COVID-19

Move over, Omicron: Arcturus is here to steal the spotlight

— Arcturus, a subvariant of Omicron first identified in India, has been included in the CDC’s monitoring list following its involvement in 7% of the COVID infections in the United States. A strain that has also been reported as causing red and itchy eyes in young patients.

COVID-19

Sanofi vaccine: What to know about this protein-based COVID booster being offered in the UK

— A vaccine produced by Sanofi is being given as part of the 2023 spring booster campaign. An immunology expert explains how it works. I n the UK a spring booster campaign has recently begun, offering an additional vaccine to people at highest risk from COVID. Between April and June 2023

COVID-19

COVID origins debate: What to make of new findings linking the virus to raccoon dogs

— New reports suggest the coronavirus pandemic’s origins may be linked to raccoon dogs sold at Wuhan’s Huanan Wholesale Seafood Market. A virologist explains.

COVID-19

UK rolls out spring COVID-19 booster programme

— Over 5 million people in the UK are eligible for a COVID-19 booster this spring.

COVID-19

New COVID variant XBB.1.16 fuels surge in cases in India and causes conjunctivitis among children

— A new COVID variant, XBB.1.16, is causing a surge in pediatric COVID cases in India, with doctors noting an increase in conjunctivitis among children, and reports suggesting already an increase in the US, Singapore, and Australia.

Long COVID

Three in five long COVID patients have organ damage a year after infection

— A recent study found 59% of people with long COVID had damage to at least one organ a year after their initial symptoms.

Public Health

Air pollution can increase the risk of COVID infection and severe disease

— Air pollution can increase COVID risk by weakening our immune defences and exacerbating underlying health conditions.

COMMENT

Nitrous oxide ban: What the Dutch do in January, the Brits do in March

— The Netherlands and Britain plan to ban laughing gas to stop drug use in parks and address antisocial behaviour caused by the drug.

COVID-19

COVID pandemic: Three years on, and nobody wants to talk about it (and why we should)

— The world has mentally moved on from the pandemic, but the ramifications are still widespread. And there’s a lot we can learn.

Public Health

Investigation reveals millions wasted on unusable COVID tests

— Good Law Project investigation reveals £246.6m wasted on 126 million unusable COVID tests procured by the Department of Health and Social Care from six companies, four via VIP Lane.

COVID-19

Three years on, the COVID pandemic may never end – but the public health impact is becoming more manageable

— The WHO first described COVID as a pandemic on March 11, 2020. Where are we at, three years later?

Journalism

Oakeshott and Hancock: Betraying a confidential source damages journalism and is a threat to public health

— Journalism and public health are threatened by the betrayal of confidential sources. It erodes trust in journalism, which will have implications for future public health reporting and reporting in general.

Marburg Virus

Is the Marburg virus outbreak in Equatorial Guinea the next pandemic?

— WHO is investigating a Marburg virus outbreak in Equatorial Guinea; sending experts, providing resources, and establishing local lab facilities to identify the source and control the spread.

COVID-19

How much immunity do we get from a COVID infection? Large study offers new clues

— Previous infection was highly protective against reinfection with alpha, beta and delta variants, but less so against omicron BA.1.

COVID-19

Why the UK needs to rethink its decision to stop COVID boosters for young and healthy people

— Going forward, the majority of individuals residing in the United Kingdom will only be able to achieve immunity to the virus causing COVID-19 by contracting the virus itself.

COVID-19

COVID-19 is driving the increasing need for lung transplants in the US

— The need for lung transplants in the United States has risen due to COVID-19, with 10% of all lung transplants now needed to treat those affected by the virus.