Category: Infectious diseases

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Early on in the pandemic plasma collected from people who’d had Covid-19 and survived, so called convalescent plasma, was used to treat others, with mixed success. Now that new variants have emerged that can escape antibodies stimulated by vaccines and …

Whatever happened to convalescent plasma to treat Covid-19? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read more »

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You probably don’t think about sewage much but worldwide, many public health experts are increasingly turning to monitoring the stuff for infectious diseases, especially viruses. Stuart Ray, an infectious disease expert at Johns Hopkins, says this has been one of …

Sewage monitoring for infectious diseases is likely here to stay, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read more »

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As Covid infection continues apace, we have seen dramatic declines in flu and shifted patterns of other viruses, such as respiratory syncytial virus or RSV. Stuart Ray, an infectious disease expert at Johns Hopkins, attributes such changes to human behavior. …

Have viruses other than Covid-19 shifted their infection cycles? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read more »

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 Masking reduces transmission of respiratory viruses like Covid-19 dramatically, yet naysayers abound. Stuart Ray, an infectious disease expert at Johns Hopkins, says one way to possibly overcome their objections is to provide an opportunity to really see what’s out there. …

How can we help people who are reluctant to wear masks, especially if a more dangerous variant emerges? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read more »

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How did wearing a mask to prevent infection with a respiratory virus become so political? Infectious disease expert Stuart Ray at Johns Hopkins says he doesn’t know the answer to that, but thinks time will allow many of us to …

If you’re still worried about Covid the choices of others may be worrisome, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read more »

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Are you still wearing a mask? Keeping your distance from others or avoiding crowds? Rates of Covid infection remain high, and hospitalizations and deaths are more or less steady. Stuart Ray, an infectious disease expert at Johns Hopkins, says although …

What is important at this stage of the Covid-19 pandemic? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read more »

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Covid vaccines have been authorized by the FDA for young children, and Novavax is poised for review and authorization by the agency. Do we really need these new measures in our quest to control Covid-19? Stuart Ray, an infectious disease …

Covid vaccination is becoming a more complex choice as many different vaccines become available, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read more »