CORONAVIRUS NEWS
UKHSA designates two new COVID-19 variants
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published its latest COVID-19 variant technical briefing. It contains epidemiological data and updated analysis of COVID-19 variants currently circulating in the UK.
COVID-19 shown to trigger inflammation in the brain
Research led by The University of Queensland has found COVID-19 activates the same inflammatory response in the brain as Parkinson’s disease.
Myocarditis seven times more likely with COVID-19 than vaccines
The risk of developing myocarditis — or inflammation of the heart muscle — is seven times higher with a COVID-19 infection than with the COVID-19 vaccine, according to a recent study by Penn State College of Medicine scientists.
COVID-19 affects placenta’s immune response, study finds
If a woman contracts COVID-19 during her pregnancy, the infection, even if it’s mild, damages the placenta’s immune response to further infections, a UW Medicine-led study has found.
Most long COVID patients recover, says study
A McMaster University-led study has found that most people infected with the SARS-CoV2 virus recover within 12 months, irrespective of the severity.
Risk of blood clots remains for almost a year after COVID-19 infection
COVID-19 infection increases the risk of potentially life-threatening blood clots for at least 49 weeks, according to a new study of health records of 48 million unvaccinated adults from the first wave of the pandemic.
Health inequalities among ethnic groups have increased since pandemic
Existing health disparities amongst ethnic minorities with diabetes have worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, a new study published in the journal Diabetes Care has reported.
SARS-CoV-2 variants have developed resistance to human interferons
Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have investigated how antiviral proteins called interferons interact with SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19.
A third COVID-19 booster is crucial to identifying and fighting new variants
Twenty different COVID-19 variants were effectively identified and neutralised after a third booster, according to the new study for which the University of Surrey provided the crucial antigenic map of variants of concern.
COVID-19 patients more likely to develop cardiovascular diseases and diabetes soon after infection
Patients who contract COVID-19 face a higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, particularly in the three months following infection, according to a new study by Emma Rezel-Potts, Martin Gulliford, and colleagues of King’s College London, United Kingdom, publishing July 19th in the open access journal, PLOS Medicine.
Hyperactivation of the immune system may cause post-COVID syndromes
Investigators at Cedars-Sinai have proposed a theory for how SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, infects the body. Their hypothesis, published in Frontiers in Immunology, could explain why some people still have symptoms long after the initial infection.
Research highlights importance of ventilation to prevent spread of COVID-19
Some public venues may need better ventilation to prevent the spread of COVID-19 following growing evidence of the potential for ‘long distance’ airborne transmission of the disease, suggests research published by The BMJ.
Cognitive impairment from severe COVID-19 equivalent to 20 years of ageing
Cognitive impairment as a result of severe COVID-19 is similar to that sustained between 50 and 70 years of age and is the equivalent to losing 10 IQ points, say a team of scientists from the University of Cambridge and Imperial College London.
Common steroids after ‘long COVID’ recovery may cut risk of death by up to 51%
Researchers from the University of Florida Gainesville showed last December that hospitalised patients who seemingly recovered from severe COVID-19 run more than double the risk of dying within the next year, compared to people who experienced only mild or moderate symptoms and who had not been hospitalised, or who never caught the illness.
NHS rolls out life-saving arthritis drug to treat COVID
The NHS is rolling out a cutting-edge, life-saving COVID treatment, which is proven to save lives when given to the most seriously ill COVID patients in hospital.
Unvaccinated with heart problems at risk of serious COVID-19 outcomes
Researchers from Queen Mary University of London have combined evidence from 110 previous COVID-19 studies and found that unvaccinated individuals who contract the virus when they already have high blood pressure, diabetes or major heart damage are up to nine times more likely to suffer serious outcomes, including death, lung failure, admission to intensive care and kidney problems.
Singing techniques can improve quality of life and breathlessness after COVID-19
An online breathing and wellbeing programme helps improve quality of life and breathlessness for people recovering from COVID-19, according to a new study.
Immune system culprit in severe COVID cases found
Yale researchers have identified a particular immune response pathway that leads to severe illness and death in people infected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
High blood pressure and its treatment not risk factors for worse COVID outcomes
High blood pressure and treatments to control it do not increase the risk of hospitalisation and death from Covid-19, according to a large European-wide study which in the UK was co-ordinated at UCLH and UCL.
Access to antivirals expands as part of national study
Thousands more vulnerable people in England are now eligible to receive the UK’s second oral antiviral treatment for COVID-19.
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