Patient deaths: 1,017,467
Total vaccine doses distributed: 762,236,905
Patients whove received the first dose: 259,426,758
Patients whove received the second dose: 222,123,223
% of population fully vaccinated (both doses, not including boosters): 66.9%
% tied to Omicron variant: 100%
% tied to Other: 0%
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One night in June 2022, Nina Rayburn Dec started feeling sniffly and congested. She took a rapid home test for COVID-19: negative.
So when she woke up the next morning with a runny nose and a scratchy throat, I thought I had a cold, allergies, or strep throat, says Dec, who is the executive director of the Bridgehampton Museum on Long Island in New York.
Still, a slight fever and abundance of mucus prompted her to mask up and drive to see an urgent care physician. A PCR test showed that she did, in fact, have COVID-19.
Her runny nose and congestion persisted for about 12 days, she says.
In the omicron era, congestion and a runny nose are common signs of COVID-19, particularly in people like Dec who are vaccinated and boosted, or who have some measure of immunity from a prior bout of COVID-19.
Results of the U.K.-based Zoe COVID Symptoms Study, published in December 2021 in the BMJ, showed that runny nose is among the top five symptoms reported for omicron infection, along with headache, mild or severe fatigue, sneezing, and sore throat.
A COVID-19 runny nose can last anywhere from a few days to a week or more. To add to the misery, it can lead to a nagging cough from excess mucus running down the back of the throat (post nasal drip).
With so many similarities between symptoms of COVID-19 and those of allergies, colds, and the flu, it can be difficult and puzzling to figure out exactly whats causing a runny nose or congestion.
It seems like now more than at any point in the pandemic, theres no easy way to differentiate COVID-19 from allergies or from other respiratory viruses such as flu or the common cold, says Joseph Khabazza, MD, a pulmonary and critical care physician at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.
This is especially true in people who have immunity from vaccination and boosters or previous COVID-19 infection, which can result in milder symptoms, Dr. Khabazza says.
The best way for anyone to find out whether or not a runny nose or nasal congestion is a symptom of COVID-19 is to get tested, especially if theyve had close contact with someone who is infected.
Many infectious disease specialists arent surprised that runny nose and congestion are cited as main symptoms of COVID-19.
Runny nose has been an initial symptom with virtually every wave and variant of COVID-19 Ive seen, says Priya Nori, MD, an associate professor in the department of medicine (infectious diseases) at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and medical director of the Antibiotic Stewardship Program at Montefiore Health System in New York City.
Like other respiratory viruses, the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that causes COVID-19 triggers inflammation of the membranes lining the nose and sinuses an immune response, Dr. Nori explains.The inflamed cells cause the nose to make clear mucus, which traps the virus and helps flush it out of the body.
A runny nose may be more common with omicron than previous variants such as delta, Nori says. Thats because omicron tends to live in the upper respiratory tract the nose, throat, and mouth while earlier variants were more likely to move down the respiratory tract into the lungs.
Interestingly, individuals who are vaccinated and boosted may experience more nasal and sinus symptoms of COVID-19 than those who arent.
A recent pre-print study (not peer-reviewed) posted on the site medRxiv examined data from over 63,000 people who visited a walk-up COVID-19 community testing site in San Francisco over a one-year period. The researchers found that individuals with COVID-19 who had been vaccinated and boosted had more congestion compared with those who were unboosted.
Jorge Caballero, MD, a data-driven anesthesiologist at Stanford Medicine in California, broke down the study on Twitter (@DataDrivenMD). He tweeted, What seems to be going [on] is that the immune system of persons who were boosted [was] able to respond more quickly to the first sign of an omicron infection in the nose. The congestion is the bodys way of slowing down the infection its flooding the virus in sludge.
If that fails, the virus migrates down to your throat where it causes a sore throat, a cough, or croup in the case of young children, he added.
With children, runny nose isnt always the most common symptom of COVID-19.
According to Vidya Mony, MD, a pediatric infectious diseases specialist and an associate hospital epidemiologist at the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in California, the most prevalent signs of COVID-19 in children are usually fever, cough, and sore throat.
Its also important to remember that there are multiple other viruses that are circulating right now, so its possible that your child may not actually have COVID, but could have another virus, she says.
These other viruses include rhinovirus (responsible for the common cold) and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), which typically peaks in winter but surged last summer in the U.S. as mask wearing and other COVID-19 restrictions lifted.
The easiest way to figure out if your child has COVID-19 is testing. If your child had a known exposure to COVID and is symptomatic and the home antigen test is negative, its probably worthwhile to get a PCR to be sure, Dr. Mony says. Otherwise, you can always remember to do the home antigen test multiple days in a row.
Mony urges parents to vaccinate children age 6 months and up, and to make sure kids who are 5 and older are both vaccinated and boosted (if eligible).
For adults with cold-like symptoms of COVID-19, Nori recommends recuperating at home by taking any over-the-counter decongestant, cough suppressant, or fever reducer as long as your healthcare provider gives you the okay (even by phone).
You want to be sure that any drug, even an over-the-counter one, wont interact with other medications you take or raise blood pressure (for adults with hypertension) or blood sugars (for those with diabetes).
Adults at high risk of becoming very sick from COVID-19 should talk to a doctor about antiviral therapies such as the oral medication nirmatrelvir and ritonavir (Paxlovid). Children may be eligible if they are 12 or over and weigh at least 88 pounds.
Finally, anyone who is sick from COVID-19 even if it just feels like a case of the sniffles should be sure to isolate at home and mask up! Masking remains a tried and true measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
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COVID-19 Congestion and Runny Nose: How to Deal - Everyday Health
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A first-step treatment against COVID-19 previously hailed as lifesaving by top doctors on Staten Island has taken considerable blows as continued disease mutations effectively eliminated protections for nearly all versions of the therapy.
The treatments focus on the spike protein of the disease has proven to become an Achilles heel, as changes in COVID-19s genetic code most commonly alter at the location which binds to and infects healthy cells.
But one form of monoclonal antibodies bebtelovimab remains a viable tool in the boroughs battle against the pandemic and has shown ability to reduce symptoms by as much as three days, Dr. Theodore Maniatis, the chief medical officer of Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH), told the Advance/SILive.com.
SIUH in Ocean Breeze has been administering monoclonal antibodies to a few dozen people a week, said Maniatis, with its two weekly appointment dates, Tuesday and Friday, serving around 20 people each day.
Those numbers are around double the total observed at the hospitals infusion center, located at 348 Seaview Ave., three weeks ago. However, its also about one-third the total the facility was experiencing two months ago.
Basically, when the disease gets out there and people start coming down with this, they look for the treatment, said Maniatis, who added SIUHs infusion center has the capacity to handle about double the number of its current appointments.
A similar fluctuation tied to the prevalence of virus spread has been observed at Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC) in West Brighton, said Dr. Philip Otterbeck, chairman of medicine at the hospital.
He said RUMC maintains an adequate supply of bebtelovimab that is dependent on New York States allocation of the drug, which sometimes alters on a week-by-week basis.
WHAT IS BEBTELOVIMAB?
Bebtelovimab, made by drugmaker Eli Lilly, was given the green light by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in February to be used in adults and children older than 12 who tested positive for COVID-19 and are at high risk for severe disease.
The therapy, which is administered intravenously, is not approved for those who are hospitalized by the disease or those who require oxygen therapy.
An infusion of bebtelovimab takes just seconds in a process called an IV push, but the total visit requires around one hour of observation, both hospital officials said.
Paxlovid, an oral antiviral drug, is currently the preferred treatment option for most high-risk patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms. City health officials previously advised health providers to notify patients about available treatment options.
WHO SHOULD RECEIVE TREATMENT?
While the FDAs emergency use authorization enables a wide population to receive the treatment, top doctors at both borough health systems said a narrower group garners the most benefits.
Patients need to have at least one risk factor to receive the drug, but older patients especially see the most significant results.
This is really for the person over 50 who either has diabetes or lung disease or whos obese, said Maniatis, who added that the treatment administered in a timely way can reduce risk for severe disease progression by one-fifth.
Otterbeck said RUMC prefers to save monoclonal antibody treatments for those at the greatest risk.
The older the patient, the higher risk they are with respect to COVID, and consequently, we would like to use it for those patients, especially those who are above age 65, said Otterbeck. Or, the ones who are less than age 65 that have significant comorbidities.
HOW DO YOU RECEIVE THE TREATMENT?
Staten Islanders seeking monoclonal antibody treatments must first visit their primary care doctor to see if they are eligible.
Those being referred to SIUH will have to have their doctor schedule a visit through Northwell Healths centralized system. The doc who wishes the patient to have it fills it out, said Maniatis. It takes about 10 minutes and thats it.
The patient then receives a follow-up call before being given an appointment. Maniatis said the treatment is most effective when given just a couple days after initial symptoms arise, adding that waiting longer than a week will likely nullify the effects of the drug.
Otterbeck said patients are referred to RUMCs emergency room by their doctor, who uses discretion to decide which individuals are most in-need.
If they think the patients are appropriate candidates, they certainly can call ahead and speak to one of the ER doctors or refer the patients directly to the emergency department, he said.
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The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to a series of nationwide lockdowns that disrupted the daily lives of the people globally. For example, a significant number of workers and students were required to quickly shift to remote work, while most individuals also limited their social activities, thus increasing their social isolation from others.
Study:The good, the bad, and the mixed: Experiences during COVID-19 among an online sample of adults. Image Credit: eugenegurkov / Shutterstock.com
Several studies have highlighted the negative psychological impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, analysis of both the negative and positive experiences during the early stages of the pandemic, their differences as a function of COVID-19-specific stressful events, and their co-occurrence potential have not been conducted.
Most studies on the psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have focused on its negative impacts, particularly on mental health disorders, increased concern towards the health of loved ones, psychological harm, loss of health, and leisure activities. The COVID-19 pandemic also amplified inequalities that already existed among disadvantaged groups, including those who faced socioeconomic disadvantages, ethnic minority groups, and the unemployed.
Several previous studies have also indicated the worsening of mental health conditions throughout the COVID-19 pandemic in those who already experienced mental health disorders. Social isolation is identified as a prominent factor that contributed to negative COVID-19 experiences.
However, a limited number of studies have explored the positive impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the general population. Nevertheless, few studies indicated an increase in well-being and a decrease in anxiety in people with pre-existing mental health conditions.
Social connectedness, along with healthy coping and resilience themes, has also been reported among people, including those identifying with disadvantaged groups. Additional positive experiences that have been reported include having more time to do enjoyable activities, be in nature, spend with partners, and exercise.
A new PLOS One study explored the different experiences that the general population encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the association of COVID-19-specific stressful events to these experiences.
The current study had three objectives, which included investigating factors that could measure positive and negative COVID-19 experiences, using a person-centered approach for the identification of underlying profiles of these experiences, as well as comparing emergent profiles concerning differences in psychological distress, demographic information, and specific stressful events for better understanding.
The study included participants who anonymously completed an online survey that was posted on Amazons Mechanical Turk (MTURK) and was open from June 8, 2020, to June 14, 2020. Seven items were created to determine the experiences of the participants during the early months of the pandemic.
These items were rated on a six-point scale ranging from Strongly Disagree (1) to Strongly Agree (6) and each followed the prompt, Relative to months before COVID-19. . . Data on demographic and specific COVID-19 events were collected from all study participants.
The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) was used to measure stress during the past month and was rated from Never (0) to Very Often (4). Depression was measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ2), while anxiety was measured using the General Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD2). Both depression and anxiety responses ranged from Not at all (0) to Nearly every day (3).
The study selected the four-profile model, where the Predominantly Positive profile indicated those who strongly supported positive COVID-19 experiences, the Moderately Mixed profile indicated those who supported both negative and positive COVID-19 experiences, the Predominantly Negative profile indicated those who strongly supported negative COVID-19 experiences, and the High Mixed profile indicated those who strongly supported both negative and positive COVID-19 experiences.
Taken together, 22.49% of participants identified as Predominantly Positive, 46.85% were considered Moderately Mixed, 22.76% as Predominantly Negative, and 7.91% represented High Mixed. Males were over-represented in the High Mixed and Moderate Mixed profiles, while females were over-represented in Predominantly Negative profiles.
African American/Black and Hispanic/Latino were over-represented in the High Mixed profile. Those looking for work or laid off were over-represented in the Moderate Mixed profile, while those who were disabled, retired, or unable to work prior before COVID-19 were over-represented in the Predominately Negative and Predominately Positive profiles.
Low earners were over-represented in the Predominately Negative profiles, whereas high earners were over-represented in the Predominately Positive profiles. Average and below-average earners were over-represented in the High Mixed profile.
Individuals belonging to the High Mixed profile were younger and experienced psychological distress. A significant proportion of those in the High Mixed profile also had a loss of wage, were themselves diagnosed with COVID-19 or knew someone with COVID-19, and knew someone who died due to COVID-19.
The current study highlights that the experiences during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic cannot be defined unilaterally as negative or positive, as many of these experiences were highly diverse and complex.
These findings help identify which individuals were at the greatest risk of negative psychological effects during the pandemic and can subsequently be used for clinical and research purposes. However, additional research is needed to develop targeted intervention and prevention programs to increase the resilience of individuals, both during and beyond the current pandemic.
The study has certain limitations. First, the cross-sectional design of the study was not sufficient to determine positive and negative COVID-19 experiences. Second, the psychological distress was self-reported and could comprise recall bias.
Third, the sample is not evenly distributed, as it primarily consists of White or Caucasian individuals. A final limitation is significant doubt regarding sample accuracy.
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The diverse psychological impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic - News-Medical.Net
The latest surge isnt over: New variants may lift case numbers again
Two new highly infectious and immune-evasive coronavirus variants are now dominant in the United States, according to estimates released this week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and together they likely will drive the Bay Areas long spring surge well into summer, health experts say. Its become apparent that the pandemic pattern people have become accustomed to over the past two and a half years a rise in cases over several weeks, followed by a relatively short plateau and then a rapid drop isnt playing out this time. Read more about what impact BA.4 and BA.5 both subvariants of omicron will have in the Bay Area, where cases appear to be climbing again after several weeks of sluggish decline.
The number of weekly COVID-19 cases globally has increased for the third consecutive week, after a declining trend was observed since the last peak in March 2022, the World Health Organization reported Wednesday. The agencys latest epidemiology report says there were over 4.1 million cases reported worldwide last week, an 18% increase as compared to the previous week. The WHO said rapid-spreading BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants of omicron are making up an increasing proportion of sequenced samples. This pandemic is changing but its not over, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a briefing. We have made progress, but its not over.
Several naturally occurring mutations of Mpro, the main protease of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, could soon increase its resistance to antiviral treatments such as Paxlovid, according to a study published Wednesday in bioRxiv. Taken together, this study identified several nirmatrelvir (Paxlovid) resistant hot spots that warrant close monitoring, while highlighting the future risk of mutants with multiple substitutions at these sites, the authors said. Many health experts believe mutations in newer variants such as BA.4 and BA.5 may be causing in increase in rebound infections. Eric Topol, executive vice president of Scripps Research and a prominent voice on the pandemic, indicated on Twitter that this could be the case with Dr. Anthony Fauci, who on Tuesday announced he is on his second round of Paxlovid after again testing positive for the virus.
The second year of the COVID-19 pandemic was harder than the first, with people reporting a sharp rise in daily negative thoughts and a decrease in positive experiences, according to Gallups latest annual global update on emotions. A survey of 127,000 adults in 122 countries addressing five primary emotional touchstones found that in 2021 and the first few months of 2022, about 42% said they experienced worry, 41% experienced stress, and 31% physical pain. About 28% of the respondents reported feeling sadness and 23% anger. All five emotions, except anger, showed marked increases from 2020 when they were already at or near record highs. The people surveyed also said that feelings of enjoyment, smiling and the sensation of being well-rested had vanished over the past year.
Researchers in Thailand say they have documented the first confirmed case of a pet cat infecting its owner with coronavirus, according to a report in Nature. Weve known this was a possibility for two years, Angela Bosco-Lauth, an infectious-disease researcher at Colorado State University in Fort Collins who was not involved in the study, told the journal. The study was published earlier this month in Emerging Infectious Diseases by infectious-disease researcher and physician at Prince of Songkla University in Hat Yai, southern Thailand, said a veterinarian in Thailand was diagnosed with COVID-19 after being sneezed on by an infected cat owned by an infected patient. Genetic study supported the hypothesis of SARS-CoV-2 transmission from the owner to the cat, and then from the cat to the veterinarian. Researchers say that such cases of cat-to-human transmission are probably rare. Experimental studies have shown that infected cats dont shed much virus, and shed for only a few days, Leo Poon, a virologist at the University of Hong Kong, told Nature.
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Courtesy of Yalcin Sonat/Getty Images
At its investor day on Wednesday, Germanys BioNTechpresented what it called its Innovation Series 2022. Although much of the presentation was dedicated to the companys broad R&D programs, one of the most immediately newsworthy items was its plan with Pfizerto begin testing a next-generation universal vaccine against coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
Progress Against Omicron
On Monday, the two companies reported positive data on two Omicron-adapted COVID-19 vaccine candidates. One is bivalent, a combination of the original COVID-19 vaccine and a second that targets the Omicron BA.1 variant of concern, while one is just the Omicron-targeting vaccine. Data from a Phase II/III trial studying a booster of either vaccine resulted in a substantially higher immune response across Omicron BA.1 than their original vaccine.
The partners are also working together on other infectious disease-related vaccines, including a Phase I trial launching in the second half of this year for a shingles vaccine and an update is expected on a quadrivalent mRNA vaccine against influenza.
In addition to vaccines against COVID-19, influenza and shingles, BioNTech indicated it is exploring trans-amplifying RNA (taRNA) and self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) in multiple other infectious diseases, including HIV, Ebola virus, Lassa virus, Marburg virus, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), Nipah virus and MERS-CoV.
BioNTech is More than Just COVID-19
The company is also shifting some of its resources to focus on antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. BioNTech indicated this was, in part, to continue to boost its infectious disease business. It acquired PhagoMed in October 2021 to leverage its expertise in this area.
BioNTech has come a long way in the last two-and-a-half years and wants to make sure its success continues past its partnership with Pfizer on the original COVID-19 vaccine. It currently has a diversified pipeline across four drug classes with 21 ongoing clinical trials and 17 product candidates in clinical development. It also boasts partnerships with Genentech (Roche), Genmab, Regeneron, Fosun, Sanofi, Crescendo, Medigene, InstaDeep, TRON, BMGF, UPenn and multiple not-for-profit organizations.
In addition to its R&D, BioNTech is diversifying its GMP manufacturing infrastructure, with two state-of-the-art cGMP cell therapy sites and global commercial scale mRNA production capabilities. The company touts end-to-end mRNA production capabilities and a combined 100,000 square feet of manufacturing space, with a total capacity of more than 1 billion doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and enough flexibility to support a broad range of mRNA therapies. It expects to have a new site in Singapore in 2023 and is building a site in Rwanda, with new sites planned for Senegal and South Africa.
The company's mid-term goals include multiple product launches in the next three to five years and five to 10 Investigational New Drug (IND) application submissions per year.
Leveraging mRNA Against Cancer
Because of its COVID-19 vaccine and other infectious disease programs, its easy to forget that BioNTech has big ambitions for leveraging mRNA and other technologies into cancer. In early June, at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting, Vinod Balachandran, M.D. of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centerpresented preliminary Phase I data about BNT122, which the company is evaluating with Genentech as a treatment for pancreatic cancer.
The product is an mRNA-based individualized neoantigen-specific immunotherapy (iNeST) autogene cevumeran in combination with Genentechs Tecentriq (atezolizumab), an anti-PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitor. The patients in the trial have resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Early data demonstrated a favorable safety profile and encouraging indications of clinical activity. BNT122 is being developed for multiple solid tumors.
In its presentation, BioNTech reported that across its trials for iNeST vaccination, it had screened more than 1,400 patients with 28 different cancer indications, treated more than 420 patients, selected more than 122,500 neoantigens and processed about 1,700 tumor samples.
iNeST immunotherapies are individualized cancer treatments that target the patients unique tumor. They hold unmodified, pharmacologically optimized mRNA that codes for up to 20 patient-specific neoantigens. Neoantigens are proteins produced by cancer cells that are different from proteins manufactured by healthy cells. The mRNA is then inserted into BioNTechs proprietary intravenous RNA-lipoplex delivery formulation.
In addition to iNeST individualized cancer vaccines, BioNTech is focused on off-the-shelf cancer vaccines. Its gene and cell therapies include CAR T products, individualized TCR therapies, polyspecific T-cell therapies and in vivo engineered cell therapies, as well as next-generation immunomodulators, such as immune checkpoint molecules and engineered bispecific antibodies.
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BioNTech and Pfizer to Begin Testing Universal Coronavirus Vaccine - BioSpace
As per health experts, high fever, cough, congestion, runny nose, fatigue are commonly seen in people who have been infected by these sub variants.
These symptoms usually do not last for more than 2-3 days.
The symptoms begin with "fever, sore or scratchy throat, body ache, fatigue, followed by cough and throat irritation," Satish Koul, Director, Internal Medicine, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, told news agency IANS earlier this month.
While most health experts have said that there is nothing to worry about severity with these sub variants, they have also urged people not to drop their guard against COVID.
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Doctors have treated the first UK patient in a reopened clinical trial that will explore whether blood plasma from super donors can help fight Covid in those with weakened immune systems.
Super donors produce exceptionally high levels of antibodies after infection and vaccination, and there are hopes that transfusions of their blood plasma can wipe out the virus in people whose own immune systems are compromised.
While two landmark trials known as Recovery and Remap-Cap found that convalescent plasma from people who recovered from Covid did not benefit other patients, a closer look at the Remap-Cap data showed that plasma with the highest levels of antibodies might help the immunosuppressed.
The findings prompted doctors to reopen the plasma arm of the Remap-Cap trial to investigate specifically whether donated plasma with extremely high levels of antibodies can save the lives of people with weakened immune systems and reduce the amount of time they spend in intensive care.
Its really important because this is a group of patients who are still dying from Covid, said Prof Lise Estcourt, head of NHS Blood and Transplants clinical trials unit and chair of the new trial. This is something that could be beneficial to them.
The vulnerable group includes those with certain immune disorders and people who are on medicines that suppress immune defences, such as cancer and organ transplant patients. About half a million people in England are immunosuppressed.
More than 15 hospitals across the UK have agreed to take part in the trial, with more expected to join in the coming weeks. The first patient was transfused with plasma supplied by NHSBT at Charing Cross hospital in London.
The plasma used in the trial will come from patients who have been both infected with Covid and vaccinated against the virus, as this produces the highest concentrations of antibodies with the broadest effectiveness against different Covid variants. The donations will come from those who have already given blood, so there will be no fresh appeal for donors.
The highest level of antibodies seen so far in the reopened trial was in plasma donated by a man in his 20s. Tests found that his plasma contained more than 100,000 units of antibody per millilitre, about 100 times more than was seen in the first wave of the pandemic.
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If the trial finds that the plasma works, it would be a valuable treatment, Estcourt said, because some immunosuppressed people do not respond to the vaccine and monoclonal antibody treatments, which are often given to patients, can be less effective against new variants.
It could also be of particular use in the developing world, where access to more expensive treatments is limited, she said.
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Doctors treat first UK patient in Covid super donor blood trial - The Guardian
INDIANAPOLIS Just keep fighting. Its a motto a Greenwood woman lives by after not only overcoming COVID-19 twice but working through a complication of the virus that left her unable to walk.
I've just seen so many people just struggling to overcome that COVID diagnosis, IU Health physical therapist Rachael Handt said.
Amber Luedke is one of those patients Handt is referring to.
The 32-year-old from Greenwood spends several days a week working to regain strength, stability, and the like after she was diagnosed with Guillain Barre syndrome. It is a rare condition where a bodys immune system attacks the nerves.
Some people recover the ability to walk in about 6 months. Others its two years, Handt said.
In March of 2020, Luedke first got coronavirus, and with it came the feeling of pins and needles down her legs.
Doctors couldnt really figure out what was going on. It was just COVID and so I just kind of lived with it, Luedke said.
Her symptoms never really went away, but instead worsened this past December. Thats when she caught COVID, again. This time she lost feeling in her legs, and the numbness and tingling spread to her arms.
I was concerned. I was worried. But at the same time, had faith, Luedke said.
Luedkes doctors diagnosed her with GB adding it was a complication from COVID.
While in the hospital, she started physical therapy and regained the ability to walk just in time for her wedding a month later.
When I get back home, I pushed it a little too hard, and Im back to square one. Back in the hospital for 12 days, Luedke said.
After another hospital stay, the newlywed went through intense physical therapy for a second time to regain the ability to walk.
Six months after the initial diagnosis, Luedke will soon wrap up a PT session.
You have to keep fighting. You cant give up with GB because the question I kept asking myself was how badly do you want it? Luedke said. I went through something so traumatic but at the same time I learned a lot, I learned a lot about myself. Im very strong.
Luedke is expected to make a full recovery.
Luedke is hoping in sharing her story, others know how to identify GB and will take COVID seriously.
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Overcoming COVID-19 complications: Just keep fighting - WRTV
The Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR), in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA), and on behalf of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury), distributed the second tranche payment of American Rescue Plan Act State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (ARPA-SLFRF) to Wisconsin non-entitlement units (NEUs) of government last week.
A total of 1,824 Wisconsin NEUs are receiving a second payment of ARPA-SLFRF funding. The collaboration effort between DOA and DOR results in a distribution of over $205 million in relief funds to local governments in Wisconsin.
"I am extremely proud of the efforts of our staff to ensure every local unit of government was contacted and made fully aware of the funding available to them. As a result, 99.8% of Wisconsin's towns, villages and cities decided to accept and have now received this funding for their communities," said Department of Revenue Secretary Peter Barca. This is a remarkable achievement, and the Towns Association and League of Municipalities, who have been excellent partners with us, deserve enormous credit.
NEUs are typically Wisconsin towns, villages and cities with a population under 50,000. Through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, NEUs could apply for relief funding last year. The payments were to be distributed in two allocations; 50% was distributed in 2021, and the remaining portion was allocated today.
Local governments are authorized to use their relief funds to:
Support public health expenditures
Address negative economic impacts caused by the public health emergency
Replace lost public sector revenue
Provide premium pay for essential workers
Invest in water, sewer and broadband infrastructure
Note: Local governments can use up to $10 million (not more than their award amount) for government services
Allowable uses of the ARPA funds are listed in full on the Treasury's frequently asked questions page
DOR's ARPA State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds web page has more information and links to payment details
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