Category: Corona Virus

Although the current COVID-19 wave of infections with the JN.1 subvariant of Omicron peaked on the eve of the new year, the latest data on SARS-CoV-2 wastewater concentration reported byBiobot Analyticsindicates rates have plateaued at around 821 copies per milliliter, which is considered a very high level. A second peak is anticipated in mid-February before infection rates begin to decline for the winter.

Modeling by clinical psychologist Dr. Mike Hoerger of Tulane University, who also teaches statistics and research methodology to medical professionals, through hisPandemic Mitigation Collaborative, estimated that this corresponds to more than 1.2 million daily infections, 8.5 million infections for the preceding week with anticipated Long COVID cases among these numbering from 426,000 to 1.7 million.

The total cumulative number of infections in 2024 is projected at approximately 41 million people. Given almost 100 million were infected by the end of December in the winter wave, it is reasonable to assume that by the end of the winter wave at least half of the country will have been infected at least once. It would also be reasonable to assume that a majority of these are reinfections. Hoergers estimates place the average number of infections in the US at around 3.2 times per person.

Despite these horrific figures, hardly any news media, let alone the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or White House, is offering any semblance of a warning to the population let alone the scale of the public health crisis that is sweeping over the population.

The infected have to go it their own relying on family or friends and neighbors, if at all, to care for themselves. All the while they will be negotiating with their employers for time off that will be deducted from their paid time off, if they have any. But even these limited measures to protect oneself and others are being curtailed by the demands of industry and not on any objectively scientific or clinical recommendations.

For example, Californias Department of Public Health, aligning their practice with other respiratory viruses, issued newrulesin January that eliminated isolation requirements for asymptomatic COVID-positive students and most workers and limited isolation periods to 24 hours for those with mild symptoms. These regulations make a mockery of any basic idea of infection control with a virus that has a propensity to infect every organ in hosts whose immunity is limited to a brief few weeks after previous vaccination or infection and then against severe disease.

Lisa Wilson, a mother of a disabled student at Berkeley Unified High School, upon hearing of the states January 9 recommendations which many public-school districts across the state have readily adopted, told the local press, The departments recommendations have no basis in public health epidemiology infected but asymptomatic students are still contagious. Their politically driven policies will only lead to more disability and death.

The impact of the ending of the emergency phase of the pandemic last May is coming into view. This meant a rapid turn to abandoning all public health measures and defunding of the ability of health agencies and health systems to respond to public health threats. As a consequence, not only is COVID continuing to cause significant harm to the population, but previously checked diseases that had nearly been forgotten are once more erupting on the world stage. In particular, the emergence of measles should stand as a disturbing development and a warning that priorities need to be redirected to protecting populations.

One must ask, is Californias Department of Public Health correct to lump COVID with other respiratory viruses such as the flu? It would bear reviewing the clinical data between these two pathogens during the Pirola phase of COVID.

Biobot Analytics data also showed that wastewater concentrations for both influenza A and B peaked at the same time as SARS-CoV-2.

According to the CDCs Weekly US Influenza SurveillanceReport, since the flu season began in early September, there were nearly 160,000 people hospitalized for influenza infection. There were more than 460,000 COVID admissions in the same period. The peak of flu deaths occurred on the last week of 2023 with 771 deaths reported. During the same week, the CDC registered 2,250 COVID deaths, or a figure almost three times higher.

While the 2023/2024 flu-season has claimed 5,434 people, COVID-19 has killed 27,671 in the same time frame. Also, very compelling data from Greg Travis, who maintains the onlyexcess death trackerfor the United States, showed that between 2022 and 2023, around 960 children 17 years old and under died from COVID. By comparison, 248 children died in the last two flu seasons.

However, given the lifting of mandates for reporting by health systems to the CDC on COVID admissions and deaths, even these horrific figures can be construed as under-counts, underscoring the dangers posed by COVID to the elderly and infirm, who are effectively being euthanized by the inhuman policies that have prioritized finances over survival.

Mehring Books

COVID, Capitalism, and Class War: A Social and Political Chronology of the Pandemic

A compilation of the World Socialist Web Site's coverage of this global crisis, available in epub and print formats.

Additionally, the low rates of death from the flu during the first two years of the COVID pandemic, a byproduct of near universal masking and social distancing during the first phase of coronavirus, demonstrates that these respiratory pathogens can be eliminated and lives protected. But these need to be stated goals of states and governments to protect life. The resurgence of the flu to previous levels only further confirms the Socialist Equality Partys analysis that the malign neglect of the ruling elites has caused life expectancy to decline for the working class, for whom the social benefits of public health services cant be understated.

And still, rates of uptake of theCOVID vaccinesremain abysmal. As of January 20, 2024, little more than one in five adults have received the updated COVID boosters. Among those in rural communities, the rate was under 17 percent. Among children, little more than one in ten have received the vaccines. By comparison, the national coverage for theflu vaccinesis about one in two.

These figures do not even begin to take into consideration of the impact of Long COVID, which has been described as a mass-disabling event and a pandemic within a pandemic. A recentstudyconducted byHelpAdvisor,a health advisory group, found that nearly one-quarter of Americans 18 years of age and older, who previously had been infected with SARS-CoV-2, went on to experience symptoms of Long COVID. Adults in Oklahoma had the highest rates of Long COVID, which affected one-third of the states population. Nationally, almost one-third of those with previous COVID infections reported having post-acute symptoms that impacted their ability to carry out daily activities.

Those with health conditions who are older have a higher propensity for displaying long-term manifestation of chronic illnesses associated with their COVID infections. For instance, studies in cancer patients have shown that up to half of them have persistent symptoms, most commonly associated with fatigue, sleep disturbances and body aches. These have considerable ramifications as they have multiple co-morbidities and higher need for healthcare access which may be compromised by Long COVID.

A recent telephone survey study conducted by Canadian Cancer Survivor Network (CCSN) studying Long COVID had 1,505 respondents, of whom 50 percent had developed COVID, or their caregivers did.Of those surveyed, 16 percent developed Long COVID. Nearly half of these infections occurred more than a year before the survey and half reported that the severity of their infections was moderate. As to vaccination status, 81 percent had noted having received at least one to two boosters and 12 percent had two doses of the vaccine.

Of those who developed Long COVID, 72 percent had fatigue, while 57 percent had difficulty breathing and 53 percent had memory, concentration, or sleep disturbances. Only 38 percent had symptoms lasting less than six months while a quarter of respondents had symptoms for more than one year. Yet, when asked how long it took to feel completely recovered from Long COVID, nine in 10 admitted they still had residual symptoms of Long COVID that were like their initial Long COVID symptoms. Many with Long COVID were frustrated by the health systems unfamiliarity with or hesitancy to treat their condition.

The saying that the best way to avoid Long COVID is to avoid COVID in the first place remains undeniably true.

Join the fight to end the COVID-19 pandemic

Someone from the Socialist Equality Party or the WSWS in your region will contact you promptly.

Link:

Millions infected, thousands dead in winter surge of COVID-19 in the US - WSWS

Many people with COVID-19 seem able to move on with their lives with relative ease after a few uncomfortable days, or maybe a couple weeks.

But sleep issues in the months following COVID-19 may be a bigger issue than has been reported in earlier long COVID research.

For a study published on February 4, 2024, in Frontiers of Public Health, scientists in Vietnam surveyed more than 1,000 people who had recovered from COVID-19 that did not require hospitalization; none had a prior history of insomnia or psychiatric conditions.

Just over 76 percent reported experiencing insomnia within six months after their initial infection, the researchers found. Of those patients, nearly 23 percent said their insomnia was severe.

The results of the current study confirm the high prevalence of insomnia in COVID-19 survivors with none or mild symptoms who did not require hospitalization, wrote Huong Thi Xuan Hoang, an investigator at the school of nursing at Phenikaa University in Hanoi, Vietnam, and her study coauthors.

Hoang and her research team noted that among the study participants, those with depression or anxiety were more than 3 times as likely to have insomnia. They also observed a statistically higher rate of insomnia in the nearly 12 percent of study subjects who had preexisting chronic conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer.

For the analysis, 1,056 adults (average age 33 and just over two-thirds were female) completed a survey between June and September 2022 asking how well they slept, how long they slept, and how easy it was to fall asleep in the last two weeks compared with before contracting COVID-19.

The survey also measured symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress, and captured patient characteristics, including age, sex, chronic conditions, and severity of COVID illness.

Half the participants said they woke more often in the night post-infection, while one-third said they found it harder to fall asleep, slept worse, and slept for less time.

Hoang and her collaborators highlighted that the severity of infection did not seem to correspond with the severity of sleep disruption.

They also recognized certain limitations in the study; for instance, it was based on data reported by participants (versus data from researchers direct observations). They also point out that the research didnt prove that COVID-19 causes insomnia, but simply that there is an association.

If youre having trouble with insomnia in the wake of COVID-19, dont ignore it, experts say: Get help.

The whole point [of the study] is that COVID, even if its mild, may be linked with insomnia, saysAbhinav Singh, MD, medical director of the Indiana Sleep Center in Greenwood and clinical assistant professor at Marian University College of Medicine in Indianapolis. People who have had COVID need to be aware of this and seek help early for their insomnia. Dont let this problem germinate. Dont sleep on your sleep problems. Seek action early and get back to sleeping well.

Dr. Singh, who was not involved in the study, confirms that addressing sleep problems may be especially pressing for those with mental-health issues such as depression and anxiety, who can be more prone to insomnia. Priorresearch has demonstrated that optimal sleep is connected with high levels of well-being.

In cases of mild insomnia, Hoang and her study co-authors wrote in their paper, better sleep may result from simple actions, such as taking a warm shower before bedtime, shutting your phone down at least one hour before going to bed, doing 30 minutes of exercise per day (but not close to bedtime), and avoiding caffeine after 4 p.m.

Over-the-counter sleep aids may help, but if insomnia persists, a person should see a doctor or sleep therapist.

For those seeking help from a medical professional, Singh calls cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) the gold standard of insomnia treatment. CBT focuses on identifying thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that are contributing to symptoms of insomnia.

Sleep is life, Singh says. Your body needs sleep to survive. If youve lost it, that means something has come in the way and we have to find what it is and remove it.

See more here:

Insomnia After COVID-19 is Likely, Per a New Study - Everyday Health

A substantial amount of study has been undertaken on vaccine hesitancy and the various elements influencing an individuals decision to accept or not accept a vaccine. SAGE developed three categories based on experience in various countries and comprehensive literature reviews to analyze these issues, referred to as the 3Cs model: complacency (not considering diseases as high-risk and vaccination as crucial), convenience (practical obstacles), and confidence (a lack of trust in vaccine safety and effectiveness) [2, 5]. This model was later revised in 2018, emphasizing the importance of more than just the concept of confidence, and emerged as the 5Cs model (Table1): confidence, complacency, constraints (modification of the term convenience to now include both structural and psychological barriers), calculation (individuals engagement in extensive information searching), and collective responsibility (communal orientation to protect others) [18, 19].

In 2016, Thomson et al. introduced a different taxonomy to explain vaccine uptake determining factors, known as the 5As. They identified five categories regarded as access (the ability of an individual to reach or be reached by vaccination), affordability (the capacity of an individual to afford vaccines either financially or non-financially), awareness (personal knowledge about the importance of vaccination as well as its objectives and risks), acceptance (the degree to accept or refuse vaccination), and activation (motivation/encouragement to receive vaccination) [20].

In the Indonesian context, there have been no studies specifically dedicated to assessing or exploring hesitancy regarding routine vaccination using the 5Cs approach. However, a recent study conducted by Sujarwoto et al. [21], which investigated COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in a district in Indonesia, revealed that respondents held low levels of confidence and complacency beliefs about the vaccine. Furthermore, the study identified more general sources of mistrust within the community, particularly concerning health providers and vaccine developers. However, these factors may vary depending on individual, cultural, and societal contexts. By comprehending these elements, healthcare providers and public health officials can formulate precise strategies to tackle vaccine hesitancy and enhance vaccine acceptance and utilization, as presented in Table 1.

Misinformation and conspiracy theories are widely recognized as critical drivers of vaccine hesitancy. False information about the safety and efficacy of vaccines can spread quickly and easily through social media and other channels, which leading to fear and skepticism about vaccination [22, 23]. One prominent example of vaccine misinformation is the claim that the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine causes autism. As a result, some parents have refused to have their children vaccinated, which in the long term, could lead to outbreaks of measles in specific populations [24, 25].

During the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia, misinformation and hoaxes have contributed to vaccine hesitancy among parents and caregivers, especially concerning vaccines that require multiple injections as part of routine immunization [26, 27]. The proportion of children who received their primary measles and rubella immunizations experienced a decline from 95% in 2019 to 87% in 2021. Moreover, there has been a substantial increase in the percentage of children who were not administered the diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus (DPT) immunizations, rising from 10% in 2019 to 26% in 2021 [27]. This situation poses a significant risk to children, as it increases their susceptibility to a range of preventable diseases.

Beside misinformation and conspiration theories, lack of trust in government and healthcare institutions could impact the vaccine hesitancy. For instance, the case of Tuskegee Syphilis Study, which was conducted by unethically on African American men, has resulted in Black communities [28] enduring mistrust of government and healthcare institutions. Similarly, in Indonesia, the lack of trust in the government has been triggered by various factors, including past conflicts in certain provinces [29] and the governments response to the COVID-19 situation [30]. This lack of trust is exacerbated by existing disparities in healthcare access and delivery, which could lead people to be hesitant about getting the vaccine due to concerns about unequal distribution and difficulty of access [31, 32].

Next, vaccine safety and adverse effects is commonly stimulating vaccine hesitancy [33]. People may be unwilling to get immunized out because they are worried about adverse reactions, especially if they have a history of allergies or prior medical disorders [19, 33]. In the past, there have been questions about the safety of the HPV vaccine due to claims made by certain people that it can result in chronic discomfort, seizures, and even death [34]. The vaccine is safe and effective, but scientific evidence has shown that these allegations are mainly baseless [34, 35].

Similarly, concerns about the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine have been expressed, particularly in light of its rapid development and emergency use authorization [36]. Clinical studies and real-world data have consistently shown that these vaccines are highly effective with minimal risk of severe side effects [37]. However, a national survey on COVID-19 vaccine acceptance conducted by the Ministry of Health of Indonesia, which included 112,888 participants, revealed some concerning results. It showed that 64.8% were willing to take the vaccine, 7.6% were unwilling to take it, and 26.6% were unsure about whether to get vaccinated. Furthermore, participants in the survey expressed various concerns about COVID-19 vaccines. Specifically, 30% were uncertain about the vaccines safety, 22% had reservations about its effectiveness, 12% expressed fears of potential side effects, 8% cited religious or belief-related reasons, and 15% cited other factors [38].

In the social context, previous studies showed that cultural and religious beliefs may also play a role in vaccine hesitancy [39]. Some individuals may be hesitant to get vaccinated due to religious or cultural beliefs that conflict with vaccination, such as the belief that illness is Gods punishment or that alternative remedies are more effective than modern medicine [40].

Concerns about the use of fetal cells in vaccine development and the belief that illnesses are divine punishment have contributed to vaccine reluctance in some Orthodox Jewish communities, for instance [41, 42]. Correspondingly, in Indonesia, a country where approximately 87% of the population is Muslim, concerns have arisen over the use of non-halal components obtained from pork in vaccine formulations. These concerns have the potential to increase vaccine hesitancy in the country [43].

In addition, vaccine hesitancy may be influenced by socioeconomic variables such as low income, educational attainment, and limited healthcare accessibility [44]. Individuals residing in financially disadvantaged conditions may encounter obstacles in accessing vaccinations, such as financial constraints or scheduling conflicts that prevent them from receiving the vaccine promptly, or they may opt not to receive it [44, 45]. Individuals with lower education levels may have a restricted understanding of vaccines and their advantages, rendering them more vulnerable to misinformation [46]. In addition, inadequate healthcare accessibility may impede individuals from obtaining vaccinations on time, while restricted access to precise health information may result in misconceptions or skepticism regarding vaccines [47].

Behavioural scientists have investigated how heuristics, including vaccination, might influence judgement and decision making. Heuristics, a mental shortcut that enables people to solve problems quickly and make intuitive decisions, can be helpful when initiated by the correct variables [48, 49]. However, the influence of wrong circumstances such as misinformation and disinformation, and anti-vaccine movement, can lead to systemic errors or cognitive biases. For example, omission bias occurs when people tend to view harms from the act commission (actions) as more excellent than harms from omission (inactions); confirmation bias refers to the finding that strong initial beliefs are resistant to change because they influence how subsequent information is interpreted; and the Dunning Krueger effect, in which people who lack expertise fail to accurately assess their knowledge in comparison to experts on the subject [49].

Notwithstanding the unwillingness of specific individuals to receive vaccines, it is important to acknowledge the existence and impact of the anti-vaccine movement. They engage in campaigns against vaccines, frequently disseminating inaccurate information and instilling apprehension regarding their safety and efficacy [50]. The current campaign has the potential to generate vaccine hesitancy among individuals who had previously placed their trust in the healthcare system and vaccination initiatives. The outcome is an escalating count of individuals who hesitate or deliberately decline vaccination, resulting in decreased vaccination rates and heightened susceptibility to diseases that vaccines can prevent [50, 51]. Consequently, it is fundamental to acknowledge the apprehensions of individuals who are hesitant towards vaccines and furnish precise information to refute the misinformation propagated by the anti-vaccine movement.

Vaccine hesitancy has been found to be associated with a range of socio-economic and demographic variables. The prevalence of concerns regarding the safety and effectiveness of vaccines is observed to be higher in high-income countries (HICs), as opposed to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where factors such as cultural and religious convictions, unfavorable past encounters with foreign medical interventions and vaccination initiatives, and challenges within healthcare systems are more prevalent [52]. Common factors between the two categories encompass a lack of trust in medical institutions and governmental bodies, the spreading of conspiracy theories, and the dissemination of misinformation through social media [19, 52].

Parents who declined to vaccinate their children or held a pessimistic outlook towards vaccination were found to be more susceptible to demonstrating such apprehensions [53]. The primary rationale cited by parents in India, Nigeria, and Pakistan for abstaining from vaccinating their children was the perceived risk of adverse effects associated with immunization. The apprehension regarding severe adverse effects may stem from prior encounters with unfavorable incidents after immunization, which may be attributed to the vaccination process [54,55,56]. This, together with the belief that vaccines may cause harm, has led to the perception that vaccinations result in adverse reactions such as fever. Furthermore, a commonly reported conjecture was that the polio vaccine administration was linked to adult sterility, leading to a significant number of parents declining to immunize their children with the vaccine [56].

In the Indonesian context, vaccine hesitancy can be attributed to various factors, given the countrys middle-income status. The complexity of the issue presents a significant challenge [26]. Vaccine hesitancy in Indonesia is a multifaceted problem that requires tailored and collaborative efforts across various sectors. Despite the governments initiatives to improve vaccination rates, there remains a substantial gap in our understanding of the factors influencing vaccine acceptance and hesitancy [26, 57].

Furthermore, it is critical to highlight the significant disparities in vaccine coverage observed across Indonesias nationwide measles and rubella (MR) immunization program. Coverage rates vary widely among districts, ranging from as low as 2% to as high as 100%. Notably, more than one-third of districts report coverage rates below the established threshold of 70%. The link between the discontinuation of vaccination programs due to hesitancy and the subsequent decline in coverage rates is well-established [26].

Moreover, the hesitancy to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in Indonesia has been found to be highly correlated with various socio-demographic characteristics, including age, residential location, educational attainment, employment status, and family economic situation. Participants from Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam exhibited a higher degree of hesitancy towards receiving COVID-19 vaccines compared to their counterparts from the Philippines [58].

Additionally, concerns about vaccine safety have played a substantial role in shaping public discourse. Negative perceptions of vaccine safety, including anxieties about the rapid pace of vaccine development, have been identified as a primary driver of hesitancy. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) like Indonesia, where documented COVID-19 cases and fatalities have been relatively lower, individuals may perceive the disease as less severe, leading to reduced willingness to accept any potential risks associated with vaccination [59].

Finally, it is worth emphasizing that confidence in routine vaccinations has declined amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This trend has been observed in numerous countries, with some experiencing a significant decrease of up to 44 percentage points. The diminishing confidence level, coupled with the unique challenges faced by LMICs, has further exacerbated vaccine hesitancy in Indonesia [60].

In high-income countries, vaccine hesitancy could originate from complacency, as vaccine-preventable diseases have declined in these regions. In 2019, there were more than 1200 reported measles cases across 31 states in the United States [61]. This trend can be partially attributed to vaccine hesitancy [62]. Certain parents resisted vaccinating their children because of concerns regarding vaccines safety and probable negative consequences. Meanwhile, a few others declined vaccination due to their religious or philosophical convictions. The epidemic underscored the necessity for enhanced instruction and consciousness regarding the importance of immunizations, alongside endeavors to counteract the dissemination of false information concerning immunizations and enhance immunization availability. In Europe, there have been recent outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and mumps [27, 63], which have been attributed to vaccine hesitancy. Vaccine hesitancy in certain nations is linked to a dearth of confidence in governmental and healthcare establishments, alongside a conviction that vaccines are superfluous owing to advancements in sanitation and hygiene. These outbreaks have led to demands for heightened vaccination rates and initiatives aimed at addressing vaccine hesitancy through public awareness drives and improved availability of vaccines.

Moreover, a contentious issue exists regarding the administration of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which further exacerbates hesitancy [34]. Although the vaccine has demonstrated effectiveness in preventing cervical cancer and other diseases associated with HPV, some parents in developed countries are unwilling to immunize their children due to worries regarding the vaccines safety and potential negative consequences. The safety concerns surrounding the HPV vaccine were subject to investigation in Denmark [64]. The media initiated coverage of purported unfavorable occurrences concerning Danish females, encompassing a documentary that portrayed a cohort of girls exhibiting diverse incapacitating symptoms that were presumed to have been induced by HPV vaccination. The findings indicate a rapid decline in the utilization of HPV vaccination in the specified nation during the period spanning from 2009 to 2014 [64]. In certain instances, the reluctance has been intensified by inaccurate information propagated through social media and other communication platforms. As a result, the vaccination rates for HPV in certain high-income nations have persisted below the recommended levels set by public health authorities, leading to a continued susceptibility to HPV-associated illnesses among those who have not received the vaccine.

Continue reading here:

Vaccine hesitancy and equity: lessons learned from the past and how they affect the COVID-19 countermeasure in ... - Globalization and Health

The announcement that King Charles III has been diagnosed with cancer has come as a shock to many in Britain, largely because the 75-year-old monarch has generally enjoyed good health through the years

By

SYLVIA HUI Associated Press

February 5, 2024, 3:40 PM ET

4 min read

LONDON -- The announcement Monday that King Charles III has been diagnosed with cancer has come as a shock to many in Britain, largely because the 75-year-old monarch has generally enjoyed good health through the years.

Palace officials did not specify what kind of cancer the king has, or how serious his condition is. They only said that it was discovered during the kings recent hospital treatment for an enlarged prostate, but isn't prostate cancer.

Charles who came to the throne after his mother Queen Elizabeth II died in September 2022 has started a schedule of regular treatments and will postpone public-facing duties, officials said.

Here is a look at Charles' health history, from contracting COVID-19 to a series of injuries sustained from playing polo and hunting over the decades:

PROSTATE TREATMENT

Charles was discharged from a private London hospital a week ago after undergoing treatment on an enlarged prostate.

Officials said the condition was benign, though the king canceled engagements and was urged to rest before the procedure.

An enlarged prostate is common in men over age 50 and affects thousands in the U.K. The condition affects how one urinates and isnt usually a serious health threat. Its not cancer and doesnt lead to an increased risk of developing prostate cancer.

Palace officials said the king publicized details about his condition in an effort to encourage other men to have their prostates checked in line with public health advice.

COVID-19

Charles had COVID-19 twice, but officials said that he only suffered mild symptoms both times.

He isolated at home in Scotland in March 2020, during the early days of the pandemic in the U.K. and before vaccines were available. He remained in good health, though he lost his sense of taste and smell for a time. Charles later spoke of the strange, frustrating and often distressing experience of being isolated from friends and family during lockdown.

Charles contracted the coronavirus a second time in February 2022. He had been triple-vaccinated at the time.

SPORTS INJURIES

Charles was a keen polo player and suffered an array of injuries over years of sports and exercise.

In 1980 he was thrown and kicked by his pony during a polo match at Windsor and needed six stitches on his cheek.

In the 1990s he underwent several operations after he broke his right arm in a fall during a polo match and injured his left knee during another game.

In 2001 he was knocked unconscious and taken to the hospital in an ambulance when his horse threw him during a polo match he was playing with his sons Prince William and Prince Harry.

Charles also had various injuries from hunting accidents. He broke a rib when he fell from his horse in 1998, and in 2001 he fractured a small bone in his shoulder after another tumble.

The king retired from playing polo after more than 40 years in 2005.

SAUSAGE FINGERS?

There has long been speculation about Charles' swollen sausage fingers, with some suggesting they may be due to fluid build-up, arthritis or other conditions.

Whether the puffy digits are due to a health condition remains unexplained, but Charles has on more than one occasion jokingly referenced them himself.

In a BBC documentary on Charles' coronation, the king was seen reassuring his son Prince William when he struggled to fasten one of the ceremonial robes. He jokingly told William not to worry, because you haven't got sausage fingers like mine.

MINOR TREATMENTS

Charles has had other minor medical treatments over the years.

In 2008 he had a non-cancerous growth removed from the bridge of his nose in a minor, routine procedure. He had a hernia operation at a private hospital in 2003, and joked hernia today, gone tomorrow to waiting reporters when he was discharged the next day.

Charles, who has a degenerative disc at the base of his spine, has also spoken about his back pain. He is known to travel on royal tours with a cushion, and a velvet cushion is usually placed on his chair during state banquets at Buckingham Palace.

In his memoir Spare, Prince Harry wrote about Charles' exercises at home to keep his constant" neck and back pain in check.

Go here to read the rest:

What we know about King Charles III's health history, from COVID-19 to polo injuries - ABC News

In the United States, nearly 1 in 4 female adolescents and young adults test positive for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) annually, a statistic made even more troubling by the fact that these young women often avoid health care due to cost, transportation, and confidentiality concerns. With more than 33% of adolescents reporting no primary care provider, this demographic often relies on emergency departments (EDs) and inpatient (IP) settings for their health care needs.

STI test / jarun011 - stock.adobe.com

With the COVID-19 pandemic having decreased healthcare access in the United States, adolescents at risk for sexually transmitted diseases were further compromised. At the time, health experts warned of adverse outcomes on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) for adolescents.

Recently, a study published in Hospital Pediatrics compared changes in STI diagnoses during adolescent visits at childrens hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic to diagnoses before the pandemic.1 Investigators conducted the retrospective cohort study using the Pediatric Health Information System database comparing adolescent (aged 11 to 18 years) hospital visits with an STI diagnosis by the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision, during COVID-19 from 2020 to pre-COVID-19 (2017 through 2019).

A total of 2,747,135 adolescent visits from 44 hospitals in the United States were studied, of which 10,941 resulted in an STI diagnosis. The majority (54.5%) of the STI diagnoses were the primary diagnosis: an STI was the primary diagnosis for 36% of IP visits and 66% of ED visits. Where an STI was a secondary diagnosis, the most common primary diagnoses included urinary tract infections, sepsis, acute vaginitis, and unspecified abdominal pain.

READ MORE: COVID-19 Vaccination Effective at Preventing Long COVID in Children, Adolescents

During the summer of 2020, compared to the pre-COVID-19 period, there was an increase (30.4%) in median inpatient weekly visits overall with an STI diagnosis, as well as an increase in visits in fall 2020 (27.3%). Investigators also acknowledged that other recent studies have shown decreased STI testing and increased STI diagnoses in various clinical settings during COVID-19 periods of 2020.

Our findings may be partially driven by changes in health care utilization (eg, loss of primary care access and school-based sexual education) and increased reliance on nontraditional settings for SRH care, including hospital-based care, noted the authors.

Researchers concluded that as a result of this increase in adolescent inpatient visits with an STI diagnosis in 2020, further work is needed to improve STI care, particularly for this demographic. In the study, the authors noted, Given our findings and recent literature on SRH care of adolescents during COVID-19, efforts are needed to optimize SRH care and offset risk for increased STIsto prepare for future pandemics. To optimize STI testing and treatment, innovative efforts are needed, including virtual and in-person outreach, to increase adolescent access to SRH education and care. These efforts are instrumental to reduce the risk for STIs among adolescents cared for in the hospital with the potential to improve related health outcomesin future health care crises.

READ MORE: COVID-19 Resource Center

This article originally appeared in Contemporary OB/GYN.

Follow this link:

Increase in STIs Among Adolescents Witnessed During COVID-19 Pandemic - Drug Topics

About 1 in 5 adolescents report symptoms of anxiety or depression, according to a KFF analysis of a new federal survey of teen health.

While some teens are getting mental health care, a significant share say they are not receiving the therapy they need due to costs, fear of what others will think, and/or not knowing how to get help.

Data from the recently released Teen National Health Interview Survey from July 2021 to December 2022, reveals that 21% of adolescents ages 12-17 report experiencing symptoms of anxiety in the past two weeks, and 17% said they had symptoms of depression.

Female adolescents were more than twice as likely as their male peers to report feelings of anxiety (31% vs. 12%) and depression (25% vs. 10%) during the survey period. Rates were highest among LGBT+ adolescents, with 43%reporting symptoms of anxiety and 37% saying they had symptoms of depression.

The results of the survey unique in that they represent direct responses from adolescents themselves, rather than from their parents or guardians come at a time of heightened concern about the state of American teenagers mental health.

The analysis also examines data on the rates of adolescent drug overdoses, suicide and self-harm, by race/ethnicity and sex. It also examines access to therapy and the share of adolescents who report negative experiences, such as bullying.

While studies have documented rising mental health problems among adolescents in the U.S. for years, the trend was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2021, the U.S. Surgeon General has twice issued advisories about the challenges to youth mental health, including the threat posed by excessive social media use.

Among the other key takeaways from KFFs analysis:

The full analysis, Recent Trends in Mental Health and Substance use Concerns Among Adolescents, is available here.

Also recently released by KFF are two related analyses: One takes stock of the latest efforts in the states to combat the opioid epidemic and another describes the supply and characteristics of substance use and mental health treatment facilities across the U.S.

See the rest here:

Roughly 1 in 5 Adolescents Report Experiencing Symptoms of Anxiety or Depression | KFF - KFF

Representational image

A novel gene editing platform OmiCrisp, by Bengaluru-based startup CrisprBits, is monitoring sewage crisamples to track the highly transmissible JN.1 variant of the COVID-19 virus in the city.

OmiCrisp is a testing platform based on CRISPR, a breakthrough gene-editing technology, for rapid diagnosis and surveillance of SARS-CoV2. It is monitoring the Omicron-derived JN.1 variant in sewage samples from 14 localities in Bengaluru every week, the company said.

The CRISPR-based test not only detects the virus but also distinguishes variants of the Omicron lineage from other previously known variants of concern. This technology can specifically discriminate the actual base changes as the virus mutates, instead of relying on the absence of signal due to sequence changes.

In the Journal of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, OmiCrisp was validated in 80 clinical samples and more than 160 wastewater samples with a remarkable 99% accuracy, the company said. Clinical samples were cross-validated against the highly accurate next-generation sequencing platform, while wastewater results were compared using approved qRTPCR tests.

"OmiCrisp validation is one of the first studies to employ CRISPR-based testing in environmental samples," said Vijay Chandru, an author on the study, Chief Scientific Officer and Co-Founder, CrisprBits, in a statement.

Notably, the CRISPR-based test demonstrated tolerance to poor-quality samples derived from sewage, highlighting its utility in discerning even single base changes in matrices of inferior stability.

Founded in 2020 by five distinguished alumni of BITS-Pilani, CrisprBits is a startup incubated by Bengaluru-based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP). It aims to bring innovative solutions using the CRISPR technology.

"OmiCrisp is a CRISPR-based one-stop diagnostic and screening tool for Omicron variant and its lineages has shown a remarkable accuracy of up to 99% in both clinical and sewage samples. This has enormous implications for India's pandemic preparedness for COVID and other infectious disease outbreaks," said Taslimarif Saiyed, Director CEO of C-CAMP, in the statement.

CrisprBits is currently focused on launching its point-of-need instrument light platform, PathCrisp, in 2024, for clinical and environmental surveillance.

**

The above article has been published from a wire agency with minimal modifications to the headline and text.

See more here:

Bengaluru Startup Tracks JN.1 COVID-19 Variant in Sewage Samples With 99% Accuracy | Weather.com - The Weather Channel

Parents and caregivers of young children, you can show your children how much you care and help them stay healthy by keeping medicines in a safe place when you spend time together. Kids (and pets!) can get sick if they swallow medicines, vitamins, or other supplements theyre not supposed to (including gummies).

Learn how to keep medicines somewhere safe at UpAndAway.org at https://upandaway.org.

If you think a child might have swallowed a medicine, vitamin, or other supplement, get help right away even if youre not sure. Call Poison Help at 800-222-1222 or go to https://PoisonHelp.org.

Excerpt from:

Put your medicines up and away and out of sight - Longview News-Journal

When an outbreak occurs, it tends to spread quickly and efficiently. We saw it happen with COVID-19. Thats due in large part to the way viruses grow and shed themselves, spreading among individuals who are in close proximity to one another.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we learned a lot about the importance of social distancing, staying at home when sick and limiting exposure to other people when we think we may have come into contact with an illness.

But even now, COVID-19 remains dangerous for many, especially our most vulnerable populations. And the concept of superspreader events gatherings of people where even just a single infection spurs a large outbreak among attendees is not just a thing of the pandemic past. Its a harsh reality that still requires caution.

Weddings, funerals and even large family parties (like birthdays or holiday dinners) are just a few examples of regular events that can turn into superspreaders if those in attendance arent careful.

The more people there are, the higher the risk becomes for infection especially if someone in attendance has knowingly experienced symptoms and/or been exposed to a virus before the event.

Originally, we were worried about superspreader events when not a lot of people were infected at the start of the pandemic, says infectious disease doctor Donald Dumford, MD.

During those times, superspreader events were leading to a really big ramp-up in the pandemic. At this point, superspreader events can still lead to a lot of infections, but now, the risk for infection at any public event has become more commonplace.

Dr. Dumford discusses superspreader events, why theyre still so prime for infection, and what you can do to protect yourself when you inevitably attend one (lest the FOMO set in).

One of the confounding things about superspreader events is that they dont have exact criteria. Its entirely possible to have a large gathering of people where very few people (or even none) contract a virus, while a family gathering of just a dozen people could spread a virus to everyone.

When you see a large event where theres a greater amount of transmission than would be expected, that qualifies as a superspreader, clarifies Dr. Dumford.

He points tothe new standardwhere an infected person at a gathering can be expected to infect two to three people (an average of 2.5), with an infection rate of about 20% among family members, from an infectious person.

When you see an event where that rate is higher, thats usually what youd consider a superspreader event, he continues. As an example, he notes the now well-knownstudy from Washington Statethat focused on a 61-person choir practice in which a single infected member caused 32 confirmed infections and 20 additional probable cases among the other members.

Normally, Dr. Dumford says, you would expect two or three people, the closest to the infected individual, to get sick from that interaction. Instead, it was at least three times that, possibly five times.

And weve seen superspreader events before with other viruses like the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak in Beijing in 2003 or the West Africa Ebola outbreak in 20142015. In both situations, there were more resulting infections as the number of close contacts increased.

Further research into the transmission of COVID-19 shows the most severe superspreader-dominant outbreaks are even more severe and faster spread than the most severe non-superspreader-dominated outbreaks.

Although, on average, COVID-19 cases are less severe than at the beginning of the pandemic, they do still cause considerable morbidity and can still lead to death in our more vulnerable populations, so superspreader events via gatherings can still be detrimental especially if you or a loved one are elderly or immunocompromised, explains Dr. Dumford.

If you are in this group, then wearing a mask at public events is a good way to reduce the risk.

It all comes down to how the virus spreads. COVID-19 is predominantly transmitted by close contact droplets, Dr. Dumford reminds us. Its going to be spread by that person youre sitting with at a table who youre talking with for an extended period of time.

Take that choir practice mentioned. Over the course of two-and-a-half hours, the infected, asymptomatic person was continually projecting virus-laden droplets into the air. And given the close quarters and indoor nature of the practice, there was plenty of opportunity for those droplets to circulate and infect dozens of others in the room, not just those in the immediate vicinity. When we speak, cough or sing, we can propel virus-infected droplets around six feet (even more if you sneeze).

But Dr. Dumford points out that superspreader events may occur when much smaller virus-laden droplets are able to float in the air longer, spreadingover a longer distance and becoming easier to inhale. This is why crowded, indoor gatherings are probably the most likely to become superspreader events.

Superspreader events are dependent on several factors, including the environment where the event takes place, how contagious people are and the kind of variant theyve been exposed to.

Superspreaders that come from family events often catch those infected off-guard because they believe their family to be something of a safe bubble. A close group of people theyre around often and people whove disclosed their COVID-19 vaccination status seem unlikely to cause an outbreak on the surface. But as Dr. Dumford notes, many dont quite fully comprehend the fullest, strictest bubble concept.

There are definitely big family gatherings, like a birthday party or a wedding, that can be a good example of a superspreader, he illustrates. They may be your family, but often, you dont all live under the same roof. Theres still a risk because you dont know if any one of the attendees hasnt recently exposed themselves to other people whove had COVID-19, whether theyve been hanging out with friends or traveling abroad.

With that in mind, social gatherings and public outings have higher potential to become superspreader events if they:

Superspreader events can occur at home or in public places, including:

The worst-case scenarios are events where a large number of people are clustered together, talkingor singing or some other sort of increased activity, especially in a poorly ventilated setting, emphasizes Dr. Dumford.

Outdoor gatherings are safer than indoor gatherings. And indoor gatherings with the windows open and an airflow going through are better than not. But you can still get infected even at those events if the right variables are in play.

No matter the setting, theres still an inherent risk. The best solution to any potential infection is to make sure youre up-to-date on your COVID-19 vaccines.

The recent COVID-19 booster vaccines have been tailored to the virus strains that were circulating most this past fall, explains Dr. Dumford. The clear benefit to the vaccine is those who have been vaccinated are less likely to get severe illness from the virus and have a reduced likelihood of transmitting the virus to others. Additionally, recent data also shows that those that are vaccinated are less likely to develop long COVID.

Masks and social distancing will also cut your risk for infections way down, especially in outdoor settings, but theresalwaysa risk in crowds.

We do our best to stay safe, but the more people youre close to, youre in contact with, the higher the risk goes even if youre doing everything possible, says Dr. Dumford.

Of course, if youre hosting the event, as an extra precaution you can always ask your guests to test for COVID-19 or inquire about their vaccination status before they attend. Even as a guest, youre well within your right to inquire about where other attendees stand on the matter. Its now become so commonplace to have these conversations before getting together for any big celebration, its almost expected in many social circles.

Lets say, despite every potential risk, you decide to attend an event. Or maybe you go to a gathering expecting it to be small but it turns out to be quite big. What should you do afterward, especially if you find out someone else at the gathering tested positive for COVID-19?

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), if you think youve been exposed to the virus andyouve been vaccinated for COVID-19, you should wear a mask when youre around other people and test on day five.

If you think youve been exposed to the virus andyoure unvaccinated or arent yet caught up on the most recent vaccine for COVID-19, you should stay home for five days and test on day five.

If youve been vaccinated for COVID-19 and you test positive or develop symptoms, you should stay home for five days (or until your symptoms are gone) and wear a mask for five days after.

If youre not vaccinated or not up-to-date with the latest COVID-19 vaccine and you test positive, its recommended to avoid being around other people until you no longer have symptoms or until youve hit five days and then, wear a mask for another five days.

I would be sure to wear a mask even when youre inside your own home and around family members that you wouldnt normally mask-up for, just to reduce the likelihood of transmission, advises Dr. Dumford. You need to avoid exposingothers, especially those that might have compromised immune systems.

Soothe your aches and pains, stay hydrated and contact a healthcare provider if you experience shortness of breath or chest pain, have trouble eating, have a consistent fever or are concerned about any of the symptoms you experience. There are a number of COVID-19 treatment options available that can help when COVID-19 hits home, despite your best efforts.

View post:

What Are 'Superspreader Events' and What Can You Do To Stay Safe? - Health Essentials

The Library of Congress has launched a new campaign to record and archive millions of COVID-19 pandemic stories.

The worlds largest library has launched a new campaign to record and archive millions of COVID-19 pandemic stories.

The Library of Congress is calling for many different American voices to share their experiences for posterity.

You can read something in a history book, but to hear someones voice tell of their lived experience is immensely powerful, said Nicole Saylor, director of the librarys American Folklife Center, which is leading the project.

Curators and researchers at the library have teamed up with the nonprofit group StoryCorps to gather and archive countless oral narratives.

People who want to capture their story can use several different methods through StoryCorps. The group has a suite of self-directed documentation systems and recording sites around the country, Saylor said.

When the oral narration is complete, storytellers can save their accounts in the Library of Congress archive.

Saylor said every story collected is just as important as the next.

Our goal is to capture the stories of people who survived, to honor those who lost their lives to this disease, and talk with front line health care workers, she said. We want to get a good geographical spread on this, with a lot of different communities and perspectives into the archives.

The library has other similar first-person storytelling projects to preserve history, including topics on Pearl Harbor, 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina.

Archivists are in the early stages of collecting pandemic tales, which will take the next three years to complete. Saylor said the goal now is to get as many people as possible to recount their stories.

You can really tell the story about the American experience though one persons story, Saylor told WTOP. The push that were pursing right now is to get people engaged in doing their stories.

If you would like to tell your COVID-19 pandemic story, go to the StoryCorps website.

Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

More:

Library of Congress collecting COVID-19 pandemic stories, calling for many different voices - WTOP