Previous infection with other coronaviruses may lessen the severity of COVID-19, reports a new study. Researchers at Boston University found that owing to genetic similarities with the SARS-CoV-2, prior exposure to other coronaviruses primes the immune system to mount a better response to the virus responsible for COVID-19. Although this doesn’t prevent people from contracting COVID-19, it does lessen the severity … Continue reading Immunity developed from previous infection with endemic coronaviruses reduces COVID-19 severity – study
Mutation has caused the coronavirus to become more contagious but less deadly, says new study
Recent studies have shown that mutation of SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind COVID-19, is not only becoming more prevalent but is also more contagious than its original strain. This potentially makes the virus more virulent than when it first spread out in Wuhan, China — where the first cases of COVID-19 were reported. In fact, American scientists … Continue reading Mutation has caused the coronavirus to become more contagious but less deadly, says new study
CDC: Coronavirus 5 times deadlier than the flu for hospitalized patients
A new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that patients hospitalized with the Wuhan coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are five times more likely to die than those with influenza. In addition to a higher mortality rate, the study also found that COVID-19 patients are at higher risk for 17 additional health complications than flu patients. … Continue reading CDC: Coronavirus 5 times deadlier than the flu for hospitalized patients
Study: Coronavirus social distancing measures will trigger a flu surge next winter
Social distancing and other measures meant to slow the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) this year could result in a surge of flu cases next year. This is according to a new study by researchers from Princeton University. According to the researchers, social distancing and other so-called non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) have helped slow down COVID-19, as … Continue reading Study: Coronavirus social distancing measures will trigger a flu surge next winter
Fight the coronavirus with proper diet and good nutrition
Good nutrition is key to maintaining a healthy immune system and boosting its ability to fight infectious diseases. Therefore, eating a well-balanced diet is especially important during this pandemic that’s caused by the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19). In a paper published in the Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences, researchers from Aga Khan University in Pakistan explored the relevance of good nutrition to immune health and … Continue reading Fight the coronavirus with proper diet and good nutrition
What’s in the coronavirus’s genome that makes it a much better antiviral target than its spike protein?
Researchers have uncovered molecular interactions within the genome of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) that could lead to more effective antiviral agents. In a study published Nov. 05 in the journal Molecular Cell, a team from the University of Cambridge, in collaboration with researchers from Justus Liebig University Giessen in Germany, mapped the RNA-RNA interactions that govern the mechanisms by which the SARS-CoV-2 virus behind … Continue reading What’s in the coronavirus’s genome that makes it a much better antiviral target than its spike protein?
Coronavirus found to suppress immune response, but this new therapy can restore immune function
Complete suppression of immune response may be the real cause of death among coronavirus patients, claim two new studies led by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis (WUSTL). Previous reports point to severe inflammation as the main cause of organ damage suffered by patients with severe COVID-19. But autopsy findings tell a different story: Despite the … Continue reading Coronavirus found to suppress immune response, but this new therapy can restore immune function
Asymptomatic carriers responsible for over HALF of America’s coronavirus cases
A recent study has shone new light on just how much asymptomatic carriers have spread the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) in America. The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, states that these people may have been responsible for more than half of the coronavirus cases in the United States. The study comes out just as … Continue reading Asymptomatic carriers responsible for over HALF of America’s coronavirus cases
Being tested for coronavirus too early may lead to false positives, warn researchers
When it comes to COVID-19, timing is everything – even for testing. A team from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine announced in a recent study that testing an at-risk individual too early can lead to a false negative diagnosis, as they may test positive for the virus later on. The study, which was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, reported that … Continue reading Being tested for coronavirus too early may lead to false positives, warn researchers
Low sensitivity of coronavirus tests means patients may be getting INCORRECT results, warn experts
People who test negative for the coronavirus may not be out of the woods just yet. Despite the lack of scientific data regarding this, medical doctors in the U.S. and around the world are noticing a surge in false-negative results from coronavirus tests, which, together with undiagnosed asymptomatic cases, may be helping the deadly virus spread like wildfire … Continue reading Low sensitivity of coronavirus tests means patients may be getting INCORRECT results, warn experts
Dr. Eddy Bettermann MD 