Category: Emerging Infectious Diseases
Planning for Mpox on a College Campus: A Model-Based Decision-Support Tool
(Annals of Internal Medicine) In spring and summer 2022, an outbreak of mpox occurred worldwide, largely confined to men who have sex with men (MSM). There was concern that mpox could break swiftly into congregate settings and populations with high levels of regular frequent physical contact, like university campus communities. Objective: To estimate the likelihood […]
Jan 31, 2023
A systematic review and meta-analysis of the evidence on learning during the COVID-19 pandemic
(Nature) To what extent has the learning progress of school-aged children slowed down during the COVID-19 pandemic? A growing number of studies address this question, but findings vary depending on context. Here we conduct a pre-registered systematic review, quality appraisal and meta-analysis of 42 studies across 15 countries to assess the magnitude of learning deficits […]
Jan 31, 2023
(JAMA) Question Where does COVID-19 rank as an underlying cause of death for children and young people aged 0 to 19 years in the US? Findings Among children and young people aged 0 to 19 years in the US, COVID-19 ranked eighth among all causes of deaths, fifth in disease-related causes of deaths (excluding unintentional injuries, assault, […]
Jan 31, 2023
COVID Risk Up to 50% Higher for Nursing Home Residents Behind on Vaccination
(MedPageToday) Nursing home residents who were not up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines had a 30% to 50% higher risk of getting infected compared with those who were up to date, CDC researchers said. From Oct. 10, 2022 to Jan. 8, 2023, weekly COVID incidence rates ranged from 7.2 to 15.6 per 1,000 nursing […]
Jan 31, 2023
9 diseases that keep epidemiologists up at night
(NPR) Just three years ago, on Jan. 30, 2020, the head of the World Health Organization made a landmark declaration: A “novel coronavirus” that had first been identified in China had spread to a degree where it was now a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).” The virus now known as SARS-CoV-2 — which causes […]
Jan 30, 2023
What infectious disease doctors want you to know as the COVID-19 pandemic enters its 4th year
(Boston.com) The trends for COVID-19 are looking more promising as January comes to a close, after a spike in cases and hospitalizations earlier this month prompted officials in the area to urge the use of masks in indoor public spaces to help prevent transmission. The wave of cases even prompted some local schools, including Chelsea Public Schools and […]
Jan 27, 2023
Record number of deaths in US from cardiovascular disease early in pandemic: Report shows
(ABC News) New data from the American Heart Association highlights the major impact COVID-19 had on cardiovascular health and death rates during the first year of the pandemic. At least 928,741 Americans died from cardiovascular disease-related causes in 2020, the annual statistical report revealed. That represents the largest one-year increase since 2015 and tops the previous high of […]
Jan 27, 2023
Mink-farm outbreak shows bird flu can spread between mammals
(Nature) A new variant of H5N1 influenza could pose an increased risk to people and wild animals. An outbreak of avian influenza on a mink farm in Spain provides the strongest evidence so far that the H5N1 strain of flu can spread from one infected mammal to another. The outbreak of H5N1 flu, described in […]
Jan 24, 2023
Do I need another booster? The CDC director answered your questions.
(Washington Post) With another covid winter upon us, a new variant, XBB.1.5, is dominating the latest coronavirus surge in the United States. Although hospitalizations have started to decline, public health experts warn the country still faces elevated levels of the coronavirus and other respiratory viruses. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, answered reader questions […]
Jan 24, 2023
Covid, flu, RSV declining in hospitals as ‘tripledemic’ threat fades
(Washington Post) So manypatients sick with RSV had inundated Connecticut Children’s Medical Center that they had to be treated in hallways and playrooms. Facing their busiest season in memory last fall, hospital leaders floated a plan to enlist the National Guard to set up tents outside. Doctors braced for a dire winter — a looming disaster some […]
Jan 24, 2023