Watch CBS News
The page may have been removed, had its name changed, or is just temporarily unavailable.
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.
See more here:
The costs of our lack of understanding are vast, Beaudoin and others say, creating a huge new burden on the health-care system, as people report limitations in their daily activities including being able to work.
Get Breaking News Alerts
Stay up-to-date with important news developments, delivered right to your inbox.
How is long COVID diagnosed?
This is where some of the most intriguing scientific advances lie.
Doctors typically diagnose long COVID through a process of elimination, ruling out other causes for the lingering symptoms reported by patients who have had a bout of COVID.
But in September, the journal Nature published a study showing that people with long COVID have distinct blood biomarkers - a finding that could lead to the development of diagnostic blood tests.
"This is really exciting," said Ziyad Al-Aly, chief of research at VA St. Louis Health Care System and clinical epidemiologist at Washington University in St. Louis, who studies long COVID. "It provides objective evidence to legitimize the disease and show it is not made up in people's heads. And it provides clues as to the mechanism."
The study, conducted by researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York and Yale School of Medicine, first appeared in preprint form more than a year ago. It showed patients' personal stories typically matched the scientific evidence of long COVID, reinforcing the notion that patients have a clear understanding of what's happening to their bodies.
There's an important message in that for doctors, said David Putrino, the study's lead author and director of the Abilities Research Center at the Mount Sinai Health System: Believe your patient!
What is long COVID, anyway?
Patients who shared their stories on social media brought long COVID to public attention early in the pandemic. But not even the name - or definition - for the clusters of as many as 200 different symptoms is settled.
Long COVID is also known as PASC, for post-acute sequelae of COVID, and PCC, for post-COVID conditions, the term favored by the CDC for the wide range of health effects that can be present four or more weeks after infection with SARS-CoV-2 and can last weeks, months or even years.
Several theories exist for what causes long COVID, including inflammation, a form of autoimmunity triggered by the virus, lasting damage to tissue and the persistence of the virus. Many researchers find that last theory particularly intriguing.
"It's not so unusual for viruses to persist," said E. John Wherry, director of the Institute for Immunology at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine. In the case of SARS-CoV-2, researchers have looked hard for viral persistence. "There is a lot of information out there, but we still haven't found a direct causal link between the virus persisting in the body and symptoms of long COVID."
The study published in Nature in September found that long COVID also appears to reactivate some common viruses, including Epstein-Barr and mononucleosis.
Many researchers believe not all long COVID cases fit under a single umbrella.
A large study conducted by the National Institutes of Health's RECOVER Initiative and published in May in JAMA has helped to define long COVID through a symptom-based scoring system. Study participants reported more than 30 symptoms affecting different organ systems and parts of the body, out of which analysts were able to identify the 12 most common among those with long COVID. They included fatigue, dizziness, gastrointestinal symptoms, heart palpitations and issues with sexual desire.
Who gets it?
Anyone, regardless of their age or severity of their original symptoms, according to the World Health Organization.
Data published in September by the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics found that in 2022, 6.9 percent - or about 18 million - U.S. adults reported having had long COVID while 3.4 percent - or 8.8 million - said they currently had the condition.
Nearly twice as many women - 4.4 percent - said they currently had long COVID compared with 2.3 percent of men.
Adults between 35 and 49 were the most likely age group to report having had long COVID.
If you have had COVID-19 once without developing long COVID, that doesn't mean you won't get it the future. One 2022 study co-authored by Al-Aly suggested that repeat infections with the virus increases the chances of developing long COVID.
An analysis of nearly 5 million U.S. patients who had COVID, based on a collaboration between The Washington Post and research partners, showed that people infected with the coronavirus's omicron variant are less likely to develop symptoms typical of long COVID than those who had COVID earlier in the pandemic. Patients exposed to the coronavirus during the first wave of pandemic illness - from early 2020 to late spring 2021 - were most prone to develop long COVID, with 1 in 12 suffering persistent symptoms, the study showed.
Can I stop myself from getting long COVID?
Yes! By not getting COVID in the first place. That means getting vaccinated, wearing a well-fitting mask, washing your hands and avoiding crowded, poorly ventilated indoor spaces.
And if that sounds like a tall order these days, you are right. Many people have given up on prevention, and COVID cases are increasing according to the CDC, with a rising test positivity rate of 11.7 percent and a 6.6 percent increase in emergency department visits for COVID in the past week.
The Food and Drug Administration has not approved any drug for preventing long COVID, but reducing the severity of the initial infection through vaccination probably also reduces the risk of long COVID, experts said.
For the increasing number of us who get infected, there is evidence that taking an antiviral such as Paxlovid may lower your risk of later developing long-COVID symptoms.
The evidence comes from observational studies, in which researchers collect and study data from a sample group of patients rather than setting up clinical trials with controls. The RECOVER program, which was awarded $1.15 billion by Congress in 2021 to study long COVID, has embarked on clinical trials of Paxlovid and other potential interventions.
The diabetes drug metformin may also be preventive. In one study, it was associated with a risk reduction of more than 40 percent.
What treatment is available?
There also are no approved drugs for treatment. Instead, doctors largely rely on managing their patients' symptoms, which often resemble other familiar conditions, using standard pulmonary rehabilitation, for example, to treat respiratory problems. They also adapt strategies used with concussion patients to treat brain fog and other common cognitive complaints. Some doctors are prescribing low-dose naltrexone, a generic drug typically used to treat alcohol and opioid addiction.
"It's a whack-a-mole approach," Beaudoin said. "There is not a clear algorithm to follow."
Patient advocacy groups continue to trade information about treatments on social media. But there are worrisome trends in the medical world, according to Harlan Krumholz, a cardiologist and long-COVID researcher at Yale University: Long-COVID clinics are shuttering their doors, and ambitious young physicians aren't drawn to an intractable problem like long COVID but are instead choosing specialties such as neurology and oncology with greater opportunities for breakthroughs.
Whats my chance of recovery?
Beaudoin and others counsel patience.
Most people do recover, they say, but the length of time varies. In general, more severe cases of acute illness are associated with more severe cases of long COVID.
In addition to getting professional help from a primary care physician or at a long-COVID clinic, some patients say they benefit from relaxation techniques and counseling to help with depression and anxiety that can come with suffering a long-term and poorly understood condition.
What more do you need to know?
Research is moving ahead across the country at institutions such as Mount Sinai, Stanford and Yale, and through the government-funded RECOVER program, which offers opportunities for people to enroll in clinical trials. The clinicaltrials.gov website offers sign-up possibilities for research underway around the world.
Long COVID can be a disability under the Americans With Disabilities Act. People may qualify for benefits and exemptions if the condition limits their ability to perform major life activities such as working, sleeping or preparing food.
There are numerous resources for patients, some, such as the Patient Led Research Collaborative, run by fellow sufferers, while other programs operate out of medical institutions, including Johns Hopkins and the Mayo Clinic.
To end on a note of optimism, if you get COVID today, you are less likely to develop long COVID than in the past. Thats what Beaudoin and other researchers say, though they cannot yet explain why. We suspect the virus is provoking less of an immune response, Beaudoin said.
Read the original:
Four years on, long COVID still confounds us. Heres what we now know. - The Boston Globe
The omicron coronavirus subvariant JN.1 now makes up 44.2% of COVID-19 cases in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.As of Friday, CDC data estimates indicate that the quickly spreading variant is now causing almost half of infections nationwide, when just days ago it was estimated that JN.1 caused only about 20% of infections.JN.1 makes up nearly 57% of new COVID-19 cases in the Northeast, according to the data. Earlier this week, the variant was already dominant in the region, causing about a third of new infections at the time.Globally, JN.1 continues to be reported in multiple countries, and its prevalence has been rapidly increasing. The World Health Organization named it a variant of interest on Tuesday because of its rapidly increasing spread but noted that the additional public health risk remains low.The CDC estimates that the prevalence of JN.1 more than doubled in the U.S. between late November and mid-December. It seems to be getting an assist from holiday travel and waning immunity.Variant trackers say they expect JN.1 to become the leading coronavirus variant around the world in a matter of weeks.Vaccine immunity is expected to remain cross-reactive to JN.1 a descendant of the variant BA.2.86 itself a subvariant that came to the worlds attention over the summer because of the large number of changes to its spike proteins.COVID-19 caused seven hospitalizations for every 100,000 people in the week ending on Dec. 9, accounting for a 3% increase, CDC data shows.More than three-quarters of U.S. hospital beds are currently in use, which is largely in line with trends over the past three years since the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the CDC warns that rising respiratory virus hospitalizations could strain health care resources in the coming weeks.Overall, COVID-19 data shows weekly hospitalizations have been trending down in recent weeks.Meanwhile, flu hospitalizations are rising but remain steady compared with recent weeks, according to CDC data. Flu-like activity is very high in five states and high in 15 states.CNN Healths Brenda Goodman contributed to this report.
The omicron coronavirus subvariant JN.1 now makes up 44.2% of COVID-19 cases in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As of Friday, CDC data estimates indicate that the quickly spreading variant is now causing almost half of infections nationwide, when just days ago it was estimated that JN.1 caused only about 20% of infections.
JN.1 makes up nearly 57% of new COVID-19 cases in the Northeast, according to the data. Earlier this week, the variant was already dominant in the region, causing about a third of new infections at the time.
Globally, JN.1 continues to be reported in multiple countries, and its prevalence has been rapidly increasing. The World Health Organization named it a variant of interest on Tuesday because of its rapidly increasing spread but noted that the additional public health risk remains low.
The CDC estimates that the prevalence of JN.1 more than doubled in the U.S. between late November and mid-December. It seems to be getting an assist from holiday travel and waning immunity.
Variant trackers say they expect JN.1 to become the leading coronavirus variant around the world in a matter of weeks.
Vaccine immunity is expected to remain cross-reactive to JN.1 a descendant of the variant BA.2.86 itself a subvariant that came to the worlds attention over the summer because of the large number of changes to its spike proteins.
COVID-19 caused seven hospitalizations for every 100,000 people in the week ending on Dec. 9, accounting for a 3% increase, CDC data shows.
More than three-quarters of U.S. hospital beds are currently in use, which is largely in line with trends over the past three years since the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the CDC warns that rising respiratory virus hospitalizations could strain health care resources in the coming weeks.
Overall, COVID-19 data shows weekly hospitalizations have been trending down in recent weeks.
Meanwhile, flu hospitalizations are rising but remain steady compared with recent weeks, according to CDC data. Flu-like activity is very high in five states and high in 15 states.
CNN Healths Brenda Goodman contributed to this report.
Read the rest here:
COVID variant JN.1 now the leading cause of infections in the US - KOAT New Mexico
COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations across Maryland have increased as people travel and gather for the holidays.The Maryland Department of Health reports the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations has more than doubled since the beginning of November. State data shows 208 people were hospitalized on Nov. 4 and 452 were hospitalized by Christmas Day.However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports hospital admission levels remain low across the Baltimore area.VACCINE: Pharmacies across the country are adding the new COVID-19 vaccine to their inventory. Here's what you need to know about the vaccine."We do have an increased volume of patients who are testing positive, especially after the holidays," said Nona Khutsishvili, a physician's assistant with ExpressCare Urgent Care in northwest Baltimore.Khutsishvili told 11 News that her urgent care facility is seeing about 100 positive cases of flu and COVID-19 every day.Also, COVID-19 is now impacting patients a little differently. Medical professionals told 11 News they're seeing more COVID-19 patients showing gastrointestinal symptoms, like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and chills, which, without testing, makes it difficult to determine whether the patient is suffering from the flu or COVID-19."There's no way for us to know which virus you have because they all present with the same symptoms. Unless you test them, we will not know because body aches, nausea, vomit, they all feel like the same, whether you have COVID or the flu," Khutsishvili told 11 News.This coincides with findings from the Mayo Clinic, which reported data coming out of China shows about a third of COVID-19 patients are experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms without respiratory symptoms.Medical experts say whether people get tested or not, if it feels like flu or COVID-19 symptoms, stay away from other people and take precautions to prevent spreading the virus.
COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations across Maryland have increased as people travel and gather for the holidays.
The Maryland Department of Health reports the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations has more than doubled since the beginning of November. State data shows 208 people were hospitalized on Nov. 4 and 452 were hospitalized by Christmas Day.
However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports hospital admission levels remain low across the Baltimore area.
"We do have an increased volume of patients who are testing positive, especially after the holidays," said Nona Khutsishvili, a physician's assistant with ExpressCare Urgent Care in northwest Baltimore.
Khutsishvili told 11 News that her urgent care facility is seeing about 100 positive cases of flu and COVID-19 every day.
Also, COVID-19 is now impacting patients a little differently. Medical professionals told 11 News they're seeing more COVID-19 patients showing gastrointestinal symptoms, like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and chills, which, without testing, makes it difficult to determine whether the patient is suffering from the flu or COVID-19.
"There's no way for us to know which virus you have because they all present with the same symptoms. Unless you test them, we will not know because body aches, nausea, vomit, they all feel like the same, whether you have COVID or the flu," Khutsishvili told 11 News.
This coincides with findings from the Mayo Clinic, which reported data coming out of China shows about a third of COVID-19 patients are experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms without respiratory symptoms.
Medical experts say whether people get tested or not, if it feels like flu or COVID-19 symptoms, stay away from other people and take precautions to prevent spreading the virus.
Read more here:
COVID-19 hospitalizations double in Maryland since November - WBAL TV Baltimore
With the holiday season and colder winter months looming in the northern hemisphere, tis the season for COVID. But then again, COVID never really left us.
The holiday season, marked by significant volumes of travel, is likely to be an additional determinant of transmission of COVID-19, said Rajib Dasgupta, an epidemiologist at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
The main variant of concern is now JN.1, a subvariant of Omicronone of the most prevalent forms of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID.
Rates of JN.1 are increasing in many countries around the world. But the overall risk to the public is assessed as low while existing vaccines continue to offer protection. Thats the line from the World Health Organization (WHO) at time of publication.
Germany has seen an uptick in COVID-19 hospitalisation rates related to the JN.1 subvariant. According to official statistics, 3,02,100 people in Germany were infected with JN.1 up to December 20, an increase from 1,10,000 on October 20 and 1,95,000 on November 20.
Dasgupta said India was also experiencing an uptick in cases, especially in the States of Kerala and Karnataka, where authorities have intensified disease surveillance and are advising people to take appropriate measures.
But its not only in Germany and India said Ziyad Al-Aly, an expert in public health who is based at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. The situation is becoming more concerning. [JN.1] seems to be taking over nearly everywhere in the world, said Al-Aly. In Singapore, the numbers are really high. In the US, cases and hospitalisations are also rising.
The true infection rates of COVID-19 are likely to be higher than those reported due to a lack of widespread testing. Most countries stopped systematic reporting of COVID-19 test results in late 2022 or early 2023, and fewer people are tested anyway. So, its difficult to know the true rates of COVID-19 around the world.
The primary source of data for COVID-19 rates is now wastewater surveillance. Its not an ideal method, but its a pretty decent indicator of how much virus is circulating around the community, said Al-Aly.
Wastewater surveillance cant test individual rates of COVID or indicate who has it, but public health experts can use this data to track viral load over time and predict a general level of risk.
Another way governments are tracking COVID-19 is through the number of hospitalisations due to the virusthat tracks the most severe cases. Tracking both wastewater and hospitalisation is quite informative. We saw an uptick in wastewater COVID several weeks ago and then saw higher rates of hospitalisation literally two weeks later. So, its working, said Al-Aly.
One of the most important things you can do, said Al-Aly, is to keep up with vaccinations. Its very important for people to get an updated vaccine, and also to get vaccinated for other infectious agents like flu and RSV if you qualify, Al-Aly told DW.
The good news, said Al-Aly, is that the latest generation of vaccines are effective against the JN.1 subvariant. However, boosters are not available everywhere around the world, said Dasgupta: India has discontinued the boosters. In fact, the coverage of the third booster dose has lagged far behind the first two doses.
Also Read | Antibiotic resistance: When UTIs turn lethal
The WHO recommends wearing a mask in public spaces or skipping social gatherings if you feel illthat can help reduce the spread of the virus.
The first thing you should do is see if you qualify for antiviral medication if you test positive. We know antivirals also reduce the risk of severe disease that is to hospitalisation risk of death and also risk of long COVID, said Al-Aly.
Antiviral medication is particularly effective for people at risk of severe COVID infectionolder adults, immunocompromised individuals, and people with heart or lung diseases.
And, obviously, you know, isolate, Al-Aly said. You dont want to transmit it. So dont show up to that Christmas party. Work from home or dont work at all. Its the same common-sense procedures as when we first started [with the pandemic].
wear a mask in crowded, enclosed areas
cover up coughs and sneezes
wash your hands regularly
stay up to date with COVID and flu vaccinations, especially if vulnerable
stay home if ill
get tested if you have symptoms
Here is the original post:
HEALTH | COVID-19 rates are rising againwhat you need to know - Frontline
Heart tissue created using induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells is seen in a photo provided by Riken.
OSAKA -- After contracting COVID-19, patients may have higher risk of heart failure from persistent viral infection in their hearts, even without developing notable heart disease, according to study results announced by Japanese researchers on Dec. 23.
The team including researchers from Riken, Japan's largest scientific institute, pointed out the possibility of a "heart failure pandemic" in the near future, and is stressing the need for countermeasures.
Coronavirus infection occurs when a protruding spike protein on the surface of the virus latches onto ACE2 receptors on the surface of human cells. According to the team, the ACE2 receptor is very common in the heart than other organs. Some COVID patients have reportedly had reduced cardiac function, but the mechanism's details are not yet known.
The research team first created heart tissue using induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. When a large amount of the virus was made to infect the tissue, cardiac function declined and did not recover. When 10% of the previous amount infected the tissue, a certain level of cardiac function remained, but the infection persisted for four weeks. Researchers say it's possible that some patients won't develop heart failure even if the infection persists.
Furthermore, when cardiac tissue was placed under hypoxic conditions to reduce cardiac function, uninfected cells recovered after a certain time, but cells that remained infected with a small amount of virus did not recover. It appears that their recovery ability was weakened by persistent infection.
Riken Research Leader Hidetoshi Masumoto, who is well versed in regenerative medicine, pointed out, "Some people infected with the coronavirus may have persistent viral infections in their hearts. A testing system and treatment methods must be established in preparation for a 'heart failure pandemic,' in which we will see a rapid increase in the number of heart failure patients."
The findings were published in the American science journal iScience.
(Japanese original by Mirai Nagira, Science & Environment News Department)
See original here:
Post-COVID 'heart failure pandemic' possible: Japan researchers - The Mainichi - The Mainichi
As Canada enters its fifth year navigating COVID-19, some experts and advocates are worried treatment options for the virus remain disappointingly inadequate.
Story continues below advertisement
Despite significant strides in understanding the virus, Jennifer Hulme, a 42-year-old emergency physician at the University Health Network in Toronto, says many Canadians suffering from long-term COVID-19 are left without many options.
She is one of them.
I got COVID on April 1, 2022, and Ive been sick ever since, she told Global News, adding that when she first contracted the virus it was relatively mild.
I wasnt completely bedbound for the full 10 days. I was able to walk around, and I was taking care of my toddler, who also had COVID at the same time, she said. I felt quite confident that I would be able to get back to my normal.
After testing negative on day 11, Hulme said other than lingering fatigue, she was functional and able to go back to work.
However, more than a week later, she said she was suddenly struck with a completely new set of symptoms that were terrifying and disabling, and exactly what she was worried about long COVID.
Story continues below advertisement
Long COVID, also known as post-COVID-19 conditions, refers to physical or psychological symptoms experienced more than 12 weeks after getting infected with the virus, according to Health Canada.
While the exact number of long COVID cases remains uncertain in Canada, preliminary findings from Health Canadas March 2023 report on the disease help shed light on the matter. It found more than 17 per cent of adults who got the virus reported longer-term symptoms after having had COVID-19.
Story continues below advertisement
Symptoms can range from extreme fatigue, difficulty breathing, chest pain, dizziness, depression or anxiety or stomach pain, according to Health Canada.
There is no cure for long COVID, and treatment options are scarce.
Its also not fully understood what causes it, but Dr. Brian Conway, medical director of the Vancouver Infectious Disease Centre, said there are some theories.
Whether it relates to residual low-level viral infection, whether it relates to damage that was done to the organ systems that were affected during COVID, or whether it relates to the immune system remaining turned on after infection, he said, all three of those things require three different treatments.
When Hulme fell ill with long COVID, she said her symptoms ranged from severe cognitive impairment, disorientation, and shortness of breath to extreme fatigue. Confined to bed, she struggled to even recall her house address.
Story continues below advertisement
She said she was desperate for these debilitating symptoms not to become chronic.
Like most people, as soon as you get sick with long COVID, youre like, how can I make this get better, faster? she stated.
However, her doctor said there was not a lot they could do. She was told to take time off work and rest as there were not a lot of evidence-based treatments available.
It was a nightmare. We now know that the quality-of-life impact on people is similar or worse than those with stage four cancer, she said. The treatment is resting and pacing.
In Canada, Paxlovid (a mix of two anti-viral drugs, oral nirmatrelvir and ritonavir) is the most commonly used treatment option to help ease COVID-19 symptoms.
Story continues below advertisement
The drug is authorized by Health Canada to treat adults with mild to moderate COVID-19 and who are at high risk of serious illness, including hospitalization or death.
Paxlovid helps alleviate some of the symptoms of COVID-19, explained Zahid Butt, an infectious disease epidemiologist at the University of Waterloo. Its mostly given to people who are 60 years of age and above and its mostly intended for a target group.
A patient will take the drug twice a day for five days, he said. But it is not meant for long-term use, meaning those suffering from long COVID cannot continue taking it.
If you develop severe disease then its a different story because then its more like supportive treatment and youre put on life support and other things, Butt said. We dont have a lot of drugs actually to fight against COVID-19. For long COVID, currently, there is no cure, and theres no real treatment. Its more a supportive treatment.
Story continues below advertisement
Hulme can attest to this.
As she was starting to slowly recover from her long-haul symptoms, in November 2022 she contracted COVID-19 again. But this time, she immediately went on Paxlovid.
While it provided temporary relief for her symptoms, she said it still wasnt a cure, and she continues to grapple with the lingering effects of long COVID.
It didnt do me any good from a long COVID perspective, but I do think it prevented it from getting worse in my case, Hulme said.
Story continues below advertisement
Although other treatment options have helped, such as physiotherapy, anti-depressants and metformin (a common diabetes drug that helps relieve COVID-19 symptoms), Hulme said shes still without a magic bullet.
When we talk about real treatments like really treating the underlying cause of long COVID youre going to be disappointed, she said.
There is currently a Canadian clinical trial for the long-term use of Paxlovid, one that Hulme was a part of. Its called CanTreatCOVID and the study looks at whether any acute treatment can prevent long COVID.
Trending Now
Identifying long COVID presents a major hurdle, primarily due to the wide spectrum of symptoms, Butt explained. The sheer variety of symptomsoften results in many individuals and health-care providers overlooking the lasting impact of the virus.
Story continues below advertisement
The issue with long COVID has been in recognizing or creating a definition, he said. You have like 100 or 200 symptoms of long COVID. And I think theres some under-reporting of long COVID because some people may not think that these fatigue or other symptoms that they have are related to the infection that they had maybe a year back or so.
He believes that we are only beginning to see the lasting effects of the pandemic, and among these impacts is the realization dawning on people that they may be grappling with long COVID.
I think awareness is very essential. Public health messaging is very important, he said.
Once people are aware of the condition, Butt believes current treatment options can centre around a holistic approach, acknowledging the multifaceted challenges associated with long COVID.
If you look at long COVID, its kind of like a multisystem disease because it affects different parts of the body, he said.
Story continues below advertisement
So the care should also be holistic in the sense that you should have a team. A team of internists, a team of neurologists, and psychiatrists take care of the patient. I dont think its just enough for just a family doctor to treat all the different spectrum of symptoms.
This is why, patients like Hulme are advocating for more long-COVID clinics across Canada as a way to provide specialized care to a multisystem disease.
Story continues below advertisement
Hulme has been a patient at the University Health Networks Post-COVID Condition Rehabilitation Program since she was diagnosed with the condition in 2022.
The rehabilitation centre has been key for recovery, she said, adding that she was able to access different specialists on her road to recovery, such a physiotherapists. She noted that the hyperbaric oxygen was incredibly helpful for her.
I do think its needed because for the family doctor to take this on it is incredibly complex and challenging, she said. I think what the government can do is to help create a network of long-COVID clinics that can be integrated with primary care.
However, experts like Conway advise that the long COVID clinics, specifically in British Columbia (which have all since shut down), did not show to be successful.
They were not necessarily being as helpful as they could be, he said. The wait lists were in the neighbourhood of nine to 12 months. So it wasnt really serving a purpose, noting that this is because the symptoms of long COVID often begin to subside after the first year for many individuals.
Story continues below advertisement
While there isnt a universally recognized standard of care for long COVID, Conway advises people who suspect they may be affected to seek out local experts. These experts, he said, can work closely with them to explore potential clinical trials or medications.
The World Health Organization said in March 2023 that because long COVID is a new condition, doctors have often been uncertain as to the most effective ways to care for these patients. With over 200 reported symptoms, a one-size-fits-all treatment plan simply does not work.
The WHO has also published a rehabilitation guideline for those suffering from long-term COVID-19, which includes physiotherapy, pain education, prescription of short-term anti-inflammatory drugs and mental health support.
Meanwhile, Hulme believes there just isnt an appetite to treat COVID as she believes its not very profitable.
Butthere is no lack of demand, she said. I have 13 people asking me for help right now. I feel like Ive been like the personal doctor to everyone in the country because they have no support.
Subscribe to updates from GlobalNews
Unsubscribe from GlobalNewsupdates
Read the rest here:
Canada enters 5th year of COVID-19. Are we falling short in treatment? - Global News
COVID-19 in India latest: Active coronavirus cases in India crossed the 4,100 mark on Tuesday as a total of 412 fresh cases of JN.1 COVID-19 subvariant were reported in the last 24 hours. While the number of active cases in India stood at 4,170 on Tuesday, the total death toll reached 5.33 lakh, as per the Union Health Ministry data.
India reported an increase of 628 new coronavirus cases on Monday as the number of active cases went up to 4,054. One death due to COVID-19 was reported from Kerala in the last 24 hours, the data further suggested.
Meanwhile, the Karnataka cabinet sub-committee on coronavirus will meet on Tuesday after 34 cases of the JN.1 subvariant were reported in the state on Monday. Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Monday said that there will be no restrictions as of now. He also stressed the need for people to remain cautious.
Moreover, the Delhi government has advised people to wear masks and avoid gatherings amid the fresh rise in coronavirus infections and the upcoming new year celebrations. Thirty-four cases of the JN.1 COVID-19 subvariant on Monday were confirmed in Karnataka. Of these, 20 cases were reported from Bengaluru, four in Mysuru, three in Mandya, one each from Ramanagara, Bengaluru Rural, Kodagu and Chamaraja Nagara.
As of Sunday, a total of 63 cases of the JN.1 variant were reported from India. Of these, 34 cases were from Goa, 9 from Maharashtra, 8 from Karnataka, 6 from Kerala, 4 from Tamil Nadu and 2 from Telangana. The JN.1 COVID-19 subvariant is driving coronavirus cases in some countries including India.
Commenting on the JN.1 variant, former AIIMS director Dr Randeep Guleria said that this variant is more transmissable and is spreading rapidly. He said that the symptoms in those infected include fever, cough, cold, sore throat, running nose and body aches.
When asked if existing vaccines will be effective against this variant, Guleria told news agency ANI: "Jn.1 is sub-lineage of Omicron. So a vaccine that is made against Omicron will be effective against this variant also. We need more data first to show what is the current immunity in the population, and the protection that have based on the previous vaccination that we have got, based on that, only can we decide that do we need a new vaccine, that covers the current circulating strain, and that is something that has to be done regularly because variants will keep changing."
Also Read:30 Delhi airport flights delayed, 14 trains affected as dense fog envelops North India
See the article here:
Only have a minute? Listen instead
HARLINGEN Caitlyn Gonzales saw firsthand how important nurses are during the pandemic.
I was diagnosed with COVID-19 five different times during the pandemic, she said. It was a difficult time, but I turned those situations into a positive. I thank the team of nurses who took care of me. They motivated me to become a nurse and help others.
Gonzales gratitude for the care that she herself received came full circle when she recently graduated with a certificate of completion in Vocational Nursing from Texas State Technical College. Now she is a full-time vocational nurse at South Texas Rehabilitation Hospital in Brownsville.
I did my clinicals at the hospital, and the work culture is inspiring, she said. My job consists of administering medications, getting a patients vital signs, and other duties.
An online search led Gonzales to TSTC.
I learned that the program was close to home, family-oriented, and I wanted to be a part of that while I studied for a nursing career, she said. The hands-on technical skills that I gained prepared me to give patients good health care.
Heather Sauceda is TSTCs Vocational Nursing program director.
Caitlyn has been trained with the best knowledge and skills, and her patients will be treated with the utmost respect, dignity and care, she said.
Maria Hernandez is a registered nurse for South Texas Rehabilitation Hospital and an alumna of TSTCs Nursing program.
I was Caitlyns preceptor during her clinicals, Hernandez said. Shes a hard worker and volunteered to learn new things for patient care.
Gonzales said her immediate goal is to increase her knowledge.
I look forward to learning from other nurses, she said. I also plan to further my education because I want to become a registered nurse.
In Texas, licensed vocational nurses earn an average annual salary of $50,910, according to onetonline.org, which forecast the number of such positions to grow in the state by 17% from 2020 to 2030.
TSTC offers a Vocational Nursing certificate of completion at its Breckenridge, Harlingen and Sweetwater campuses. An Associate of Applied Science degree in Nursing is offered at its Harlingen and Sweetwater campuses.
For more information, visit tstc.edu.
Read the original post:
New Delhi:All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi on Wednesday released directives for individuals suspected or confirmed with Covid-19, to be observed at hospitals in response to the abrupt increase in Coronavirus cases across the nation.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING
Amid the surging coronavirus cases,the director of AIIMS Delhi convened a meeting with department heads of the hospital to discuss contingency measures for Covid-19 on Wednesday. The meeting focused on formulating policies for Covid-19 testing, identifying specific areas for positive patients, and outlining procedures for their hospitalization.
As per the policy on Covid-19 testing, directed by the management, testing will be done for patients with SARI (severe acute respiratory infection) like symptoms that include according to the WHO, acute respiratory infection, persistent fever or fever of >= 38 C with cough and onset within last 10 days. The office memorandum was issued after the meeting.
It further asked all the departments at the institution to make provisions in their respective designated wards to manage in-patients who have tested positive for COVID-19. "12 beds in the C6 ward will be earmarked for hospitalization of seriously ill Covid-19 patients," the memorandum said.
It also said that a screening OPD in the Emergency Department will screen patients for Covid-like symptoms and triage them same based on the medical requirements. "Rooms no 1 to 12 in the new private ward are to be earmarked for hospitalization of Covid-19 positive EHS beneficiaries," it added.
"Engineering works in the New Blocks, Masjid Moth Campus--The ESD is required to install UVGA filters and HEPA filters in all the new blocks situated in the Masjid Moth Campus at the earliest," it said further.
Notably, the national capital has reported the first case of JN.1 variant infection. "Delhi has reported the first case of JN.1, a Sub-Variant of Omicron. Out of the 3 samples sent for Genome Sequencing, one is JN.1 and the other two are Omicron," Bharadwaj told ANI.
Meanwhile, a total of 109 JN.1 Covid variant cases have been reported in the country as of December 26, Health Ministry sources said on Wednesday. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently classified JN.1 as a variant of interest, distinct from its parent lineage BA.2.86. However, the global health body emphasised that the overall risk posed by JN.1 remains low based on current evidence.
Read the rest here:
AIIMS Delhi Releases Guidelines For Covid-19 Suspected And Positive Cases - Zee News
