the links provided in throughout this page.

Read more:

COVID-19 update 11-07-23 - Suffolk County Government (.gov)

Rinsing your throat or nose with a salt water (saline) solution may help protect against severe COVID-19 infection, based on a new study presented this week at the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) in Anaheim, California.

The research found that the risk of hospitalization for people with the virus who regularly gargled with salt water or used it as a nasal rinse (as with a neti pot) was significantly lower than for individuals in a reference group who did not follow a saline regimen.

The rate of hospitalization was much more in our reference population who did not use a salt rinse, says study coauthor Jimmy Espinoza, MD, in the department of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences at UTHealths McGovern Medical School in Houston. The findings indicate a possible association between a saline regimen and improved respiratory symptoms from coronavirus infection. Future studies are needed to see if our results can be replicated.

Previous analysis has suggested that gargling or flushing nasal passages with salt water may promote a shedding of the virus and infected cells or possibly cause some inactivation of the infection.

Dr. Espinoza emphasizes, however, that a saline rinse is no substitute for vaccination or antiviral treatments, which are proven to be very effective.

Vaccination is so important because it definitely lowers the risk of hospitalization, and we dont pretend that this saline rinse is better than conventional antiviral medications. We think that this intervention might be helpful in improving symptoms in some people.

Espinoza, who is fully vaccinated, believes gargling with salt water helped alleviate some of his symptoms when he became infected with the coronavirus. This is just an anecdote, but I felt that gargling helped relieve my congestion and ability to breathe, which in turn improved my sleep.

For the research, 58 individuals between ages 18 and 65 who tested positive for COVID-19 between 2020 and 2022 were selected to undergo either a low- or a high-dose saline regimen for five minutes, four times a day, over the course of 14 days.

The low dose was about 1/3 teaspoon of salt dissolved in 8 ounces of warm water, while the high dose measured 1 teaspoon of salt.

The scientists excluded anyone with chronic high blood pressure because they didnt want to expose them to any additional salt absorption, which could further raise their blood pressure.

They then compared hospitalization rates of those in the treatment group with outcomes of about 9,400 people with positive SARS-CoV-2 infection who did not follow a salt rinse routine.

The hospitalization rates were 18.5 percent in the low-dose saline group and 21.4 percent in the high-dose saline group. Those numbers were significantly lower compared with the reference population, whose hospitalizations rate was nearly 60 percent.

That hospitalization rate here is very high compared with other available data. The global research firm Gallup has previously calculated the hospitalization rate for the vaccinated population to be 0.01 percent (or 1 in 10,914) and 0.89 percent (or 1 case in 112 people) for unvaccinated adults.

Espinoza noted that data was insufficient to explain why the hospital rate was so high in this study, but speculated that chronic illness and lack of vaccination may have been contributing factors that predisposed many participants to more serious sickness.

He added that when it came to vaccination, the rate was 10 percent in the control group versus about 11 percent in the low-salt group and nearly 18 percent in the high-salt group.

Researchers observed that duration of symptoms was similar between the two salt groups, at up to six to seven days. Details on symptom duration were unavailable for the reference group, so no comparison could be made for that factor.

Previous studies, however, seem to show that gargling with salt water or other solutions has some relative impact on reducing duration of symptoms and viral load, says Niraj Patel, MD, a pediatric allergy and immunology specialist with Duke Health in Durham, North Carolina.

Dr. Patel, who was not involved in the study but is a member of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, also emphasized that gargling with salt water is no substitute for vaccination.

Vaccination is still the No. 1 way to prevent hospitalizations and severe infection, he says.

As to why salt water may have this beneficial effect, the answer is still uncertain. Patel would like to see further research that explores how salt water may be inhibiting the replication of the virus.

He also pointed out that this study was limited in that it didnt detail much about participant health factors such as obesity, COPD, and other chronic illnesses that could have influenced results.

I advise talking to your doctor before instituting regimens like these, particularly if you have chronic diseases, says Patel.

Link:

Gargling Salt Water Could Lower COVID-19 Hospitalization Risk - Everyday Health

This dashboard shows total reported doses of the updated COVID-19 vaccine, approved for use by the CDC as of September 12, 2023. The New York State Department of Health continues to urge eligible New Yorkers especially older adults at increased risk of severe illness to get their updated COVID vaccination as soon as possible for the best protection. Find a vaccine appointmenthere.

Originally posted here:

Updated COVID-19 Vaccination Data | Department of Health - NY.gov