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A new variant of Covid-19 called JN.1, also known as Juno, has been causing concern due to rising infection rates in many countries. However, recent data from England suggests that people infected with JN.1 are less likely to require hospital treatment compared to previous waves of the virus. JN.1, a version of the omicron variant, was first detected in Luxembourg in August 2023 and quickly spread to other nations. While initial fears of a severe wave of illness have not been realized, some public health restrictions have been reintroduced as a precaution. The current wave in England has resulted in a similar proportion of positive cases as a previous wave, but fewer hospital admissions, suggesting that immunity and the variant's potential lower virulence may be factors. [Extracted from the article]

The article presents a summary of how several infections in China led to the Covid-19 global pandemic. It cites the emergence of a mysterious form of pneumonia in Wuhan, China in December 2019. It also mentions the move by China to notify the World Health Organization (WHO) of the cluster of pneumonia cases on December 31, 2019 and the declaration of a pandemic by the WHO on March 11, 2020.

Having air filters in schools could also make families less likely to keep children off school as a precaution during a surge of flu or covid-19, says Mon-Williams. AIR-FILTER machines put in a handful of UK schools reduced the number of covid-19-related sick days by more than 20 per cent, according to a small trial. [Extracted from the article]

The pre-pandemic blood samples generally had no antibodies that could bind to the coronaviruses tested, although some could bind to two cold-causing coronaviruses called OC43 and HKU1, as well as a virus that affects cows, which is thought to share a common ancestor with OC43. AS A result of infection with the virus behind covid-19, and related vaccination campaigns, many people may have some immunity to other coronaviruses, including two that could cause dangerous outbreaks in the future. Being infected with a cold-causing coronavirus is thought to bring about immunity only to that virus, so it is unclear why infection with SARS-CoV-2, and covid-19 vaccines, generated broader immunity, says Krammer. [Extracted from the article]

TWO-THIRDS of people with covid-19 are still infectious five days after their symptoms begin, according to the most comprehensive study yet of people catching the coronavirus. Towards the end of people's illness, two-thirds were still infectious five days after their symptoms began, although they did have lower levels of infectious virus in their nasal and throat mucus. The swabs were tested by PCR and lateral flow devices, and any PCR-positive samples were subjected to a further assay that calculated how much infectious virus was in the mucus - the person's "viral load", which is seen as a key measure of infectiousness. [Extracted from the article]

HAVING covid-19 after 34 weeks of pregnancy has been linked to a seven-fold higher risk of giving birth prematurely. They found that 9.1 per cent of those who had a positive covid-19 test after 34 weeks went on to give birth prematurely, defined as less than 37 weeks into the pregnancy. [Extracted from the article]

The coronavirus may become a potential hazard of going to hospital unless we introduce new measures to stop the spread, says Clare Wilson [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Steves's team used data from the long-running ZOE COVID app study, which asks people to enter information on their health and any positive covid-19 tests. Nevertheless, the UK's omicron wave is still likely to increase the total number of people with long-lasting health problems, given that the more transmissible variant has caused so many infections, says Claire Steves at King's College London. PEOPLE infected with the omicron coronavirus variant are less than half as likely to develop long covid, defined as symptoms lasting at least four weeks post-infection, as those infected with the delta variant, according to an analysis of users of a UK symptom-tracking app. [Extracted from the article]

If the results are confirmed, they could help devise a test that assesses a person's risk of getting badly ill with covid-19, says Johnathan Cooper-Knock at the University of Sheffield, UK. MORE than 1000 genes may contribute to an individual's risk of developing severe covid-19, on top of factors such as age, ethnicity and any health conditions. [Extracted from the article]

Catching the virus in pregnancy may affect an infant reaching their milestones [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A prior infection appears to offer some protection, but it is unclear for how long, or whether reinfections are guaranteed to be mild, finds Clare Wilson [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

169 Cases of hepatitis in children worldwide in the outbreak The leading suspect at the moment is an adenovirus called 41F, which usually causes nausea, diarrhoea and fever. DOCTORS in the UK are investigating whether an adenovirus is behind an unexplained outbreak of liver disease in young children, as case numbers rise in countries including the UK, the US and Israel. [Extracted from the article]

Faced with surging covid-19 cases and a fast-spreading virus, the UK has altered its vaccination strategy. Is that wise, asks Clare Wilson [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In March, it became clear that the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine can cause a blood clotting syndrome called vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia, or VITT, which it turned out is also associated with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, and is more likely in younger people. THE phenomenal covid-19 vaccine roll-out in 2021 demonstrates some of the best and worst aspects of modern medicine. In the UK, two shots of the Oxford/AstraZeneca or Pfizer/ BioNTech versions reduced infections by the delta variant by 67 and 80 per cent respectively, hospitalisations by 92 and 96 per cent, and deaths by 91 and 90 per cent. [Extracted from the article]

An indicator of the likelihood of "superspreading" events that kick off outbreaks is key to containing the coronavirus, finds Clare Wilson [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the claim by researchers that covid-19 survivors could experience a second illness called post-viral fatigue syndromes. Also cited are the previous occurrences of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) or myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) after viral infections, and the study by the team of psychiatrist Harvey Moldofsky on the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) survivors who suffered muscle weakness and sleep disorders for up to three years in early 2000s.

Reports that the variant is more likely to see young people admitted to hospital don't mean the virus has become deadlier, says Clare Wilson [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More than 13 million people in the US have received this vaccine, which only requires a single shot [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which reveals that the occurrence of myocarditis is more likely after a COVID-19 infection than after a vaccination, conducted by a research team led by Mendel Singer at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio. Topics discussed the method used in the study, the brands of coronavirus vaccines examined in the study and symptoms of myocarditis.

The women who developed the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine tell Clare Wilson what went on behind the scenes to create a covid-19 vaccine that has saved thousands of lives [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What are the safety concerns related to the covid-19 vaccine, and should we be worried, asks Clare Wilson [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on a warning from British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, scientists and physicians on the third wave of COVID-19 infections occurring in Great Britain and the rest of Europe. It discusses the reason why the third wave is inevitable despite the roll out of vaccines and results of a poll from the British Office for National Statistics on individuals eligible for immunization and those who have no plans to have the vaccine.

The article reports on a study which showed that a single dose of coronavirus vaccine is enough to provide protection to people who were previously infected with COVID-19.

The article focuses on reports stating that vaccination helped improve the health of some people with long COVID, which refers to long-lasting symptoms after a COVID-19 infection. Example of COVID symptoms that persist include fatigue and trouble concentrating. Results of a survey using Facebook groups of 473 people with long COVID described the effect of vaccines on them.

Some tests for covid-19 antibodies can show if a vaccine has given you immunity [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Could planned, pre-emptive lockdowns at regular intervals be a way to manage the spread of the coronavirus? Clare Wilson investigates [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the lack of scientific evidence that vitamin D can protect people against the effects of COVID-19.

The halt to the Oxford vaccine trial wasn't cause for worry – it was a sign of the research process working as it should, says Clare Wilson [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the discussion on the T-cells as a part of immune response to the virus during Covid-19 . Topics include consisting of antibodies, small molecules recognizing specific pathogens and target them for destruction; antibodies against the coronavirus being measured in the blood; and blood donations being given before the current pandemic for testing pre-existing immunity to the coronavirus.

The article reports that Covid-19 has permanently damaged the lungs of patients who needed intensive care treatment. Lung damage can also be caused by other kinds of chest infections, such as flu and pneumonia. A study found out that the coronavirus causes only mild symptoms, but can lead to serious lung inflammation and an excess of immune signalling chemicals, leading to a complication called a cytokine storm, in some people.

We are beginning to understand how the virus kills – and how to stop it [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article argues that ventilators may not be effective for severe Covid-19 cases. Topics covered include some less invasive options such as the use of face masks or nasal cannulas, the high death rate in Covid-19 patients put on ventilators, and a reduction in the demand for ventilators from the company Dyson.

The article discusses research which showed that cigarette smokers are at a higher risk of dying from COVID-19.

The covid-19 pandemic has encouraged more people to make advance treatment decisions relating to CPR and ventilation, reports Clare Wilson [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]