Coronavirus News Explained

Distinct Antibody Responses in Children vs. Adults              Research has found that children react much differently to the coronavirus than adults. Not only do children tend to recover faster from the virus than adults, but children are also more likely to be asymptomatic to the virus (See Are Schools Ready to Reopen ). Despite exhibiting fewer symptoms, studies show that children carry a higher viral load than adults ( See Children Carry More Coronavirus than Adults ). Research on COVID-19 Immune Responses also finds that while adults have higher levels of immunity building cells and proteins, children have increased levels of IL-17A, an immune signaling receptor associated with T-cells. A study published this month in Nature Immunology takes a deeper look into the antibody responses of COVID-19 in children vs. adults. Antibodies     Antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system that bind to and destroy disease-causing ant...

COVID-19 Transmission between humans and minks           While it's clear that the coronavirus has a high transmission rate between humans, little is known about coronavirus transmission within animals and between animals and humans. Previous research has shown evidence of COVID-19 in dogs, cats, hamsters, and ferrets through experimental infection. However, during this process, the virus was found to be unable to infect pigs and poultry. Although scientists have concluded that the public health risk for exposure to infected animals is low, it is important that people are aware of the possible involvement of animals in the coronavirus pandemic. A study  published in the journal Science on November 19, 2020, uses genome sequencing to investigate COVID-19 outbreaks on 16 mink farms in the Netherlands. The results provide details about transmission rates and evidence of animal to human transmission of COVID-19.      Study Overview   ...

Pfizer Vaccine: A Successful Vaccine Candidate for COVID-19           As the last few months of 2020 come to an end, many individuals are hoping to leave behind the misfortunes of the COVID-19 pandemic as they enter the new year. This of course, is only possible with an effective vaccine that can prevent coronavirus infection. While many vaccines, drugs and treatments are undergoing clinical trials and various tests, there is currently no available vaccine for public use. (See Drugs/Vaccines/Treatment for more information). But things are starting to look up. On November 9, 2020, a drug company by the name of Pfizer, released promising results from a coronavirus vaccine phase III study . While it's likely that this vaccine may not be approved for public use within the next few months, the positive outcomes from the Pfizer trials provide people with good news and hope in the midst of these troubling times.     Before continuing to read this post, ...

 How Long do Antibodies Last After Infection     As of November 2020, there have been over 47 million COVID-19 cases worldwide. Many of these 47 million individuals may be wondering if it's possible to be infected with COVID-19 more than once. The answer is yes (see First COVID-19 Reinfection in US ). However, a recent study published on October 28, 2020 in the journal  Science,  provides information about a possible period of COVID-19 immunity in infected patients. This study answers some of the most pressing questions surrounding the coronavirus infection: Do antibodies remain active and create immunity to the virus after initial infection?  If so, how long does this immunity last? Background    Antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system to fight off viruses and bacteria. This study focuses specifically on the anti-spike antibody which targets the 'spike' protein on the surface of the coronavirus, known to be critical for virus entr...

 Comparing Counties With & Without Mask Mandates     In the United States, there has been a significant amount of controversy over masks during the coronavirus pandemic. Although wearing a mask is required in a little over 30 states, many other states and regions still doubt the importance of masks and mask mandates. A recent study from October 25, 2020 was published by Donna Ginther PhD, on the University of Kansas MediaHub page. This study compares the COVID-19 outcomes of counties in Kansas with mask mandates to counties in Kansas without mask mandates.  Background Information     On July 3, Laura Kelly, Governor of Kansas, implemented a statewide requirement of masks but counties could choose to opt out of this mask mandate. The mandate required residents to wear masks in a public setting and was enforced by 20 out of the 105 Kansas counties. Results     Researchers from this study charted a line graph comparing the number of COVID-19 cas...

 COVID-19 Outcomes in a Low Income Country: India     Many cases of COVID-19 have been traced back to low and middle-income countries (LMICs) where many individuals are at higher risk for the virus and limited access to health care services. However, many coronavirus studies have been conducted in wealthier countries including the U.S. and European countries. Although there have been some studies modeling potential COVID-19 outcomes in LMICs, very few studies have traced real-life COVID-19 cases to validate the outcomes of the models. A recent investigation  conducted by a professor at UC Berkeley and published in Science,  analyzes these real-life COVID-19 cases from two states in South India. The results from this study answer the question of how COVID-19 outcomes in LMICs compare to that of wealthier countries, such as the United States. Background Information     As of October 2020, India has had 7.8 million COVID-19 infections, making up 18.4% of ...

First Case of COVID-19 Reinfection in the United States     Contrary to popular belief, it is possible to become infected with the coronavirus more than once. This summer, the United States experienced its first case of COVID-19 reinfection and fifth case worldwide. The four other reinfection cases occurred in Hong Kong, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Ecuador. A recent study published on October 12, 2020 in  The Lancet Infectious Diseases, presents a detailed case report and discussion of the American individual who experienced two separate COVID-19 infections.     About the Patient      The reinfected patient was a 25 year old male from Washoe County, Nevada. The patient first tested positive for COVID-19 on April 18, 2020 with mild symptoms (sore throat, cough, headache, nausea, and diarrhea) beginning in April. He had no underlying conditions or indications of a compromised immune system. The patient recovered after 9 days but began experiencin...

 Air Pollution linked with COVID-19 Death Rate           If you live in California, it's likely that you've recently experienced days where the air is polluted with smoke from the ongoing wildfires. According to the California Fire Department, there have been over 2 million acres burned due to wildfires this past year alone from January-October 2020. Many California residents have been asked to stay at home these past few months as fires rage across the state and pollute the air. Air pollution is another problem that many people, inside and outside of California, have to battle along with COVID-19 this year. How are the two related? Air pollution is known to irritate and affect the lungs. Many individuals with preexisting respiratory conditions such as asthma are more sensitive and easily irritated by air pollution. COVID-19, another respiratory disease, also has symptoms and complications stemming from lung problems. Does exposure to one of these fact...

 How Does COVID-19 Affect Pregnancies?     From January-September 2020, the coronavirus has infected millions of Americans including over 20,000 pregnant women according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. How does COVID-19 affect these pregnant women and their babies? Can the coronavirus be passed on from an infected mother to her child? A study published on September 25, 2020 in the Journal of Prenatal Medicin e took the data of 388 COVID-19 pregnancies in 22 different countries and analyzed the effects of the virus on the pregnant mothers and their children.       Below is a list of definitions of various fetal outcomes. These terms are brought up in the original study and this post.  Gestation: time between conception and birth Stillbirth: death of a fetus after 22 weeks of gestation which occurs before or during delivery Neonatal death: death of a live-born infant within the first 28 days of life Perinatal death: Stillbirth or...

Children and Adults: COVID-19 Immune Response     The coronavirus has spread rapidly around the globe and has infected millions of childrens and adults around the world. Unlike other viral infections such as the flu, multiple studies have found that COVID-19 has more serious effects on adults than on children. Adults and children react differently to the virus, the main difference being that children are at a lower risk of infection compared to adults (see Who's at Risk ). Additionally, children are more likely to be asymptomatic or have less severe symptoms (see Are Schools Ready to Reopen ) yet are found to carry a higher viral load than adults (see Children Carry More Coronavirus than Adults ). A new study published on September 21 in  Science Translational Medicine  looks into the reason why children and adults react differently to the coronavirus through studying the COVID-19 immune responses of each group.  The Study     The authors of the...

COVID-19 Affects the Brain     COVID-19 is mostly known for the damage it can cause to the lungs and respiratory systems. However, there is evidence that COVID-19 not only affects the lungs but also many organs throughout the entire body. (See COVID-19 Effects on the Entire Body ). More recently, COVID-19 has shown to cause damage to the brain and many neurological symptoms including stroke, brain hemorrhage, and memory loss. A collection of published studies and data from this past summer looks closely at how and why COVID-19 affects the brain.  Evidence of COVID-19 Affecting the Brain     Back in April, a report  from the journal Critical Care, discovered that many ICU patients with COVID-19 had increased risk of delirium, or confusion. Additionally, a  study  published in The Lancet Psychiatry this past June analyzed the clinical data of 125 COVID-19 patients from the United Kingdom. The results found that out of 125 patients from the Un...

Possible Link Between Vitamin D & COVID-19 Risk          COVID-19 has taken the lives of over 890,000 people worldwide. Some populations have higher rates of COVID-19 infection while other populations have significantly lower rates. (See Who's at Risk ) African Americans, older adults, nursing home residents, health care workers, and people living in Northern cities all have increased risk of COVID-19 infections. Interestingly, these communities at risk of higher COVID-19 infections were also more likely to be vitamin D deficient. Meanwhile, other populations such as pregnant women and those living in Japan have shown lower rates of COVID-19 infection and lower rates of vitamin D deficiency. According to Dr. David Meltzer, chief of hospital medicine at the University of Chicago, "Vitamin D is important to the function of the immune system and vitamin D supplements have previously shown to lower the risk of viral respiratory tract infections." While concrete ...

  Coronavirus Bubbles     As the country reopens, many people have begun to meet friends from outside their household. While it's important to wear a mask and maintain social distance, some are just aching to hug a friend, be near loved ones, and return to normalcy. As important as physical health is, mental health is also something people should look out for during the pandemic. Quarantine has caused lots of stress and anxiety for many adults and children, and the added factor of not being able to talk to or see friends in person has also taken a toll on mental health. According to a poll conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation, "53% of adults in the United States reported that their mental health has been negatively impacted due to worry and stress over the coronavirus". Many adolescents and young adults are struggling to balance mental health with physical health/safety. Experts have determined there is a way to balance the two and meet friends as you would pre-...

FDA Authorizes Plasma for COVID-19 Treatment                     COVID-19, which has been spreading across the globe since March, has affected the lives of Americans for over six months. Many people, including the President, are eager to eliminate the virus after a dreadful 6 months of rising cases and quarantine. To their dismay, hopes of eliminating the virus by Easter and then by August, seemed to turn into an unreachable dream for Americans. With cases rising and no sure vaccine or treatment for the virus, a future without COVID-19 seemed further and further away. Yet, this Sunday on August 23, 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the first treatment for COVID-19: convalescent plasma. While the plasma has only been authorized for emergency use, many people see this authorization as progress towards eliminating the virus. However, others believe that the plasma is not as effective, and that the FDA was pres...