Suureen US Department of Veterans Administration aineistoon perustuvan koronan tautitaakkatutkimuksen tuloksista ja Suomen varmistetuista koronatartunnoista, sairaalaan otoista ja koronakuolemista laskien Suomen tähänastisten koronatartuntojen tautitaakka vastaa 342 000 terveen/toimintakykyisen elinvuoden menetystä (DALY).  Jokaista tautitapausta kohden tämä vastaa sairastuneen iästä ja tilasta riippuen keskimäärin 84 menetettyä opiskelu- tai työpäivää, tai kasvanutta hoidon/hoivan tarvetta.

Käyttäen Suomen BKT/cap (= € 46 000) yhden tautitaakalle  menetetyn elinvuoden tappiona, tähänastisen koronatautitaakan tappioksi saadaan 15,7 Mrd €.

Yhteiskunnan kokonaistappiot eivät tietenkään rajoitu tähän.  

 

Taustatiedoksi – BoD ja DALY

Tautitaakan, (Burden of Disease, BoD) mittayksikkö on DALY, menetetty toimintakykyinen/terve elinvuosi. Yksi DALY vastaa 1 v. aikaistunutta kuolemaa, tai esim. 1 v. neliraajahalvaantuneena tai tiedottomana, 5 v. sokeutta tai 50 v. huonokuuloisuutta.

DALYn [sekä YLL, years of life lost, ja PYLL, potential years of life lost] käytön yleiskuvaus löytyy tästä, määritelmä ja laskentamenetelmä tästä ja laskennassa käytetyt disability weighs eri taudeille, vammoille ja oireille tästä.

 

USA:n puolustusvoimissa palvelleiden v. 2020 koronan sairastaneiden 2 vuoden seurantatutkimuksessa ilmennytn tautitaakka – ekstrapoloituna Suomen väestöön 2020 – 2025.

Keskeisenä lähteenäni on Naturessa 21.8.2023 julkaistu amerikkalaistutkimus, jonka aineistona on US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) national healthcare tietokanta.  Se kattaa 5 985 000 USA:n puolustusvoimissa palvelevaa ja palvellutta naista ja miestä.  Miehet ovat puolustusvoimissa odotetusti yliedustettuja ja alle 20 v. ikäiset puuttuvat.  Tutkimusraportissa US-VA datasta lasketut tulokset on kuitenkin korjattu vastaamaan koko USA:n yli 20 v. väestön ikä-, sukupuoli-, sos-eko- ja etnistä jakaumaa.

Tutkimus kattaa ensimmäisen koronavuoden 1.3. – 31.12.2020 aikana saatujen koronatartuntojen (139 818 #) jälkitaudit ja oireet (COVID-19 sequelae) kahden vuoden aikana, 1.11.2022 mennessä.  Laskennan kohteena oli 80 tautia ja oiretta, jotka jaettiin kymmeneen ryhmään ja laskettiin kumulatiivisina 30 vrk tilanteesta lähtien 90, 180, 360, 540 ja 720 vrk saakka kunkin koronatapauksen diagnoosin päiväyksestä lukien.

Tulokset laskettiin erikseen koronan kotona sairastaneille ja sairaalahoitoon joutuneille, ja yhdistettiin vastaamaan näiden osuuksia kaikista koronatapauksista.  Koronatapauksilla kahden tartuntaa seuraavan vuoden aikana ilmenneiden jälkitautitautitaakka (BoD) 1000 henkilöä kohden ylitti kontrolliväestön (ei koronadiagnoosia seuranta-aikana) vastaavan neurologisen tautitaakan 38 DALY, sydän- ja verisuonitautien 32 DALY, mielenterveyden häiriöiden 23, verenhyytymien 20 DALY, keuhko-oireiden 13 DALY, ja kaikkien jälkitautien/oireiden yhteisen tautitaakan 155 DALY.  Tutkimustiimin arvio on, että koronan kansallinen tautitaakka on yli 50% suurempi kuin syövän tai sydänsairauksien tautitaakka(!).

 

Tulosten ekstrapolointi Suomeen

Koska vastaavaa dataa ja analyysiä ei Suomesta tai pohjoismaista ole saatavissa, käytän edellä kuvatun amerikkalaistutkimuksen erikseen kotona hoidetuissa tai sairaaloihin joutuneissa koronatapauksissa tautikohtaisia tautitaakkoja (BoD/DALY) 1000 henkilöä kohden arvioina Suomessa kotona ja sairaaloissa hoidettujen koronatapausten vastaavia  tautitaakkoja.  Vastaavuus lienee vähintään kohtalainen, koska ihminen ja virus ovat lajeina samat USAssa ja Suomessa, ja US Dept of Veterans Administration tarjoaa pohjoismaiseen malliin verrattavan kattavan ja elinikäisen maksuttoman terveyden- ja sairaanhoidon kaikille sen piiriin kuuluville.

 

Suomi-ekstrapolaatioon tarvitsemat lähtötiedot

Muuntaakseni amerikkalaistutkimuksen laskemien tulokset vastaamaan Suomen koronapandemiatilastoja hain laskentamalliin seuraavat Suomi-kohtaiset syöttötiedot:

PCR-testin ja/tai lääkärin varmistamien koronatapausten määrä (tässä, ja tässä) => 1 495 008 varmistettua tapausta

Koronan vuoksi tai kanssa sairaalassa olevien potilaiden hoitopäivien määrä 29.12.2022 mennessä, jolloin THL lakkasi raportoimasta => 322 352 hoitopäivää

Koronan vuoksi tai kanssa sairaalassa olevien potilaiden hoitopäivien 29.12.2022 jälkeisen määrän approksimoin kuolemantapausdatasta (tässä) olettaen että koronan vuoksi tai kanssa sairaalassa olevien hoitopäivien määrän suhde koronaan 30 pv aikana tartunnasta kuolleiden määrään on v. 2023 pysynyt samana kuin se oli keskimäärin vuosina 2020-22.  Näin approksimoitu hoitopäivien määrä 30.12.2022 – 2023.09.28 => 73 551 hoitopäivää

Koronan vuoksi sairaalaan otettujen määrän laskentaan tarvitsin lisäksi koronapotilaan keskimääräisen hoitoajan sairaalassa:

Suomessa: miehet 16,8, naiset 8,4, yhteensä keskim, => 10.0 päivää

Edellisistä laskien (322 352 + 73 551)/10 => 39 590 sairaalapotilasta koronan vuoksi tai koronan kanssa

Toisin kuin käyttämäni amerikkalaistutkimus, laskin mukaan myös korona- ja ylikuolemien DALYt.  WHO:n DALY määritelmässä yksi menetetty elinvuosi = 1 DALY

Niiden laskentaan tarvitsin varmistettujen koronakuolemien määrän Suomessa 9.11.2023 mennessä => 10 864 #

Ja laskennallisten ylikuolemien määrän, joihin oletan sisältyvän em. varmistetut koronakuolemat => 15 973 #

Sekä lisäksi yhdessä koronakuolemassa keskimäärin menetettyjen elinvuosien (YLL) määrän, 81 maan keskiarvona miehet 15,7, naiset 15,1 v.  Vastaavasti Suomi: miehet 13,2, naiset 11,7 v, keskiarvo => 12,5 v

 

Laskentatulokset

Seuraava taulukko esittää edellä kuvatun laskenta-arvion tulokset kaikista syyskuuhun 2023 mennessä Suomessa kertyneistä koronatapauksista v. 2025 syksyyn mennessä aiheutuneista ja aiheutuvasta tauti[+kuolema]taakasta (BoD).  Kaikkiaan Suomessa lokakuuhun 2023 mennessä sairastettujen korotapausten laskennallinen tautitaakka lokakuuhuun 2025 mennessä on 342 100 DALYa, sairaudelle tai kuolemalle menetettyä elinvuotta.

Taulukko 1. Laskennallinen arvio Suomessa lokakuuhun 2023 mennessä ilmaantuneiden koronatapausten tähän mennessä aiheuttamasta ja v. 2025 loppuun mennessä odotettavissa olevasta tautitaakasta (BoD/(DALY)

Laskentatulokset kertovat, että 30 ensimmäisen päivän jälkitautitaakan osuus on 8% ja varmistettujen koronakuolemien osuus 40% koko 2 vuoden koronatautitaakasta.  Koko 720 päivän aikana jälkitautitaakan osuus koronatautitaakasta on 42%, ylikuolemien (sisältäen varmistetut koronakuolemat) osuus loput 58%.  Suuruusluokkaa puolet 720 päivän koronatautitaakasta ajoittuu täten akuutin vaiheen jälkeen.

Koulu- ja työikäisten menettämien terveiden elinpäivien määrän voi olettaa olevan jonkin verran alempi kuin ikääntyneiden, mutta toisaalta edellisistä useammat ovat sairastaneet koronan, ja hyvin monet useamman kerran.  Tartuntaa kohden kymmenien koulu- ja työpäivien menettäminen jälkitaudeille heikentää oppimisen ja työn tuloksia ja tulee siten yhteiskunnalle kalliiksi. Toisaalta jälkitaudit rapauttavat myös muutoin terveitä eläkeläisiä useammin sairaaloihin ja aikaisemmin hoivakoteihin, mikä myös tulee kalliiksi.

Arvion tarkkuuteen vaikuttavat mm seuraavat epävarmuustekijät:

– lasten osuuden puuttuminen amerikkalaistutkimuksesta

– muiden kuin alkuperäisen Wuhan-variantin, toistuvien tartuntojen ja rokotusten vaikutusten puuttuminen sekä akuutin koronan että sen jälkitautien taakasta

– kahta vuotta myöhempien ml. elinikäisten pitkäaikaisvaikutusten puuttuminen => pitkäaikasvaikutukset muodostuvat todellisuudessa laskettuja suuremmiksi

– USAn ja Suomen väestöjen pandemian taustalla olevien tautitaakkojen eroavuudet

Epidemiologiselle koronatutkimukselle tärkeä tartunnoilta välttynyt väestö on sekä USAssa että Suomessa jo nyt pieni ja pienentyessään edelleen se valikoituu taustaparametreiltaan kasvavasti muusta väestöstä poikkeavaksi.  Vertailuväestöt uusien varianttien ja uusien tartuntojen tautitaakan sekä koko koronatautitaakan taloudellisten, sosiaalisten ja yhteiskunnallisten vaikutusten arvioimiseksi ovat näinollen katoamassa.

Koronapandemia on tuottanut valtaisasti uutta tutkimustietoa – sekä tiukasti fokusoitua että interdisciplinaarista – viruksista ja niiden vaikutuksista ihmispopulaatioihin, molekyylitasolta yhteiskuntatasolle. Tämä tuottaa myönteisiä mahdollisuuksia. Yksi lupaavista on hanke aidosti immunisoivan yleisrokotteen kehittämiseksi koronaviruksia vastaan.  V. 2017 kolme johtavaa rokotetutkijaa lähetti NIAID:lle apuraha-anomuksen yleisen koronavirusrokotteen kehittämiseksi.  Hankkeen silloiset arvioijat pitivät suunnitelmaa tieteellisesti erinomaisena, mutta prioriteetiltaan alhaisena koska ”koronavirusten vastaisella yleisrokotteella olisi tuskin suurta merkitystä” (Sic!).  Siinä fyysisessä maailmassa ja ihmiskulttuurissa jossa me elämme, tällainen rokote tarjoaisi ilmeisesti ainoan toteutettavissa olevan mahdollisuuden koronapandemian tukahduttamiseksi – vrt. isorokon globaali eradikaatio 1960-70-luvulla, ja hanke on tiettävästi uudelleen aktivoitu.

 

Kuinka kalliiksi väestön terveyden ja toimintakyvyn menetys on tullut – arvio?

Yhden terveen ja toimintakykyisen elinvuoden menettämisen (DALY) hinnan arvioimiseen löytyy minua parempia lähtötietoja ja laskentamalleja.

Lähtökohtaisesti suhteuttaisin BKT:n muutoksen terveen ja toimintakykyisen väestön osuuden muutokseen väestöstä, tarkemmin kysymykseen tämän suhteen kulmakertoimeen nykytilanteessa (= kaiken muun pysyessä ennallaan), ts. jos terveen ja toimintakykyisen väestön osuus alenee/kohoaa 10%, aleneeko/kohoaako BKT sen seurauksena >10%, 10% vai <10%.  Ennen parempaa tietoa oma oletukseni on 10%, t.s., että yhden vuoden tautitaakan (1 DALY) kansantaloudellinen tappio vastaisi keskimäärin yhden vuoden bruttokansantuotetta asukasta kohden (BKT/cap).

Suomen BKT asukasta kohden v. 2022 oli US$ 50 537, tämän päivän kurssilla € 45 989.  Tällä oletuksella Suomen tähänastisten koronatapausten aiheuttamien tautitaakan, 342 100 DALY, kansantaloudellinen tappio v. 2025 loppuun mennessä olisi 15,7 Mrd €.  Voisiko arvio olla ainakin suuruusluokaltaan oikea?

Neljän pandemiaa edeltäneen vuoden aikana Suomen valtion velka kasvoi keskimäärin 1,64 Mrd€/v.  Pandemian iskiessä Valtio otti tehtäväkseen turvata kuntasektorin ja osittain myös yritysten tappioiden kantamisen. Vuosina 2020-21, ennen Venäjän hyökkäystä Ukrainaan Suomen valtionvelan koronapandemiaan liittyvä kasvu, kun kokonaiskasvusta on vähennetty e.m. koronaa edeltävien vuosien valtionvelan keskimääräinen vuosikasvu x 2 oli 19 Mrd €.  Tätä vasten arvioni 3,5 koronavuoden tautitaakan 15,7 Mrd € tappiosta ei ole korkea.

15,7 Mrd € on TIER I arvioni tautitaakan suorasta kansantaloudellisesta tappiosta. Siihen ei sisälly lisääntyvän sairastavuuden vaatiman sairaanhoidon eikä toimintakyvyn heikkenemisen vaatiman hoivan lisäkustannuksia, ei myöskään pandemian välillisesti heikentämästää työllisyydestä ja aiheuttamista vararikoista johtuvia yhteiskunnan lisäkustannuksia.

Ennen kattavampaa, tarkempaa ja perustellumpaa pandemian kustannusten kokonaisarviota esittämääni arviota pandemian tähänastisen tautitaakan tuottamasta kansantaloudellisesta tappiosta, 15,7 Mrd €, voisi käyttää esim. tehtyjen ja harkittavien pandemiatoimien, vaikkapa rokotusten, Paxlovidin, hengityssuojainten ja ilmanvaihdon tehostamisen alustavissahyöty/kustannusarvioinnissa.

 

---

 

JÄLKIKIRJOITUS

Useampikin kommentoija on huomauttanut – aivan oikein – että laskelmani jättää huomiotta koronan olennaisia kustannusvaikutuksia ja aliarvioi sekä koronan tautitaakan että taloustaakan (harmi että keksin tämän termin vasta nyt).

Naturen artikkelissa esitettyjä USAn väestöä vastaavia sairaus- ja hoitopaikkakohtaisia tautitaakkoja pidän oikeansuuruisina myös Suomen väestön tautitaakan arvioimiseen sellaisella tarkkuudella kuin se on tarpeen, samoin Suomen korona- ja ylikuolemien sekä sairaaloihin otettujen koronapotilaiden määräarvioita.

Sensijaan on selvää, että koronan sairastaneiden suomalaisten määrä – sairaustapauksista puhumattakaan – on moninkertainen raportoituun 1,5 miljoonaan verrattuna. Kolminkertainen, 4,5 miljoonaa olisi varmasti lähempänä todellisuutta.  Samoin, että tautitaakan (DALY=väestön tuottavan/toimintakykyisen ajan menetys) suorat vaikutukset kattavat vain osan koronapandemian kokonaiskustannuksista.  Siitä puuttuvat mm. sairaanhoidon ja hoivan kustannukset ja kaikki tartunnasta laskien kahta vuotta myöhemmin jatkuvat tai ilmenevät tautitaakkavaikutukset.  Samoin arvioinnista puuttuvat työntekijöiden toistuvan ja runsaan sairastamisen aiheuttamat häiriöt työyhteisöjen ja yritysten toiminnassa, sekä vapaa-ajan palveluiden ja tavaroiden kuluttamisessa – koko talouselmässä.

Miksi päädyin kuitenkin tähän suppeaan arviointiin.  Koska halusin perustaa laskelmani  maksimaalisesti jäljitettäviin suomalaisiin tilastoihin ja numerotietoihin, ja laskea niistä koronan tauti- ja taloustaakalle rajan jota ne eivät varmasti alita.  Koronapandemian todellinen tauti- että taloustaakka Suomessa on epäilemättä moninkertainen laskemaani verrattuna, mutta muille kuin esittämilleni numeerisille arvioille en pysty antamaan tietolähteisiin linkattua laskennallista tukea.

Muutama välähdys

Suomessa koko pandemia-ajan  korkein suhteellinen ylikuolleisuus – kuoleman riskin 17…29% kasvu – on kohdistunut toisaalta päiväkoti- ja peruskouluikäisten lasten (0-14 v.), toisaalta aktiivisimmassa työiässä olevien ja perheiden ruuhkavuosia viettävien aikuisten (40-59 v.) ikäluokkiin.  Vastaavaasti kuoleman riskin kasvu on ollut pienin 60-69 v., 80-89 v. ja 90+ v. ikäluokilla, 4,5…5,6%.  

Nuoremmille ikäluokille pandemia-ajan ylikuolleisuutta on kertynyt alussa vähän hitaammin, kesän 2021 jälkeen vähän nopeammin, mutta kokonaisuudessaan varsin tasaisesti.  Yli 60 v. ikäluokille ylikuolleisuutta sensijaan kertyi kesään 2021 mennessä vain vähän tai ei lainkaan.  Vuoden 2021 ohi-on-nyt-saa-mennä syksyn jälkeen kaikkien, mutta  korostetusti vanhimpien ikäryhmien COVID ja ylikuolemien kasvu on ollut vertailumaiden suurinta.  Se selittää valtaosan koko siitä kesän jälkeisestä koronakuolemien vuoksiaallosta, johon on menehtynyt valtaosa Suomen pandemia-ajan tähänastisista 13 000 ylikuolleesta, ja joka on vienyt Suomen pandemia-ajan kuolleisuustilastojen kärkiryhmään.

Suomen pandemia-ajan ylikuolleista 38 % oli iältään 80 v. tai vanhempia, 25 % on ollut iältään alle 70 v., yli 200 alle 30 v.  Mielikuva riskin kohdistumisesta vain haudan partaalla horjuviin monisairaisiin vanhuksiin vie pahasti harhaan.  Varmasti koronapotilaat ovat kuollessaan olleet hyvin huonokuntoisia, mutta tämä on tautologiaa, sama pätee valtaosaan kaikkiin muihinkin syihin kuolleista.

 

Ylikuolleisuus

Pandemian alettua lukuisat kansainväliset organisaatiot (OECD, EuroStat, EuroMOMO, WHO, ym), tietosivustot (OWiD , IHME, ym) media (The Economist, The Lancet, ym) ja yksittäiset tutkijat alkoivat luoda ja julkaista kymmeniä maita kattavia, tai yksittäisten maiden (esim. allekirjoittanut Suomen) ylikuolleisuustilastoja.  Ne perustuvat kansallisiin ja julkisiin väestötilastoihin, jotka ovat lähes poikkeuksetta erittäin luotettavia, ajantasaisia, yksityiskohtaisia ja helposti saatavilla.  Kuolleisuustilastot muodostavat lahjomattoman kontrollin – tässä tapauksessa pandemiakuolleisuuden raportoinnille – ja osoittivat jo alkuvaiheessa, että monet maat raportoivat kansalaisilleen ja WHOlle kaunisteltuja ja jopa yksiselitteisesti vääristeltyjä tietoja.   Silloinkin kun koronakuolemien diagnostisointi ja raportointi ovat kohdallaan, ylikuolleisuus kertoo pandemiasta, yhteiskunnasta ja väestöstä enemmän kuin tilastoidut koronakuolöemat.

Olen nähnyt tähän mennessä vain vähän pandemian ajalta julkaistuja ikäluokittaisia ylikuolleisuusanalyysejä pl. OWiDn viikko/kuukausilaskelmia, Ilkka Rauvolan 52 viikon laskelmia, ja yhtä omaa 0-14 v. ikäluokan ylikuolleisuusanalyysiä.

WHO:n määritelmän mukaan esim. COVID-19 pandemiaan liittyvä ylikuolleisuus [excess mortality/deaths] on tapahtuneiden kuolemien ja laskennallisen kuolleisuuden – jos pandemiaa ei olisi – erotus.  Avain on kuolleisuuden, jos pandemiaa ei olisi, laskennallinen arviointi-

Olen aiemmin julkaissut blogissani perinpohjaisen selvityksen Suomen koronapandemia-ajan koko väestön ylikuolleisuuden laskemisesta ja laskennan tuloksista  [https://worldaccordingtomatti.blog/2023/01/17/kaikki-paitsi-elama-on-turhaa/].

Tämänkertaisessa postauksessa esitän yhtenäisellä menetelmällä lasketut ylikuolleisuusarviot Suomen väestön ikäryhmille, 0-14 v., 15-29 v., 30-39 v., 40-49 v., 50-59 v., 60-69 v., 70-79 v., 80-89 v., 90+ v., sekä koko väestölle, 0-90+ v. aikajaksolla 2020 viikko 12 → 2023 viikko 29, yhteensä 174 viikkoa.  Jaoin tuon ylikuolleisuuslaskennan myös kahteen vaiheeseen, ennen ja jälkeen 2021 viikon 27.  Laskuissa käytettämäni Suomen väestön viikottaisten kuolemien sekä vuosittaisen väestömäärän ja -rakenteen lähteet ovat Tilastokeskuksen julkaisut

Kuolleet muuttujina Alue, Viikko, Ikä, Sukupuoli ja Tiedot. PxWeb

Väestö iän (1-v.) ja sukupuolen mukaan alueittain, 1972-2022

Ylikuolleisuuden laskennan avain on taustakuolleisuuden [= laskennallinen kuolleisuus, jos pandemiaa ei olisi] mallintaminen.  Edellämainituissa postauksissa käyttämäni laskennallisen kuolleisuuden malli koostui pandemiaa edeltävän aikajakson 2005 – 2019 trendistä ja keskimääräisestä vuosirytmistä [korkeampi talvella ja keväällä, matalampi kesällä ja syksyllä].  Vuosirytmi vaikuttaa laskennan tarkkuuteen lyhyellä, mutta ei vuosien aikajaksolla.  Niinpä jätän taustakuolleisuuden mallin vuosirytmit tällä kertaa huomiotta, ja arvioin kunkin ikäluokan 174 viikon pandemiajakson taustakuolleisuutta käyttäen saman ikäluokan aikajakson 2010 viikko 12 → 2020 viikko 12 lineaarista kuolleisuustrendiä.

Kuolleisuus ilmaistaan useimmiten kuolleiden määränä tuhatta ikäluokan jäsentä kohden (promilleina, ‰) per vuosi tai per jokin muu, erikseen ilmoitettu aikajakso.  Jokaisesta ikäluokasta jokaisen viikon aikana kuolleiden määrää vastaavan ikäluokan koon laskin lineaarisella interpolaatiolla Tilastokeskuksen kunkin vuoden viimeiselle päivälle ilmoittamista luvuista.

 

Ylikuolleisuuslaskennan tulokset ikäluokittain

Tässä osassa esitän kullekin ikäluokalle tähänastisten 174 pandemiaviikon laskennallisista tuloksista (i) graafin ylikuolleisuuden kertymisestä yli koko pandemia-ajan (‰), (ii) arvion siitä kuinka paljon toteutunut kuolleisuus ylitti odotetun, ts. laskennallisen kuolleisuuden (%), sekä (iii) arvion ylikuolemien lukumäärästä.   Laskennallisten arvioiden tarkkuudet ovat matalampia nuoremmille ryhmille, joissa luvut ovat pienimpiä ja vastaavasti korkeampia vanhimmille ikäryhmille jossa ne ovat suuruusluokkaa 50 kertaa suurempia.  Lukuarviot eivät ole lopullisia, ne vastaavat vuoden 2023 heinäkuun tilannetta, ja ne kasvavat edelleen toistaiseksi.

Aloitan nuorimmasta ikäluokasta, 0-14 v.  Sen 174 viikon aikana kertynyt ylikuolleisuus oli 0,102 ‰, toteutunut kuolleisuus ylitti laskennallisen 20 % ja ylikuolemia kertyi kaikkiaan 86.  Ylikuolleisuutta ei kertynyt lainkaan vielä v. 2020, mutta alkoi kertyä v. 2021 alusta alkaen jokseenkin lineaarisesti laskentakauden loppuun saakka.

Ikäluokan 15-29 v. kertynyt ylikuolleisuus oli 0,131 ‰, toteutunut kuolleisuus ylitti laskennallisen 8,4 % ja ylikuolemia kertyi kaikkiaan 125.  Lasketut numeroarvot ovat nämä, mutta tämän ikäluokan tulokset poikkeavat niin olennaisesti kaikista muista ikäryhmistä, että niihin on suhtauduttava varauksilla ja palaan niihin muiden tulosten esittelyn jälkeen.

Ikäluokan 30-39 v. kertynyt ylikuolleisuus oli 0,162 ‰, toteutunut kuolleisuus ylitti laskennallisen 6,9 % ja ylikuolemia kertyi kaikkiaan 117.  Ylikuolleisuuden kertyminen on vähäistä kevääseen 2021 saakka, jonka jälkeen kertyminen oli lähes lineaarista laskentakauden loppuun saakka.

Ikäluokan 40-49 v. kertynyt ylikuolleisuus oli 1,10 ‰, toteutunut kuolleisuus ylitti laskennallisen peräti 29,4 % (!) ja ylikuolemia kertyi kaikkiaan 784.  Ylikuolleisuutta kertyi melko tasaisesti läpi koko laskentakauden.

Ikäluokan 50-59 v. kertynyt ylikuolleisuus oli 1,87 ‰, toteutunut kuolleisuus ylitti laskennallisen 17,0 % ja ylikuolemia kertyi kaikkiaan 1316.  Kuten 40-49 v. ryhmässä, tämänkin ryhmän ylikuolleisuus kertyi varsin tasaisesti läpi koko laskentakauden.

Ikäluokan 60-69 v. kertynyt ylikuolleisuus oli 1,53 ‰, toteutunut kuolleisuus ylitti laskennallisen 4,9 %, molemmat alittivat merkittävästi 50-59 v. ryhmän arvot, ja ylikuolemia kertyi kaikkiaan 1086.  Ylikuolleisuuden kertyminen oli vähäistä syksyyn 2021 saakka, sen jälkeen lineaarista laskentakauden v. 2023 kevääseen, jolloin kertyminen hidastui.

Ikäluokan 70-79 v. [nk. suuret ikäluokat lukuunottamatta v. 1941 kohorttia sisältyvät tähän] kertynyt ylikuolleisuus oli 6,27 ‰, toteutunut kuolleisuus ylitti laskennallisen 8,6 %, ja ylikuolemia kertyi kaikkiaan 3729.  Ylikuolleisuuden kertyminen oli vähäistä syksyyn 2021 saakka, mutta sitten jyrkempää ja lineaarisesta laskentakauden loppuun saakka.

Ikäluokan 80-89 v. kertynyt ylikuolleisuus oli 10,5 ‰, toteutunut kuolleisuus ylitti laskennallisen 4,4 %, ja ylikuolemia kertyi kaikkiaan 2867.  Ylikuolleisuuden kertyminen alkoi vasta talvella 2022, mutta jatkui sitten jyrkkänä, tosin pysähtyen kesällä 2022 ja 2023.

Ikäluokan 90+ v. kertynyt ylikuolleisuus oli 40,0 ‰, toteutunut kuolleisuus ylitti laskennallisen 5,5 %, ja ylikuolemia kertyi kaikkiaan 2332.  Tämä ikäluokan ylikuolleisuuden kertymäkuva on lähes toisinto 80-89 v. ikäluokasta.  Vastoin yleisiä mielikuvia, 80 v. ja sitä vanhempien osuus kaikista ylikuolemista on ollut vain 38%.  Molemmissa näkyvien jyrkien nousujen [talvi-kevät] ja notkahdusten [kesä-syksy] vähintään osittainen selitys on käytetyn taustakuolleisuusmallin lineaarisuus, jonka vuoksi se aliarvioi talvi-kevätkauden ja yliarvioi kesä-syyskauden taustakuolleisuutta.  Koko vuoden tason arviointiin tällä ei ole vaikutusta.  Vuodenaikarytmin huomioivat ylikuolleisuuskertymät käyttäytyisivät siis esitettyjä juohevammin, mutta johtaisivat samoihin numeerisiin lopputuloksiin.

Samalla tavoin laskien koko väestön ylikuolleisuus oli 2.47 ‰, toteutunut kuolleisuus ylitti laskennallisen 7,5 %, ja laskennallisia ylikuolemia kertyi kaikkiaan 13 815 (vrt. ikäryhmäkohtaisista mallilaskelmista yhteenlaskien 12 444).  Koko väestön ylikuolleisuus kertyi samankaltaisesti kuin kolmen vanhimman ikäluokan (70+ v.) ylikuolleisuus.  Syy on ilmeinen, niiden osuus ylikuolemista oli 3/4.  Vastaavasti alle 70 v. osuus kaikista ylikuolemista oli 1/4.  Alkusyksyyn 2020 mennessä ylikuolleisuutta ei kertynyt juuri lainkaan, ja seuraavaankin kesään, 2021, mennessäkin vain vähän [hetki näytti otolliselta sittemmin julkaisematta jääneelle kirjalle, Miten Suomi päätti voittaa koronan].  Syksystä 2021 alkanut ylikuolleisuuden jyrkkä kertyminen nosti Suomen v. 2022 aikana länsimaailman ylikuolleisuustilastojen huippulle.

Edelläolevat graafit ja niiden selitykset sisältävät niin paljon numerotietoa, että kokosin ne allaolevaan taulukkoon 1. yhdessä tärkeimpiwen taustatietojen kanssa.

 

Mitä nämä graafit ja numerot kertovat – muutamia nostoja

Ikäluokkien koko pandemia-ajan ylikuolleisuuserot.  Absoluuttisesti ylikuolleisuus (‰) nousi yhdellä poikkeuksella, 50-50 v., sitä enemmän mitä vanhemmasta ikäluokasta on kyse – mitä vanhempi ihminen on, sitä todennäköisenpää on että hän kuolee saatuaan virus/bakteeritartunnan, joutuessaan vaikeisiin olosuhteisiin tai esim. seuraavan viiden vuoden aikana ylipäätään.  Tämä on triviaaliteetti.  Kiinnostavampi on kysymys, kuinka paljon kunkin ikäluokan ylikuolemat kasvattivat kuoleman riskiä yli odotusarvon pandemian aikana (%).

Omassa luokassaan on ollut ylikuolemien osuuden [kaikista kuolemista] kasvu päiväkoti- ja kouluikäisten (0-14 v.) sekä kouluikäisten vanhempien ikäluokissa (40-49 v. ja 50-59 v.), joissa kuoleman riskit kasvoivat 17 – 29%.  Hakematta palautuu mieleen lasten kouluissa saamien ja kouluista koteihin tuomien tartuntojen aktiivinen vähättely, jopa de facto suosiminen ensin laumasuojan ja sitten hybridi-immuniteetin edistämiseksi.

Vastaavasti alhaisimmat ylikuolleisuuden osuudet kaikista kuolemista löytyivät 60-69 v., 80-89 v. ja 90+ v. ikäluokissa, 4,5 – 5,6%, ts. 1/3 … 1/6 kouluikäisten ja heidän vanhempiensa ylikuolemien vastaavista osuuksista.  Suuret ikäluokat kattavassa 70-79 v. ikäluokassa ylikuolemien osuus oli korkeampi, 8,9 %.

Yli 60 v. ikäisille on useammin kuin nuoremmille mahdollista valikoida, rajoittaa ja välttää kontaktejaan sekä paikkoja joissa altistumisriski on ilmeinen.  Sensijaan lapsiperheille tämä tehtiin etenkin syksystä 2021 alkaen vaikeaksi tai mahdottomaksi perheen mahdollisista riskiryhmiin kuuluvista riippumatta.

 

Nuoremman, alle 60 v., ja vanhemman, yli 60 v., väestön ylikuolleisuus ennen kesäkuuta 2021 ja sen jälkeen 

Taulukko 2 esittää koronakuolemat keskimäärin viikkoa ja miljoonaa ihmistä kohden laskettuna [joten lukuarvot ovat keskenään suoraan vertailukelpoisiksia] erikseen ajalle ennen ja jälkeen keskikesän 2021 sekä koko ajalle, erikseen alle ja yli 60 v. ikäisille sekä koko väestölle.  Jaksojen välinen ero nuorempien ja vanhempien ikäluokkien pandemia-ajan ylikuolemien suhteen ei voisi olla räikeämpi.  Ensimmäisen jakson, pandemian alusta kesäkuuhun 2021, aikana ylikuolleisuus pysyi kokonaisuudessa maltillisena.  Yllättävästi ylikuolleisuutta ilmeni vain alle 60 v. ikäisessä väestössä.  Myös yli 60 v. ikäisiä ihmisiä kuoli COVIDiin, mutta julkiset rajoitustoimet ja yksilöiden oma suojautuminen eivät ainoastaan pitäneet ikäväestön koronakuolemien määrää alhaisena vaan ilmeisesti vähensivät muista tartuntataudeista ja ehkä joistakin muistakin syistä aiheutuneiden kuolemien määrää niin paljon, että ikääntyneiden kokonaiskuolleisuus väheni odotusarvoa pienemmäksi.  Tämä näkyy selvästi kuvissa 8 ja 9.  Jos/kun tavoitteena oli, syksyllä 2020 julkaistun Great Barrington Declaration -ideologian mukaisesti, levittää tartuntoja lapsiin ja nuoreen aikuisväestöön [koska heidän uskottiin olevan de facto suojassa COVID tartuntojen vakavilta seurauksilta, jonka koska heidän tartuttamisensa kautta uskottiin saatavan väestössä aikaan laumasuoja COVIDin leviämistä vastaan], ja samalla suojata vanhuksia [ja muita riskiryhmiä], niin kesään 2021 saakka ainakin sekä lasten, nuorten ja keski-ikäisten tartuttamisessa, että ikääntyneiden suojaamisessa onnistuttiin yli odotusten.

Toinen, kesällä 2021 alkanut pandemiajakso muodosti jyrkän vastakohdan ensimmäisen jakson torjuntavoitolle.  Deltavariantti levisi keskellä kesää jalkapallon maailmanmestaruuskisoista Pietarista hallitsemattomasti kaikkialle Suomeen.  Tästä huolimatta ja vanhusten sekä riskiryhmien toisen rokotuskierroksen ollessa vielä kesken, kaikkia koronarajoituksia alettiin purkaa nopeaan tahtiin, kansalaisten annettiin ymmärtää,  että pandemia hiipuu, on muutaman viikon kuluttua ohi, ja rohkaistiin lähtemään liikkeelle, tapaamaan kavereita, tekemään entisiä kivoja asioita, voittamaan pelkopandemia ja palaamaan normaaliin.  Omikronvariantti saapui Suomeen joulun alla, ja moni odotti sen lieviksi uskotuista infektioista jopa lopullista luonnon immuunibuusteria, jolla korona voitetaan.

Ylikuolleisuus kääntyi jo loppukesällä kasvuun.  Alle 60 v väestön ylikuolleisuus kasvoi 50…100%.  Vanhemman, yli 60 v. ikäisen väestön kohdalla muutos oli paljon rajumpi.  Alikuolleisuus vaihtui muutamassa viikossa nopeasti kasvavaksi ylikuolleisuudeksi.  Niin korkeaksi, että kesästä 2021 syyskuuhun 2023 kertyneen ylikuolleisuuden tilastoissa Suomi siirtyi pandemian hallinnassa parhaiten selviytyneiden maiden joukosta yhdeksi kaikkein huonoimmin menestyneistä, kts. Taulukko 3.

 

Lukio- ja opiskeluikäisten ikäluokan 15-29 v., riskikuva  poikkeaa olennaisesti muista ryhmistä (kuvat 2 ja 11).  Allaolevan kokonaiskuolleisuuskuvaajan tasoitetut viikkokeskiarvot vuodesta 2020 vuoteen 2023 näyttävät, että 15-29 v. kuolleisuus aleni vuoteen 2015 saakka, kääntyi nousuun v. 2016, mutta romahti ensimmäisen pandemiavuoden 2020 lopulla.

Minulla ei juuri ole eväitä tämän ikäluokan kuolleisuuden vuosien 2016-2020 nousun ja vuoden 2020 toisen puoliskon nopean laskun syiden arviointiin.  Ajatuksiin nousevat toisaalta huumekuolemat, joista mieleen on jäänyt uutisista ohimennen kuultuja klippejä.  Koska tämän ikäluokan kokonaiskuolleisuus on hyvin alhainen, esim. huumekuolemien lisääntyminen muutamalla kymmenellä per vuosi voisi selittää vuosien 2016…20 kuolleisuudessa havaitun nousun.  Toisaalta erilaisten riskikäyttäytymismahdollisuuksien väheneminen ensimmäisenä pandemiavuonna saattaisi selittää ylikuolleisuuden nopeaa pudotusta vuoden 2020 jälkipuoliskolla.

 

Pandemiapolitiikan seurausten arvioimiseksi ja eri ikäluokkien sekä koko väestön ylikuolleisuuskertymien ymmärtämiseksi pandemia-aika on jaettava aikaan ennen kesää 2021 ja aikaan syksystä 2021 eteenpäin.  Jälkimmäinen edustaa yhtä suurta epäonnistumista kuin edellinen onnistumista. 

Kouluikäiset ja heidän vanhempansa ovat maksaneet koko pandemia-ajan koronapäätöksistä kuolleisuuden 17-29% nousun muodossa suhteellisesti korkeimman hinnan.  Yli 70 v. ikäiset taas ovat maksaneet syksyllä 2021 jälkeisistä koronapäätöksistä 9000 ylikuoleman muodossa absoluuttisesti korkeimman hinnan. 

COVID tartuntojen pitkäaikaisten ja pysyvien vaikutusten hintaa ja kestoa me emme vielä tiedä, se voi osoittautua erittäin korkeaksi.  On kuitenkin varmaa, ne kohdistuvat raskaimpina tämän päivän lapsiin, nuoriin ja parasta ikäänsä eläviin aikuisiin, koska heillä on eniten jäljellä olevaa elämää elettävänä, toimeentuloa ansaittavana, sekä omia ja yhteisiä velkoja maksettavana.

 

Epilogi

Jo edellä totesin, että Suomi luopui kesän ja syksyn 2021 aikana koronatartuntoja torjuvista toimista kaikkialla,  jopa terveyden- ja sairaanhoidossa sekä hoivakodeissa. Ensin se perustui uskomukseen että COVID tartunta on lähes vaaraton kaikille muille paitsi ikääntyneille ja riskiryhmille, ja että näiden ryhmien rokottaminen kahteen kertaan sekä muun väestön ’kohtaaminen koronaviruksen [=luonnon]’ kanssa toisi koko väestölle immuniteetin joka riittäisi taltuttamaan pandemian tavalliseksi kausiflunssaksi.  Omikronin saavuttua tätä uskomusta täydennettiin epämääräisesti ajoittaisten rokotusten plus tartuntojen tuottamalla buustauksella, hybridi-immuniteetilla.

(i) Kesästä 2021 alkaen sovellettu [hybridi]strategia nosti Suomen ylikuolleisuuden [myös COVID-kuolemat] maailman huipulle, (ii) molemmat pysyvät kaksi vuotta myöhemmin edelleen huipulla kausittain ja virusvarianteittain vaihdellen, (iii) eliniänodote aleni v. 2022 toisena vuonna peräkkäin ja enemmän kuin kertaakaan toisen maailmansodan jälkeen ja (iv) COVIDin pitkäaikaiset ja pysyvät terveysvaikutukset kumuloituvat erityisesti nuoressa ja työikäisessä väestössä jokaisen uuden ja toistuvan tartunnan kautta.

Jos nämä tosiasiat eivät riitä osoittamaan, että kesän 2021 jälkeinen koronapolitiikka on epäonnistunut perinpohjaisesti, on pakko kysyä, mitä tämän politiikan tavoitteet ovat olleet, ja mitä ne ovat nyt?

Artikkeli on päivitetty 12.7.2023 klo 18:00, kts- muutokset artikkelin lopusta.

 

Tiivistelmä

Vastoin kevään 2020 odotuksia COVID-19 on osoittautunut yhdeksi johtavista lasten kuolinsyistä ja se aiheuttaa myös lapsille pitkäaikaista sairauskuormaa. Tämä on sitäkin merkittävämpää, koska toisin kuin esim vanhukset, lapset voivat joutua kantamaan toisille kevenevää, toisille raskaammaksi kasvavaa sairauskuormaa vuosikymmenien ajan.

Suomalaisten lasten pandemia-ajan ylikuolleisuus alkoi kasvaa samoihin aikoihin koko väestön ylikuolleisuuden kanssa kevään vaihtuessa kesäksi v. 2021.  Lasten laskennallisten ylikuolemien (55) osuus koko väestön ylikuolemista (11 000) on alle 1%, mutta lasten suhteellinen ylikuolleisuus, 12 %, on kaksinkertainen koko väestön suhteelliseen  ylikuolleisuuteen, 6%, verrattuna.  Ts. pandemia on kasvattanut enemmän lasten kuin koko väestön kuoleman riskiä.

Laskemani arviot vastaavat muualla maailmassa laskettuja.

 

Tausta – lasten kuolleisuus ja pandemia-ajan ylikuolleisuus

Vielä 1990-luvun alussa kuoli Suomessa viikottain 9…13 lasta [450…650/v], mutta 2010-luvun lopulla  enää 2…4/vko [140…170/v] (Kuva 1).   Vuosikymmenien kuluessa lasten kuolemat ovat siis vähentyneet murto-osaan.  Tulokseen vaikuttaa myös koko lapsipopulaation samanaikainen supistuminen 130 000:lla.  Valtaosa lasten kuolemista lienee aina ollut 0-4 v lasten kuolemia.  Lasten poikkeuksellisen korkean kuolleisuuden vuosia on ollut aikaisemminkin, lähimenneisyydessä mm. 2014.  Koska sitä edeltänyt v. 2013 ja seurannut v. 2015 olivat kuitenkin matalan lapsikuolleisuuden vuosia, koko 2013-2015 jakso ei erotu pitkän ajan alenevasta trendistä.  Vastaavasti kevään 2011 korkea kuolleisuuspiikki ei näy koko vuoden 2011 lapsikuolleisuudessa.

Tässä postauksessa koetan selvittää onko myös Suomessa havaittavissa 0-14 vuoden ikäisten lasten pandemia-ajan ylikuolleisutta ja jos niin kuinka paljon – absoluuttisesti ja suhteellisesti.

 

Kanadalaisen Diego Bassani osoitti twiittiketjujssaan, että koronapandemia on kasvattanut merkittävästi myös 0-14 v. ikäisten kanadalaisten lasten kokonaiskuolleisuutta.  Kasvua ei näkynyt vielä 2020, mutta 2021 alun jälkeen lapsia on Kanadassa kuollut n. 20% yli tilastollisen odotusarvon.

Olen itse mallintanut koko väestön ylikuolleisuutta Suomessa jo puolentoista vuoden ajan.  Blogpostauksessani 17.1.2023 kerroin mitä väestön menetetyn elinajan mittareita on käytössä, mitä ylikuolleisuudella tarkoitetaan ja kuvasin kehittämäni ylikuolemien laskentamallin, mallin validoinnin ja sillä laskettujen pandemia-ajan ylikuolemien aikasarjan Suomessa v. 2022 loppuun saakka.

Tuohon mennessä oli ylikuolemia kertynyt Suomessa n. 10 000 (nyt, ½ v myöhemmin, samalla mallilla laskettuna yli 11 000).  Kaikkiaan suomalaisia on on kuollut pandemia-aikana, 2020 vko10 – 2023 vko23, 181 000, josta ylikuolemien osuus on n. 6 %.

Diego Bassanin twiittiketju innosti minut soveltamaan koko väestön ylikuolemiin kehittämääni laskentamallia 0-14 v. ikäisiin.  Tilastollisiksi haasteiksi nousevat syntyvyyden voimakkaasta alenemisesta aiheutuva 0–14 v. populaation suuruuden (vuoden 2005 alussa 912 000 => vuoden 2022 lopussa 835 000) ja ikäjakauman muutokset, sekä lasten kuolemien – onneksi – alhaiset määrät.  Edellisen haasteeseen vastasin laskemalla kuolemien absoluuttisen määrän sijaan kuolleisuutta miljoonaa 0-14 v.  ikäistä kohden [lyhyesti lapsikuolleisuus].  Tilastollisia virherajoja taas arvioin laskemalla kuolleisuusarviot sadalle eri 52 peräkkäisen  viikon jaksolle ja vertaamalla niitä samoille 52 vko jaksoille tilastokeskuksen datasta laskemiini arvioihin.

Lapsikuolleisuuden aleneminen jatkui Suomessa koronapandemiaan saakka, mutta alkukesällä 2021 lapsikuolleisuus kääntyi kasvuun.  Kasvu oli samanaikaista Suomen koko väestön ylikuolleisuuden kasvun ja myös alussa mainitsemani Kanadan lapsikuolleisuuden kasvun kanssa.  Se liittyy siis todennäköisesti lapsia ja Suomea laajempaan pandemian kehitykseen.

Ylikuolleisuuden laskentaan tarvitaan…

Pandemia-ajan ylikuolleisuuden laskemiseen tarvitaan kolme tietoa.  Kohdeväestön suuruus, kohdeväestössä tapahtuneiden kuolemien määrä sekä laskennallisten taustakuolemien [montako kuolemaa olisi tapahtunut ilman pandemiaa] viikottaiset aikasarjat.  Kaksi ensimmäistä saa ikäryhmittäin ladattua suoraan Tilastokeskuksen verkkosivuilta, kohdeväestön suuruudet vuosittain, kuolemat viikottain.  Tammikuun postauksessa kuvasin menetelmän paljon yksityiskohtaisemmin.

Taustakuolemien – kuolemien jotka olisivat oletettavasti tapahtuneet ilman pandemiaa – laskennallinen arviointi on ylikuolleisuuden arvioinnin kaikki kaikessa.  Arvioinnin täytyy perustua varmimpaan mahdolliseen dataan (tässä tapauksessa viikottaisten kuolemien tilastoituihin määriin) sekä mahdollisimman vähiin ja yksinkertaisiin oletuksiin.  Oma arvioni perustuu oletukseen, että ilman pandemiaa lapsikuolleisuuden vuosien 2005-2019 aleneva ura olisi jatkunut samanlaisena vuodet 2020-23.  Koska lasten viikottaisten kuolemien määrät ovat alhaisia ja vaihtelut vastaavasti suuria, käytän kullekin viikolle datakohinan vaimentamiseksi viiden viikon liukuvaa keskiarvoa.  Tämä helpottaa graafisten esitysten lukemista ja yleiskuvan hahmottamista, mutta ei vaikuta kausi- tai vuositason kuolemien tai kuolleisuuden määrällisiin arvioihin.

Lapsikuolleisuuden pitkäaikaistrendin määritin regressiolla pandemiaa edeltäneiden vuosien 2005-19 lapsikuolleisuudesta.  Sovitin datan logaritmiseen, lineaariseen ja eksponentiaaliseen malliin, joiden tulokset erosivat toisistaan vain vähän ja jokainen korreloi datan kanssa kahden numeron tarkuudella yhtä hyvin, R² = 0,39.

Kuolleisuus ei jakaudu tasaisesti läpi vuoden.  Talvella kaiken ikäisiä kuolee enemmän kuin kesällä  Tämän vuoksi lisäsin malliin pitkäaikaistrendin päälle normivuoden jokaisen 52 viikon kuolleisuuden keskipoikkeaman vuosien 2005-19 trendistä – samoin menettelin aikaisemmin koko väestön ylikuolleisuutta arvioidessani.  Vuoden sisäisellä viikkovaihtelulla täydennettynä korkeimman ylikuolleisuusarvion ja ylikuolemien määräarvion pandemian ajalle – 2020 vko10… 2023 vko23 – tuotti odotetusti logaritminen (161#/1M ja 138#), ja matalimman eksponentiaalinen malli (65#/1M ja 55#), lineaarisen asettuessa niiden välille (116#/1M  ja 99#).

Logaritmisen, lineaarisen ja eksponentiaalisen taustakuolleisuusmallin validoimiseksi laskin kullakin lasten kuolleisuusarviot sadalle peräkkäiselle 52 viikon jaksolle välillä 2017 vko5 … 2019 vko52 ja vertasin niitä ajallisesti vastaaviin Tilastokeskuksen datasta laskettuihin kuolleisuuslukuihin.  Eksponentiaalisen mallin virhe oli -4 (95% CI -18…+9)/v/1M.  Sekä lineaarisen että logaritmisen mallin virherajat olivat hieman suuremmat.  Koska eksponentiaalinen malli istuu paremmin myös kuvan 1 esittämään lasten kuolleisuuden pitkäaikaistrendiin, tässä esittämäni tulokset perustuvat siihen.

Lasten ja koko väestön pandemia-ajan ylikuolleisuus

Pandemiavuosille, 2020…23, eksponentiaalisella mallilla laskemieni viikottaisten taustakuolleisuusravioiden ja toteutuneen kuolleisuuden vertailu on esitetty kuvassa 2.  Vielä vuonna 2020 toteutunut 0-14 v. lapsikuolleisuus ei poikennut olennaisesti laskennallisesta taustakuolleisuudesta.  Vuoden 2021 loppukeväällä toteutunut kuolleisuus kohosi lähes kaksi kertaa laskennallista taustakuolleisuutta korkeammaksi ja ero kasvoi sykäyksittäin vuoden 2022 loppupuolelle saakka.  Loppukeväällä 2023 toteutunut kuolleisuus näyttäisi laskeutuvan takaisin taustakuolleisuuden tasalle.  Tästä ei kuitenkaan ole syytä tehdä johtopäätöksiä ennen talvea, koska toteutunut kuolleisuus aleni väliaikaisesti laskennallisen tasolle myös kesällä 2021 ja keväällä 2022 noustakseen seuraavana talvena ja syksynä jälleen uudelle entistä korkeammalle tasolle, enimmillään yli kaksinkertaiseksi laskennalliseen taustakuolleisuuteen verrattuna.

Yleiskuva on hyvin samankaltainen kuin tammikuun postaukseni kuva koko väestön pandemia-ajan toteutuneesta ja taustakuolleisuudesta (Kuva 3).

Kuvat 0-14 v lasten (Kuva 2) ja koko väestön (Kuva 3) toteutuneesta ja mallinnetusta kuolleisuudesta ovat suoraan vertailukelpoisia. Niistä näkyy, että (i) 0-14 v ikäisten kuolleisuus on suuruusluokkaa 1% koko väestön kuolleisuudesta, että (ii) lasten kuolleisuuden suhteellinen vaihtelu on – odotetusti – paljon koko väestön kuolleisuuden vaihtelua suurempaa ja, että (iii) koko väestöön verrattuna lasten pandemia-ajan suhteellinen ylikuolleisuus on ollut kaksinkertainen.

Ylikuolleisuuden kasvu taas näkyy selkeimmin lasten kumulatiivisessa ylikuolleisuuskäyrässä (vihreä käyrä Kuvassa 2).  Vuoden 2021 kevääseen saakka lasten ylikuolleisuutta ei juuri esiintynyt, vaan laskennalliset odotusarvot ja toteutunut kuolleisuus vastasivat toisiaan.  Kevään 2021 jälkeen lasten ylikuolleisuus alkoi kasvaa jokseenkin lineaarisesti.  Ylikuolleisuuden kasvutrendi on vuoden 2021 viikon 20 jälkeen ollut 39(-18…+9)#/v/1M (kuolemaa vuodessa per miljoona) ja kahden vuoden ylikuolleisuus on 12%.  Kuluvan vuoden viikolle 23 mennessä laskennallisia lasten ylikuolemia oli kertynyt 55.

Pandemia-aikana lasten ylikuolleisuuden kumulatiivinen kehitys muistuttaa häkellyttävästi koko väestön ylikuolleisuuden vastaavaa (Kuva 4).

Vaikka 0-14 v. lasten osuus koko väestön pandemia-ajan ylikuolemista on alle 1 %, lasten ylikuolemien osuus kaikista lasten pandemia-ajan kuolemista, 12 %, on kaksinkertainen verrattuna koko väestön ylikuolemien osuus koko väestön kaikista kuolemista, 6 %.

Lasten pandemia-ajan ylikuolleisuutta kasvattavat samanaikaisesti sekä pitkäaikaisregressioon perustuvan laskennallisen taustakuolleisuuden aleneminen etrtä pandemia-ajan kuolintilastoihin perustuva toteutuneen kuolleisuuden kasvu. (Kuva 5).

Kuva 5. Siniharmaalla toteutuneet viikottaiset 0-14 v ikäisten kuolemat sekä niiden lineaarinen 2020 vko1 – 2022 vko52 regressio
Punaisella lasten viikottaisten kuolemien exsponentiaalinen 2005-2019 regressiomalli viikkokorjaustermin kanssa ja ilman.

Tässä kuvassa siniset pisteet näyttävät 0-14 v suomalaislasten pandemia-ajan toteutuneen viikottaisen kuolleisuuden ja katkoviiva 2020 vko1 – 2022 vko52 viikottaisten kuolemien regression.  Lineaarinen regressioyhtälö on kirjoitettu kuvan yläosaan.  Punainen katkoviiva taas näyttää lasten vuosien 2005 – 2019 viikottaisen kuolleisuuden regression.  Sen eksponentiaalinen regressioyhtälö on kirjoitettu kuvan alaosaan.  Punaiset pisteet taas näyttävät käyttämäni taustakuolleisuuden  laskentamallin viikottaiset tulokset, jotka sisältävät exponentiaalisen regression lisäksi vuosien 2005-2019 viikkojen 1-52 kuolleisuusarvojen  keskipoikkeamat eksponentiaalisesta regressiosta.

Kuva osoittaa, että tässä tapauksessa pitkäaikaisregressioon perustuvan laskennallisen taustakuolleisuuden aleneminen ja pandemia-ajan kuolintilastoihin perustuva toteutuneen kuolleisuuden kasvu molemmat kasvattavat ylikuolleisuutta.  Toisessa asetelmassa ne voisivat myös kumota toistensa vaikutusta.

Kuvasta voi myös lukea, että kolmen pandemiavuoden aikana lasten teutuneen kuolleisuuden ja laskennalisen taustakuolleisuuden erotus [= ylikuolleisuus], joka vuoden 2020 alussa oli nolla, kasvoi kolmessa vuodessa lähes yhteen viikottaiseen [ylimääräiseen] kuolemaan miljoonaa lasta kohden.

Tulevaisuuden näkymiä

Lasten tähänastisen ja tulevan terveyden indikaattorina 55 ylikuolemaa kahden pandemiavuoden aikana on jäävuoren huippu.  Kuolemien lisäksi on Suomessa, kuten muuallakin maailmassa väistämättä ilmennyt kertaluokkaa suurempi määrä raskaita ja monien lasten kohdalla toistuneita sairaustapauksia sekä vielä paljon enemmän jo ilmenneitä sekä vasta ajan kanssa ilmeneviä pitkäaikaisseurauksia (vrt. JAMA, Lancet, J Clin Med, Blood Advances, J Infect, CDC, Pediat Infect Dis J, Diabetes Care, etc. relevantteja julkaisuja COVIDin pitkäaikaisvaikutuksista lapsiin on julkaistu johtavissa lääketieteellisissä julkaisuissa satoja).

Tämä asettaa kyseenalaiseen valoon ne lukuisat suomalaisten lasten terveydestä vastuussa olevien viranomaisten ja johtavien asiantuntijoiden rohkaisut ja vakuutukset joiden mukaan COVID:in ei ensialkuun pitänyt tarttua lapsiin tai lapsista juuri lainkaan (vrt, JAMA; 70% perheen sisäisistä tartunnoista oli saatu lapsilta) ja vähän myöhemmin olla tarttuessaankin lapsille tervetullut ja jokseenkin harmiton immuunibuusteri, jota rokottaminen vain haittaisi (vrt. JAMA: COVID on yksi johtavista alle 19 v. kuolemien syistä).

Sen enempää lasten kuin koko väestönkään pandemiakuolleisuus ei ole päättynyt. Nimityksiä voidaan muuttaa hallinnollisilla päätöksillä, mutta tiedossa ei ole päätöksiä, hoitoja, rokotteita eikä valittuja tartuntoja rajoittavia keinoja joilla koronapandemia tyrehtyisi.  COVIDin pitkäaikasvaikutukset väestössä ja erityisesti lapsissa siis kumuloituvat, eliniänodote todennäköisesti lyhenee edelleen ja väestön sairauskuorma kasvaa pitkälle tulevaisuuteen.

Lopuksi

Mikään ei olisi minulle mieluisampi joululahja kuin että vuoden loppuun mennessä minun osoitettaisiin olevan perinpohjaisesti väärässä.

__________________________________________

 

Pari korjausta, jotka on huomioituylläolevassa tekstissä:

(1) Kohdassa Ylikuolleisuuden laskentaan tarvitaan, kappaleessa 3, lauseessa…

Näistä kolmesta mallista pandemian ajalle – 2020 vko10 … 2023 vko23 – korkeimman ylikuolleisuusarvion ja ylikuolemien määräarvion tuotti odotetusti logaritminen (161#/1v/1M ja 138#), ja matalimman eksponentiaalinen malli (93#/1v/1M ja 80#), lineaarisen asettuessa niiden välille (116#/1v/1M  ja 99#).

…oli kirjoitusvirhe. Kyse ei ole ylikuolleisuudesta per vuosi vaan koko pandemia-ajan ylikuolleisuudesta 2023 vko23 mennessä. Virhe ei toistunut tulosten esittelyssä, ja se on korjattu tekstissä.

(2) Edellisen lisäksi matalimman ylikuolleisuusarvion tuottaneessa eksponentiaalisessa mallissa oli virhe(*, jonka korjaaminen alentaa ylikuolleisuusarvion 93 #/1M => 65 #/1M, ja ylikuolemien arvion 80# => 55#. Myös se on nyt korjattu tekstissä ja kuvissa.

*) lähes lineaarinen eksponentiaalinen malli on lineaarista mallia herkempi malliyhtälön merkitsevien numeroiden määrälle.  Korjattu arvio on laskettu seitsämällä (7) merkitsevällä numerolla.

(3) Alkuperäisen tekstin Kuvat 2 ja 4 on yhdistetty Kuvaksi 2, jossa myös em. korjaukset on huomioitu.

 

 

 

Yksi hallitusneuvottelujen kuumista ja kalliista kysymyksistä on suhtautuminen liikennepolttoaineiden nk. jakeluvelvoitteeseen.  Tämä kaikkea muuta kuin itseselittävä sana velvoittaa liikennepolttoaineiden jakelijat toimittamaan vuosittain kulutukseen vähimmäismäärän uusiutuvia polttoaineita.  Joskus tulevaisuudessa tämä velvoite voitaneen täyttää hiilidioksidista ja uusiutuvalla sähköllä tuotetusta vedystä prosessoiduilla polttonesteillä (nk. sähköpolttoaineilla), mutta nämä ovat toistaiseksi laboratorio- ja pilottivaiheen hankkeita.  Niiden massatuotantoon saakka vaihtoehdot ovat erilaisista biomassoista tuotettu etanoli, biodiesel ja biokaasu.  Laskennallinen oletus on, että nämä biopolttonesteet ovat ilmastoneutraaleja, ts. että ne vähentävät polttoaineiden käytön kasvihuonekaasupäästöjä jakeluvelvoitetta vastaavalla osuudella.  Tämä laskenallinen oletus ei tietenkään voi pitää paikkaansa.  Se edellyttäisi biopolttonesteiden koko tuotanto- ja jakeluketjujen hiilineutraalisuutta.  Ongelma on kuitenkin sivuutettu olettamalla/uskomalla että biopolttonesteiden hiilitase on joka tapauksessa ilmaston kannalta ratkaisevasti fossiilisia polttonesteitä parempi.

Tämä oletus pätee kuitenkin vain muiden tuotantoprosessien tai yhdyskuntien jätevirroista tuotetuille biokaasulle/polttonesteille, jotka eivät edes teoriassa voi täyttää  liikennepolttoaineiden kasvavia jakeluvelvoitteita, Suomessa, Euroopassa, maailmassa.

Tämän vuoksi valtaosa liikennepolttoaineisiin sekoitetuista biopolttonesteistä tuotetaan prosessoimalla varta vasten kasvatetusta sokeriruo’osta, maissista, vehnästä, palmu- ym. -öljykasveista.  Kysyntää vastaavien biopolttonestemäärien tuottaminen vaatii valtavasti viljelypinta-aloja ja biomassavirtoja, työkoneita ja kuljetuskapasiteettia, lannoitteita ja kasvinsuohjelukemikaaleja.  Kun koko tuotannon hiilitasevaikutukset on laskettu uuden viljelymaan raivauksesta alkaen, tulos on johdonmukaisesti ollut että [em. jätevirtoja lukuunottamatta] biopolttonesteiden hiilitase ei ole niillä korvattavia fossiilisia polttonesteitä parempi vaan merkittävästi huonompi.  Ts., jakeluvelvoite huonontaa liikenteen hiilitasetta, jakeluvelvoitteen nostaminen huonontaa sitä lisää, ja tämän hetken jakeluvelvoitevaihtoehdoista ilmastolle paras olisi 0%.

Lisäksi maan raivaaminen biopolttonesteiden tuotantoa varten edustaa luontokatoa pelkistetyimmillään.

Perustelu, että jakeluvelvoite on silti syytä säilyttää, koska se painostaa öljy-yhtiöitä tuottamaan tulevaisuudessa oikeasti hiilineutraaleja liikennepolttoaineita, on absurdi koska (i) hiilitasetta ei paranneta huonontamalla sitä ensin väliaikaisesti ja toivomalla myöhemmin käännettä parempaan (ii) investoinnit biopolttonesteiden viljelyalaan ja tuotantoprosesseihin eivät millään mekanismilla edistä investointeja biopolttonesteiden kanssa kilpaileviin sähköpolttonesteisiin.

Yksityiskohtaisemmat perustelut ja viitteet olen esittänyt Kuopion yliopistolla professori Jouko Tuomiston syntymäpäiväseminaarissa 13.3.2019 pitämässäni esitelmässä, jonka powerpoint-versio on kokonaisuudessaan tässä.

Siinä viitatut tieteelliset artikkelit ja raportit taas löytyvät tästä:

J Fargione et al. Science 2008, T Searchinger et al. Science 2008, sekä Science 2009

EEA/SC, 2012

Bioenergie: Möglichkeiten und Grenzen, Leopoldina, Nationale Akademie der Wissenschaften, 2012

DeCicco et al. Climate Change (2016) 138

TD Searchinger et al. Nature 2018, 564

www.greenpeace.org/archive-finland/fi/kampanjat/palmuoljy/UKK-palmuoljy/

INTRODUCTION

A large and increasing body of scientific literature points towards significant effect of the post COVID-19 syndrome following a mild to severe COVID-19 infection on the cognitive function (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H).

Three hypotheses for post COVID-19 syndrome have been considered:

– The persistence of the virus in the organism.

– The s.c. cytokine storm triggered by the virus in its acute phase.

– The existence of autoantibodies that may perturbate the immune function.

 

IS COVID INDUCED COGNITIVE IMPAIRMET ASSOCIATED WITH AGE?

Elena Herrera et al. in the Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Spain, assessed for individuals with post COVID-19 syndrome [but not COVID-19 sequelae with observed organ damage] the association of the level and probability of cognitive impairment  with the age, level of education, cognitive reserve [correlates with age and education, see the original research paper] and time since COVID-19 diagnosis of the patient.

They conducted the study with 214 patients selected by the following eligibility criteria: (i) 18 years or older, (ii) confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 or RT-PCR positive at least 4 months before the study, (iii) symptoms suggestive of post COVID-19 syndrome [WHO definition] with present neurological complaints that appeared during or after SARS-CoV-2 infection, (iv) no brain damage, neurodegenerative, autoimmune or psychiatric disease that could lead to cognitive problems, and (v) no history of alcohol or drug abuse.

The mean age of the participants was 47.5 years (SD=7.4), and they were divided into three age groups, 26-39 years, 40-49 years, and 50-64 years.  In the total sample 182 (85%) were women. The participants had in average 16.3 years (SD=5.9) of education, the average time from diagnosis to cognitive tests was 508 days (SD=150), 24% had been hospitalised, 2.7% in ICU for COVID-19.

Each participant underwent 22 cognitive ability tests covering attention, working memory, verbal memory, visual memory, visuospatial function, speed processing, executive functions, and language [Spanish].

For each test the result of each participant was scaled into a Z-score [Z-score distributions for the applied tests are available for the Spanish population.  An individual test result of 0.0 refers to the mean, -1.0 to one standard deviation below the mean, +1.0 to one standard deviation above the mean].  Separately in each test the participants were assigned into one of four groups, high (Z > 1.5), mean (-1.5 < Z < 1.5), mild impairment (Z < -1.5), and severe impairment (Z < -3.0, i.e., more than 3 standard deviations below the Spanish population mean).

 

CONTRARY TO EXPECTATION THE YOUNGER ARE IMPAIRED MORE THAN THE OLDER

Table 4 in the study report presents for each test the percentages of the participants in the four Z-score groups and then in the three age groups within each Z-score group.  I amended the original Table 4 by writing in the group and test definitions from the actual text body instead of just the shorthand symbols seen in the column and line titles in Table 4 of the publication.  The structure and numerical contents of Table 4 in the study report and in my Table are identical.

Table: The percentages of the participants in the four Z-score groups and then in the three age groups within each Z-score group for each of the 22 cognitive ability tests.

To help grasp a general impression of the cognitive ability test results I computed weighed averages of the 22 test results for the three age groups and compare just the highest (Z > 1.5) and the lowest (Z < -3.0) test score groups.  In no way should this mini-table be seen to replace the much more informative full table.

In the youngest age group only 1/10 found themselves in the highest test scores group, but almost half in the lowest, i.e., with severe cognitive impairment.  In contrast, in the oldest age group, 3/10 were in the highest test scores group, but only 1/10 in the lowest.  The results obtained by the oldest age group were significantly higher in all neuropsychological tasks in which statistically significant differences were observed.

 

ASSOCIATION OF COGNITIVE IMPAIRMET WITH YOUNG AGE IS SIGNIFICANT AND CONSISTENT, AND THE IMPAIRMENT PERSISTS AT LEAST 1…2 YEARS AFRER COVID-19 INFECTION

Indeed, the most striking result of the study was that all the correlations found between the neuropsychological tests and age were positive (i.e., the older the age, the better the scores on the tests), except for the ROCF (complex figure copying) task, in which a negative correlation was found.

The facts that only 51 of the 214 study participants had been hospitalised, and that there was no correlation between the COVID-19 severity and the cognitive ability tests outcomes, indicates that most of the observed outcomes resulted from mild infections.

The youngest group showed the highest percentages in brief attention and severe verbal memory impairment, as well as deficits in semantic verbal fluency tasks and reasoning tasks.

The mean time from COVID-19 diagnosis to cognitive ability tests was 508 days, which suggests that cognitive difficulties are often maintained up to two years or more.  On some tasks, however, such as the verbal learning phase and immediate recall of visual memory, patients with longer time since COVID-19 diagnosis showed better results, suggesting that some cognitive areas might improve over time.

 

FINDINGS SUPPORT THE AUTOIMMUNE HYPOTHESIS FOR LONG COVID

The facts that women appear to suffer much more frequently from the post COVID-19 syndrome than men, gives indirect support to the autoimmune hypothesis of the post COVID-19 syndrome since several studies (e.g., I) have found that this type of disease affects women more than men in a ratio of 80–20%.  The outcome that the youngest, 26-39 yr, age group in the current study suffers significantly more frequently from both mild and severe cognitive impairment than the oldest, 50-64 yr, age group is contrary to a priori expectations, since younger age usually induces a better prognosis in virtually all disorders with cognitive deficits, such as dementia and acquired brain injury.  The result, however, does agree with an earlier Italian study (J). It also supports the autoimmune hypothesis, since aging affects the immune system by weakening it, so that the autoimmune response will also be weaker.

 

THE IMPLICATIONS FOR FINLAND [and most other countries] ARE DIRE

A recent investigation of the global proportions of individuals with persistent fatigue, cognitive, and respiratory symptoms following COVID-19 (K) estimates that 6.2% (2.4 – 13.3%) of individuals who had symptomatic COVID-19 experienced Long COVID symptoms, including 2.2% (0.3 – 7.6%) for cognitive problems after adjusting for health before COVID-19.

National Institute for Health and Welfare in Finland (THL) estimated that by September 2022 70% of the total population had experienced COVID-19.  The proportion must have increased significantly in the following autumn-winter COVID-wave, although many if not most of those cases have been reinfections.  Assuming conservatively that 75%, or 4.1 million Finns have experienced COVID-19 at least once, 256 thousand would be suffering from Long COVID and 91 thousand from cognitive impairment.  For the time being these percentages and numbers continue to grow.

The findings of Elena Herrera et al. suggest that in the order of ¾ of the impaired are women, and that most of theimpaired are not old and vulnerable – as the authorities and media like to see it – but, instead, adults in their prime age and working career.  These are bad news even if you would ignore the human tragedy of the individuals, who find that their regular day to day tasks at home or at work have become too difficult to manage – not at the age of 86 but of 40 years.  The news are seriously bad for the availability, capability and, thus, productivity of our skilled labour force, for the dependency ratio, and for the whole economy and society.  Just try to imagine physicians, nurses, bus drivers, rescue troopers, airline pilots, police officers, etc. whose cognitive capacities have dropped via one or more COVID infections to three standard deviations below the national mean – in other words, to the lowest 0.5% category.

Helsingin sanomien artikkeli, Näin suomalaiset kuolevat nuorena, 22.3.2023, kirvoitti keskustelua niin artikkelin kommenttipalstalla kuin SoMessakin huumeista ja alkoholista, itsemurhista ja mielenterveydestä, menetetyistä elinvuosista ja kypsästä iästä.  

HS:n artikkeli kertoi Kuntaliiton omistaman Finnish Consulting Groupin (FCG) Suomen Tilastokeskuksen kuolinsyytilastojen pohjalta tekemästä, OECD:n PYLL(potential years of life lost – potentiaalisesti menetetyt elinvuodet)-indeksiin perustuvasta tutkimuksesta suomalaisten eri maakunnissa eri systä menettämistä elinvuosista.  Kuitenkin artikkelin lause kypsäksi iäksi on kansainvälisesti päätetty 75 vuotta johdatteli niin mielikuvia kuin keskusteluakin siinä määrin sivuraiteelle, että koin tarpeelliseksi selvittää toisaalta mitä tämän lauseen takaa löytyy ja mitä ei löydy ja toisaalta kertoa mitä menetettyjen elinvuosien ja terveyden mittareita on käytössä, mihin niitä tarvitaan, mitä ne kuvaavat sekä esittää muutamia käyttöesimerkkejä.

OECD:lle 75 vuotta ei määritä kypsää ikää vaan se on PYLL laskennan tarkoituksiin valittu ikäraja (selected age limit).

 

Osa 1: ”Kypsäksi iäksi on kansainvälisesti päätetty 75 vuotta” – kuka, missä?

Käsitteen kypsä ikä merkitys suomen kielessä ja sitä vastaavan mature age tai mature years englannin kielessä on kaikkea muuta kuin täsmällinen.  Suomessa se tarkoittaa yleensä aikusta, aikuisen tasolla olevaa ihmistä, esim. “Kypsä ihminen ei aina ole aikuinen, eikä aikuinen ihminen ole aina kypsä”.  Englannin kielessä mature age/years tarkoittaa laveasti ei-nuorta, sukukypsää, keski-ikäistä, sekä kiertoilmaisuna vanhaa ihmistä.  Kävin läpi kymmenkunta Google hauilla [OECD “mature age”] ja [OECD “mature years”] löytynyttä julkaisua.   OECD-libraryn julkaisuista päätellen mature age esiintyy lähes yksinomaan australialaisissa raporteissa, jotka koskevat iältään yli 50 v. työvoiman pysyttämistä työelämässä.  Myös yhdestä suomalaisesta OECDn raportista mature age löytyi ja se viittaa aikuisopiskelijoihin.  Google hauilla [WHO “mature age”] ja [WHO “mature years”] löytyi yksi julkaisu WHO:n v. 2015 uudistamista ikäluokittelusta.  Yksikään artikkelissa määritetyistä viidestä ikäluokasta ei sisällä käsitettä mature, mutta abstrakti päättyy “… throughout the whole life in the course of rapid growth in youth, smooth development in mature age and the subsequent gradual aging of the human body.” Tässä tekstissä  kypsä ikä [mature age] viittaa tasaiseen elämänvaiheeseen nuoruuden ja vanhuuden välissä.

HS artikkelin emotionaalisesti ladatuksi koettu lause ”Kypsäksi iäksi on päätetty kansainvälisesti 75 vuotta” on FGG:n asiantuntijalääkärin Emma Kajanderin tai HS artikkelin kirjoittajan Tiina Rajamäen oma kannanotto.  Mitään kypsän iän [mature age/years] kansainvälisesti päätettyä määritelmää – ikärajasta puhumattakaan – ei ole ole olemassa.

Lisättäköön, että Tilastokeskuksen mukaan tänään 75 v ikäisen suomalaismiehen jäljellä olevan elinajanodote on keskimäärin kahdeksan ja naisen yli kymmenen vuotta.

 

Osa 2: Miksi ja miten menetettyjä elinvuosia mitataan?

Rationaalisen terveyspolitiikan päätöksenteko tarvitsee eri tekijöiden väestölle aiheuttamien terveysmenetysten vertailua, samalle viivalle saattamista, muutoinkin kuin eurojen mittarilla.  Kehittynyt yhteiskunta pyrkii luonnollisesti torjumaan ulkoisten syiden, kuten tapaturmien, tartuntatautien, elinympäristön altisteiden, epäterveellisten elintapojen, väkivallan ja hoitovirheiden, mutta myöskin perinnöllisten tekijöiden sen väestölle aiheuttamia sairauksia, invaliditeetteja ja kuolemia.  Torjua ei kuitenkaan voida keinoilla ja hinnalla millä hyvänsä koska päättäjien vallalla ja resursseilla on rajansa.  On siis pyrittävä arvioimaan, kvantifioimaan, toisaalta mistä syistä johtuen ja kuinka paljon elinvuosia ja terveyttä väestö erilaisista syistä menettää, ja toisaalta, kuinka paljon terveyttä ja elinvuosia väestölle olisi mahdollista voittaa erilaisilla lääketieteellisillä toimenpiteillä (esim. rokotukset), yhteiskunnallisilla rajoituksilla (esim. alkoholin myynti ja tarjoilu), säädöksillä (esim. elintarvikehygienia), tekniikoilla (esim. liikenneväylien valaiseminen) ja kustannuksilla, sekä miten niiden hyödyt ja rasitukset jakautuisivat eri väestöryhmien kesken.  Samalla oikeusvaltion on huomioitava yksilöiden yhdenvertaisuus ja oikeudet eivätkä niiden vaatimukset ole automaattisesti yhdensuuntaisia väestön kokonaisedun kanssa.

Etujen ja haittojen puntarointi on siis paljon haastavampaa kuin ensikysymällä luulisi.  Yleispätevillä ihmiselämän ja terveyden mittareilla ei kaikkia vastauksia löydy, mutta ilman sellaisia esim. esikouluikäisen tapaturman, 15 v pojan kohtaaman väkivallan, 30 v perheenäidin auto-onnettomuuden, 70 v miehen syövän ja 92 v naisen keuhkokuumeen seurausten kvantitatiivinen vertaileminen on mahdotonta ja käteen jää vain johtopäätösten teko yhteismitattomista kuvauksista.

Kuolemien lukumäärä on kvantitatiivisista elämän ja terveyden mittareista karkein, eniten käytetty ja lahjomattomin.  Pandemia-ajan kokonais[yli]kuolleisuus on tällainen mittari, ja se on mahdollistanut pandemian seurausten vertailemisen eri maiden välillä ja aikajanalla.  Sen kvantitatiivisuus jää kuitenkin äärimmäisten seurausten lukumäärän tasolle. Se ei huomioi menetetyn elinajan määrää menetetyn terveyden määrästä puhumattakaan.

Nyt kolme vuotta jatkuneen COVID pandemian aiheuttamien ylikuolemien globaaliksi määräksi on arviotu 21,3 (17,0 – 29,0) miljoonaa.

OECD-PYLL (potential years of life lost, potentiaalisesti menetetyt elinvuodet), jota HS:ssa uutisoidussa FGG:n analyysissä käytettiin on kuolemien lukumäärää kehittyneempi ennenaikaisen kuolleisuuden mittari.  OECD on kansainvälinen talousjärjestö, joten sen kehittämä mittari painottaa työikäisten ehkäistävissä olevia kuolemia.  Potentiaalisten menetettyjen elinvuosien (PYLL) laskennassa summataan kussakin iässä esiintyvät kuolemat ja kerrotaan ne jäljellä olevien vuosien määrällä valittuun ikärajaan asti (OECD:n terveystilastoissa valittuna ikärajana, selected age limit, käytetään 75 vuotta).  Vielä 2009 ikäraja oli 70 vuotta.  Ikärajan nostaminen vastaa tavoitteeseen työurien pidentämisestä väestön terveiden elinvuosien lisääntyessä.  Maiden välistä ja aikatrendien vertailua varten OECD standardoi PYLL:t on maakohtaisesti ja vuosittain.  Ikästandardoinnin vertailuväestöksi on otettu OECD vuoden 2010 kokonaisväestö.  PYLL ilmaistaan menetetyinä elinvuosina 100 000 iältään 0–69 v. asukasta, miestä ja/tai naista kohti.

Huolimatta 75 v laskentaikärajasta ja kohdeväestön rajaamisesta 0-69 vuoden ikähaarukkaan OECD-PYLL mittaa koko väestön terveyttä ja hyvinvointia.  Mekaaninen päättely, että 75 v vanhempien kuolemat eivät vaikuttaisi väestön OECD-PYLL arvoon, vie harhaan koska saman väestön eri ikäkohorttien kuolleisuudet eivät ole toisistaan riippumattomia.  Maassa A, jossa esim. 80 vuoden ikäisten kuolleisuus on korkeampi kuin maassa B, myös 75 v, 70 v ja 65 v ikäisten kuolleisuudet ovat jokseenkin varmasti korkeampia.

HS:n uutisteksti FGG:n analyysistä oli sikäli pettymys, että vaikka analyysi oli tehty maakunnittain ja aivan ilmeisesti myös kuolinsyittäin, maakunnalliset tulokset esitettiin ainoastaan suhteellisina ja kuolinsyiden osuudet vain kuvailevina.  Olisi mielenkiintoista ja vaikkapa äänestyspäätöstenkin kannalta merkityksellistä saada tietää esimerkiksi alkoholin aiheuttamiksi lasketuissa kuolemissa potentiaalisesti menetettyjen elinvuosien määriä eri maakunnissa 100 000 ikävakioitua miestä ja naista kohden ja päästä vertaamaan määriä maakuntien kesken tai muista syistä menetettyihin elinvuosiin.

YLL/WHO (years of life lost, menetetyt elinvuodet) muistuttaa PYLL:a.  Siinä lasketaan eri kuolinsyiden, eri maissa, eri ikäisille, naisille ja miehille aiheuttamia menetettyjä elinvuosia 100 000 asukkasta kohden.  Valitun kuolinsyyn C vuonna t aiheuttamat menetetyt elinvuodet [YLL] alaväestölle, jonka on iältään a vuotta ja sukupuoleltaan s on yhtä kuin vastaavien (C,t) kuolemien lukumäärä kertaa väestön (a,s) menetettämien elinvuosien määrä.  Kuolemien lukumäärä perustuu WHO:n globaaleihin terveysarvioihin [WHO Global Health Estimates] ja menetetyt elinvuodet maailman väestöennusteiden (World Population Prospects 2012) vuodelle 2050 ennustamaan korkeimpaan kansalliseen elinajanodotteeseen syntymäetkellä, 92 vuotta.  Ikäraja seuraa korkeinta kansallista elinajanodotetta.

Monikansallinen tutkijaryhmä julkaisi vuoden 2021 alussa laskelman COVID:in vuoksi 81 maassa vuonna 2020 menetetyistä elinvuosista ja päätyi YLL arvioon 20,5 miljoonaa.  Keskimäärin kussakin COVID kuolemassa menetettiin 16 elinvuotta.  Ekstrapoloituna maaliskuulle 2023 COVID:in aiheuttama YLL on kasvanut 109 miljoonaan menetettyyn elinvuoteen.

Laskentaa varten valituista ikärajoista – OECD-PYLL, 75 v., WHO-YLL, 92 v. – johtuen OECD:n laskentamalli painottaa työikäisten ihmisten elinvuosimenetysten aiheuttajia kun WHO:n laskentamalli kattaa koko väestön elinvuosien menetykset.  Eron selittää se että OECD on talous- ja WHO terveysjärjestö.  Vaikka WHO:n YLL laskenta tuottaa menetetyille elinvuosille huomattavasti suurempia numeroarvoja kuin OECD:n PYLL laskenta, eri maiden keskinäiseen järjestykseen tällä tuskin on mainittavaa vaikutusta, kuolinsyiden järjestykseen varmaankin enemmän.

 

Osa 3: Väestön sairauskuorman yleispätevin mittari on Maailmanpankin ja WHO:n kehittämä DALY

Menetettyjen elinvuosien (YLL) kuva eri väestöryhmiin kuuluvien yksilöiden sairaustaakasta (BoD, burden of disease) jää väistämättä epätäydelliseksi, koska se ei huomioi sairauksien ja vammojen aiheuttamaa usein pitkäaikasta ja pahimmillaan lamauttavaa työ/toimintakyvyttömyyttä.  Tämän vuoksi Maailmanpankki käynnisti 145 maata kattavan maailman tautitaakka -projektin (Global Burden of Disease Study, GBD) vuonna 1990.  Projektissa tuhannet tutkijat kaikkialla maailmassa kvantifioivat 100 sairauden ja vamman vaikutukset kuolleisuuteen ja sairastavuuteen iän, sukupuolen ja alueen mukaan jaoteltuna.  Hanke tuotti myös termin toimintakykysovitetut elinvuodet (disability-adjusted life years, DALY) tautitaakan (BoD) mittayksiköksi.  Yksi DALY vastaa yhden vuoden terveyden/toimintakyvyn täydellistä menetystä – esim. kuolemaa, koomaa tai neliraajahalvausta.

Tiettyyn sairauteen tai vammaan liittyvät DALY:t lasketaan lisäämällä sen aiheuttamiin menetettyihin elinvuosiin (YLL) menetyt terveet elinvuodet (YLD).  YLD lasketaan kertomalla kunkin sairauden tai vamman rajoittamana eletty kokonaisaika ko. sairauden tai vamman rajoittavuuskertoimella (Disability weight). DALY konsepti ja DALY laskenta kuvataan yksityiskohtaisestion WHO methods and data sources for global burden of disease estimates 2000-2019 -raportissa, josta löytyy myös GBD-projektin tuottamaa ja laskennassa tarvittavaa numerotietoa.

Koska DALY on yleispätevin tähän mennessä kehitetyistä kuolemien, sairauksien ja vammojen väestötason vaikutusten mittareista, sen käyttö on yleistynyt hyvin laajalle eri väestöihin eri syistä kohdistuvien  terveyshaittojen laskemiseksi ja vertailemiseksi yhteisellä mitta-asteikolla.

Omassa työssäni BoD:n mittaaminen DALY:na on ollut vuosituhannen vaihteen jälkeen yksi keskeisimmistä työkaluista.  EU:n EnVIE ja IAIAQ projekteissa selvitimme 26 Euroopan maan väestöille sisäilman saasteista [pl. tupakansavu] aiheutuvan sairauskuorman kohdentumisesta eri päästölähteille, eri aineille ja eri sairauksille.  Selvityksen perusteella sisäilman saasteiden koko sairauskuorma on n. 1,45 miljoonaa DALY/vuosi, sairauskuorman lähteistä merkittävimmät ovat ulkoilma ja lämmityspolttoaineet, aineista palamisperäiset pienhiukkaset ja bioaerosolit, sekä sairauksista sydän- ja verisuonitaudit, astma ja hengitystieallergiat. 

Erikseen arvioidun tupakansavun osalta Euroopassa vuodesta 2000 vuoteen 2010 voimaan tulleet tupakointirajoitukset vähensivät siitä aiheutuvan sairauskuorman 1,6 miljoonasta 0,6 miljoonaan DALY/vuosi, ts. 2000 luvun ensimmäisellä vuosikymmenellä voimaan tulleet tupakointirajoitukset lisäsivät Euroopan väestölle joka vuosi miljoona tervettä elivuotta!

Kolmannessa EU projektissa, URGENCHE, mallinsimme paikallisten kasvihuonepäästöjen alentamisvaihtoehtojen vaikutuksia neljän Eurooppan ja kahden Kiinan kaupungin väestöjen lähivuosien  terveisiin elinvuosiin DALY:na.  Soveltamalla esim. Suzhoun kaupungissa globaalille ilmastolle tulevien vuosikymmenien kannalta  parasta sjenaariovaihtoehtoa ilman saasteiden paikalliselle väestölle lähivuosina aiheuttama sairauskuorma, BoD, alenisi 44% verrattuna business-as-usual skenaarioon.

 

Lopuksi: Niin PYLL, YLL, kuin myös DALY ovat väestön menetettämien [terveiden] elinvuosien arviointimenetelmiä.  Yksilön puuttuvien/liikojen elinvuosien ennakointiin tai selittämiseen ne eivät missään nimessä sovellu.

Ensimmäisen paastonajan sunnuntain – invocavit – evankeliumiteksti [alla] on tuttu jokaiselle koulun uskonnonopetukseen osallistuneelle ja rippikoulun käyneelle. Samanaikaisesti tuttu ja kovin kaukaisen tuntuinen.  Osakseni tuli alustaa siitä raamattupiirissä, johon olen kauan kuulunut.  Olisin todella kaivannut konkreettisempaa tekstiä.
Epätoivoisena avasin saksalaisen, erittäin runsailla selitysteksteillä (1500 sivua tiheää pränttiä], varustetun Uuden Testamentin, jonka olin ostanut Berliinissä v. 2017 Saksan Evankeelisilta kirkkopäiviltä.  Sen selitysteksteistä avautui minulle aivan uusi ja ajankohtainen näkökulma Matteuksen 4 luvun tekstiin.

---

Matt. 4:1–11

¹Sitten Henki vei Jeesuksen autiomaahan Paholaisen kiusattavaksi. ²Kun Jeesus oli paastonnut neljäkymmentä päivää ja neljäkymmentä yötä, hänen vihdoin tuli nälkä. ³Silloin kiusaaja tuli hänen luokseen ja sanoi hänelle: ”Jos kerran olet Jumalan Poika, niin käske näiden kivien muuttua leiviksi.” ⁴Mutta Jeesus vastasi: ”On kirjoitettu: ’Ei ihminen elä ainoastaan leivästä, vaan jokaisesta sanasta, joka lähtee Jumalan suusta.’”
⁵Sitten Paholainen vei Jeesuksen pyhään kaupunkiin ja asetti hänet temppelimuurin harjalle. ⁶Hän sanoi Jeesukselle: ”Jos kerran olet Jumalan Poika, niin heittäydy alas. Onhan kirjoitettu: ’Hän antaa enkeleilleen käskyn. He kantavat sinua käsillään, ettet loukkaa jalkaasi kiveen.’” ⁷Jeesus vastasi hänelle: ”On myös kirjoitettu: ’Älä kiusaa Herraa, Jumalaasi.’”
⁸Vielä Paholainen vei Jeesuksen hyvin korkealle vuorelle, näytti hänelle maailman kaikki valtakunnat ja niiden loiston ⁹ ja sanoi: ”Kaiken tämän minä annan sinulle, jos polvistut eteeni ja kumarrat minua.” ¹⁰ Silloin Jeesus sanoi hänelle: ”Mene pois, Saatana! On kirjoitettu: ’Herraa, Jumalaasi, sinun tulee kunnioittaa ja ainoastaan häntä palvella.’”
¹¹Silloin Paholainen jätti Jeesuksen rauhaan, ja hänen luokseen tuli enkeleitä, jotka palvelivat häntä.

Sen jälkeen kun Johannes oli kastanut Jeesuksen Henki vei hänet erämaahan, ensin 40 päiväksi nälän, janon, väsymyksen ja vilun uuvutettavaksi ja senjälkeen Paholaisen kiusattavaksi.  Jeesus, ihminen ja Jumalan poika joutui siis kohtaamaan Paholaisen nälkäisenä, janoisena ja uupuneena ihmisenä.

Ensimmäinen kiusaus, kivien käskeminen muuttumaan leiväksi [lätäkön viiniksi, kylmän luolan lämpimäksi asunnoksi tms.] oli tietenkin ihmisen mahdollisuuksien ulottumattomissa.  Turvautuminen ’supervoimaan’ olisi – simsalabim – täyttänyt Jeesuksen omat välittömät mukavuuden, kylläisyyden ja lämmön tarpeet.  Samalla Jeesus olisi kuitenkin astunut ihmisyytensä rajojen ulkopuolelle.  Hänen sisarillaan, veljillään, vanhemmillaan, kavereillaan ja naapureillaan moista mahdollisuutta ei tietenkään olisi.

Toinen kiusaus, heittäytyminen alas temppelimuurin harjalta ja laskeutuminen maahan turvallisesti enkeleiden kannattelemana, olisi ollut häikäisevä demonstraatio: nähkää ja vaviskaa, tähän ei teistä kykene kukaan.  Ihmeteko olisi tehnyt typerryttävän vaikutuksen jokaiseen näkijään, ja heitähän Temppelin aukiolla oli joka hetki enemmän ja kaikkialta Juudeasta ja Galileasta kuin missään.  Aukiolta tapahtuman kuvaukset olisivat kiirineet kohuvyörynä toreille ja synagoogiin ja tuoneet Jeesukselle valtavasti näkyvyyttä.

Siis miksi ei?  Tekihän Jeesus monia maineikkaita ihmetekoja – ei kai niistä muutoin evankeliumeissakin kerrottaisi.  Jeesus teki ne kaikki kuitenkin toisille, ei itselleen, paransi sairaita, herätti kuolleita, ruokki 5000 viidellä leivällä ja kahdella kalalla – söi toki niistä itsekin.  Tempelinharjalta hyppääminen olisi ollut vaikuttava itsetehostusspektaakkeli, mutta se ei olisi parantanut kenenkään vammaa, tyydyttänyt yhdenkään nälkää, sammuttanut kenenkään vanhaa vihaa tai tuonut rauhaa yhteenkään ahdistuneeseen mieleen.
Monen ihmeteon kohdalla Jeesus kielsi parantunutta tai eloon herätetyn läheisiä kertomasta eteenpäin, varmasti tietäen että turhaan.  Tieto levisi, kumuloitui ja käynnisti odotuksia, jotka purkautuivat ensin vallankumousjohtajan vastaanottona palmusunnuntaina ja pettymyksenä kiirastorstaina.
Myös ristille Jeesus joutui ja kuoli ihmisenä.  Hän ei kehotuksista huolimatta astunut alas, näyttänyt kuka on kuka.  Ristille naulatut eivät astu alas voittajina, ristille naulatut kuolevat siihen lyötyinä.  Kansa ei kyennyt käsittämään miksi ”tosia hän on auttanut, itseään ei voi auttaa.”  Missä on juju?
Oman elämänsä ristille saakka Jeesus eli kanssaihmistensä veljenä.  Ilmestyminen ja jälleen katoaminen seinistä ja lukituista ovista välittämättä tapahtuivat vasta hänen ihmiselämänsä päätyttyä.

Kiusauksista suurin oli kolmas, koko maailman herruus, valta kaikkien ja kaiken yli.  Sellaistahan tavoittelivat Jeesuksen eläessä Rooman keisarit Augustus ja Tiberius – joltisellakin menestyksellä.  Paholainen tarjosi Jeesukselle maailman herruutta, omaa kirkkoa, ikuista ja mahtavaa Jerusalemia, pilviin kohoavaa kultakupolista Jeesuksen temppeliä jumalallisella – no, oikeammin saatanallisella – mahtikäskyllä.

Jeesuksen, Pietarin ja Paavalin seuraajien seurakunnat monistuivat, levisivät ja kasvoivat ensimmäiset kolme vuosisataa enimmäkseen vainottuna rahvaan liikkeenä vaihdellen kulovalkeana ja kytönä kaikkialla Rooman valtakunnassa.  Ne tavoittelivat ihmisiä ruohonjuuritasolla, lähikontakteilla, muu oli liian vaarallisia.  Missä kristityt nousivat liikaa näkyviin tai johonkin tarvittiin syntipukkia, siellä viranomainen käynnisti vainon.  Noustuaan v. 380 Rooman valtionuskonnoksi kirkko alkoi sitten kasvattaa ja laajentaa valtaansa myös perinteisemmillä keinoilla tavoitteena koko maailma.
Vuosisatojen varsilla maailman herruutta ovat tavoitelleet myös islam/Arabit, Tsingis-Khan, Espanja, Napoleonin Ranska, Britannian imperiumi, kommunistit/Stalin, natsit/Hitler, jne.
Juuri nyt pyhää maailmanherruusmissiota toteuttaa Putin – Moskovan patriarkaatin siunauksella – kuvitellen [samoin kuin edeltäjänsä] että [toisin kuin edeltäjänsä] juuri hän käyttäisi rajatonta maailmanvaltaa kaikkien parhaaksi.  Tie valtaan, vallan varmistamiseen ja laajentamiseen ei välttämättä näyttäisi kauniilta, mutta ruumisröykkiöt, savuavat rauniot, pommien myllertämät maisemat, äitien, leskien ja orpojen tuskat unohtuisivat kun oikeuden voitto, kansan onni, lainehtivat viljavainiot, bulevardien kauneus ja palatsien loisto korvaisi kaiken.
Kristinuskon nimiin maailmanvallottajista on vannonut moni.  Yksikään ole ymmärtänyt, ei ehkä kysynytkään, miksi Jeesus torjui maailman herruuden kun Paholainen sitä hänelle tarjosi.  Jos kysyivät, ehkä ajattelivat että Jeesus nyt vaan oli naivi ymmärtämään että ’saadakseen omelettia on rikottava munia’.

Paholaisen Jeesukselle suuntaamat kiusaukset edustavat kolmea eri tasoa: oikotietä omien välittömien tarpeiden tyydyttämiseen, oikotietä maineeseen ja menestykseen ihmisten silmissä, ja lopulta oikotietä valtaan yli toisten ihmisten.

Ensin Paholainen tarjosi Jeesukselle seitsämän, lisä- ja plusnumeron oikein.  Lukuisat sadut, elokuvat, kirjat ja somepostaukset perustuvat onnepotkuun tai taikakeinoon, jolla päähenkilö saa tavoittelemansa ohi kaiken vaivan jota ihmiset yleensä joutuvat näkemään.  Näistä haaveilee jokamies, me miljardit arkiseen puurtamiseen kyllästyneet viikon lottoarvonnan seuraajat.
Sitten Paholainen nosti tarjousta, lumoutuneita ihmisjoukkoja, suosiota ja vaikutusvaltaa – superjalkapallosankarin, huippuartistin, miljoonien seuraaman somevaikuttajan statusta.  Tällaiseen ponnistelee enemmän tai vähemmän vakavissaan miljoona omasta mitättömyydestään ylös parrasvaloihin, ihmisjoukkojen ihailemaksi halajavaa.
Lopulta Paholainen tarjosi rajatonta valtaa.  Juuri sinulla on visio, juuri sinulle valta kuuluisi, sinä käyttäisit sitä parhaiten.  Sitäpaitsi, muutoinhan vallan anastaisi tuo toinen – vahingoksi meille kaikille, pahempaa, koko luomakunnalle.  Näin suurta valtaa tavoittelee ehkä tuhat.  Ota, kaikki on sinun, kun vain tunnustat minut valtiaaksesi [eihän sinun tästä tarvitse kertoa kenellekään toiselle].

Miksi Jeesus ei tarttunut mihinkään näistä tarjouksista?  Koska omaksi hyväkseen hän ei todellakaan tehnyt mitään mitä hänen veljensä ja sisarensa ei voisi omaksi hyväkseen tehdä.  Miten hän olisi voinut ihmisiä ymmärtää, opettaa ja heidän asemaansa asettua, jos hän olisi itse voinut milloin tahansa astua puhelinkoppiin ja syöksyä sieltä vastaamaan uuteen haasteeseen ääntä nopeampana teräsmiehenä.
Jeesuksen esimerkki ja opetus saattoivat jäädä elämään vain hänen jälkeensä jättämien ja heidän tilalleen tulevien seuraajien – meidän inhimillisen rajallisuuden alaisten – ajatuksissa, rukouksissa, puheissa ja toimissa, elämässä.  Ja juuri niissä ne ovat eläneet jo kaksi vuosituhatta läpi lukemattomien onnistumisten, erehdysten, katumusten, armahdusten ja arjen töiden.

Juice Leskinen, XV Yö, 1980

  

 

Tiivistelmä

Aloin kirjoittaa tätä artikkelia vastineena Helsingin Sanomien Annikka Mutasen artikkeliin  Laskelmat Suomen ”huikeasta” yli­kuolleisuudesta eivät kestä tarkastelua 31.12.2022.  Tämä on nyt se tarkastelu.  Heti aluksi oli selvää, että väite vastaan väite, sana vastaan sana kiistely olisi hyvän ajan heittämistä huonon perään, että ei olisi viisasta kirjoittaa sitä ad hominem vaan a data, ja että tästä lähtökohdasta artikkelista tulisi aivan liian pitkä HS:n sivuille.  Siksi blogipostaus.

Poimin HS:n väitteistä muutaman:

• • ”Ylipäätään ylikuolleisuudelle ei ole virallista kansainvälistä mittaria”, Rapo sanoo:  Määrittele ”virallinen”.  Ylikuolleisuuden ovat määritelleet Cambridge Dictionaryn lisäksi mm. WHO, EuroStat, OECD.Stat verkkosivuillaan, ja WHO nimenomaan COVID-19 pandemian vuoksi täsmennettynä.  Määritelmät ovat  asiallisesti yhdenmukaisia ja läytyvät linkkeineen tämän artikkelin liitteestä.  WHO:n määritelmän käänsin suomeksi tämän artikkelin alkuun.
  • Ei siis ihme, että eri ylikuolleisuusvertailuista on saatu hyvinkin eri näköisiä tuloksia: Artikkelini taulukon 2 numeroista voit päätellä itse kuinka erinäköisiä tuloksia neljä eri ylikuolleisuusarvioitsijaa ovat kahdeksalle maalle ja kahdelle aikajaksolle tuottaneet.
  • Laskelmat Suomen ”huikeasta” yli­kuolleisuudesta eivät kestä tarkastelua:  Maaliskuusta 2020 joulukuuhun 2022 ylikuolemia kertyi n. 10 000, näistä 2/3 kesän 2021 ohi-on päätösten jälkeen.  Artikkelini taulukosta 1 voit päätellä itse kuinka hyvin tekemäni Suomen ylikuolleisuusarviot pandemian 3 vuodelle ja kahdelle alajaksolle kestävät tarkastelua kahden vastaavan kansainvälisen ylikuolleisuusarvion kanssa ja taulukosta 2 miten arviot  ylikuolleisuudesta Suomessa vertautuvat seitsämään muuhun Euroopan maahan.
  • …kuolleisuuden tarkastelussa pitää aina käyttää ikävakioituja lukuja. Ikävakiointi poistaa väestömäärässä ja ikärakenteessa tapahtuneiden muutoksen vaikutuksen ilmiöön. … Emeritusprofessori Jantusen laskelma menee harhaan ainakin ikävakioinnissa:  Ikävakioituja kansainvälisisiä ylikuolleisuusanalyysejä on tehty hyvin niukalti ja löytämistäni vain yksi ulottuu vuoteen 2022.  Sen tuloksia voi Suomen osalta tulkita sekä sekä hyviksi että huonoiksi, mutta vertailukelpoisia numeerisiin ylikuolleisuusarvioihin ne eivät ole.

Edellisten ohella yleisimmin kuulemani väitteet kansainvälisiä ja Suomalaistenkin laskemia ylikuolleisuusarvioita vastaan ovat

(i) Koronan kanssa mutta ei koronan vuoksi: Kuolinsyillä ei ole vaikutusta ylikuolleisuuteen, ainoastaan kuolemien määrillä.

(ii) Suomen väestön ikääntymistä ei ole huomioitu: Seitsämän eurooppalaisen vertailumaan väestöpainotettuihin keskiarvoihin verrattuna suomalaisten mediaani-ikä on 1,3 v nuorempi, yli 70 v osuus on 1,0 %-yksikköä pienempi, elinajanodote 0,2 v lyhyempi, diabetesprevalenssi sama, ja tupakointi merkittävästi vähäisempää.  Me emme ikäänny yksin.

(iii) Tilastot antavat väärän kuvan Suomen koronakuolleisuudesta: OECD, EuroStat, WHO, the Economist, ym. eivät yhteistuumin eivätkä erikseen ota vaivakseen muokata tilastojaan Suomea mustaavaan suuntaan. Suomi on erikoistapaus vain meille suomalaisille.  Jos me taas itse parantellemme numeroita, me petämme ainoastaan itseämme.

Suomen pandemiakuolleisuus nousi kesäkuusta 2021 alkaen eurooppalaisittain matalalta tasolta yhdeksi kehittyneiden maiden korkeimmista.  Syitä ovat suomalaisten virka-asiantuntijoiden neuvot sekä päättäjien niistä johtamat valinnat ja toimet, joita valtamedia on jokseenkin kritiikittömästi ja varauksetta tukenut.

Mitään suomalaisten omista toimista riippumattomattomia objektiivisia/ulkoisia syitä Suomen erittäin huonoksi kehittyneeseen pandemiatilanteeseen ei ole.

 

Ylikuolemat, ylikuolleisuus, määritelmä

WHO: COVID-19 pandemiaan liittyvät ylikuolemat [excess deaths]:

COVID-19 pandemiaan liittyvää ylikuolleisuutta [excess mortality] käytetään kvantifioimaan pandemian suoria ja epäsuoria vaikutuksia.  Ylikuolleisuus [excess mortality] on määritelty kaikkien määrätyllä alueella määrättynä aikana tapahtuneiden kuolemien ja laskennallisen kuolleisuuden, jos kriisiä (esim. COVID-19 pandemiaa) ei olisi, erotuksena.  Tämän erotuksen oletetaan sisältävän kuolemat jotka johtuvat COVID-19:sta suoraan, sekä myös kuolemat jotka liittyvät COVID-19:aan epäsuorasti pandemian terveydenhoitoon ja yhteiskuntaan kohdistuvien vaikutusten kautta, miinus kuolemat jotka olisivat tapahtuneet normaaliolosuhteissa, mutta joilta vältyttiin pandemiaan liittyneiden sosiaalisten olosuhteiden ja henkilökohtaisten käyttäytymismuutosten vuoksi.

Ylläoleva teksti on WHO:n 10.5.2022 päivittämä määritelmä ylikuolleisuus/ylikuolemat -käsitteelle epidemian tai tapahtuman (kuten helleaalto, ilmansaaste-episodi, sota) yhteydessä.  Hieman tiiviimmin muotoiltuja ylikuolleisuuden/ylikuolemien määritelmiä ovat esittäneet myös mm. EuroStat, OECD, OWiD [Our World in Data] ja Cambridge Dictionary – ne löytyvät liitteestä 1.  Niiden kaikkien olennainen sisältö on sama.  Ylikuolleisuus on [haitallisen tapahtuman aikana] toteutuneen kuolleisuuden ja laskennallisen [normaaleja olosuhteita vastaavan] taustakuolleisuuden erotus.

Koska tiedot toteutuneesta kuolleisuudesta saadaan yleensä luotettavista kansallisista tai kansainvälisistä lähteistä, ylikuolleisuuden laskennan kriittinen muuttuja on arvio todennäköisestä kuolleisuudesta jos haitallista tapahtumaa ei olisi.  Arviointiin on käytettävissä kansallisia ja ylikansallisia tietokantoja ja laskentamenetelmiä.

 

Ylikuolleisuuteen liittyviä mittareita

EuroMOMO Z-score visualisoi viikottaisten kuolemien määrän vaihtelua. Se ei mittaa kuinka paljon viikon kuolemat lukumääräisesti tai prosentuaalisesti ylittävät edellisten vuosien vastaavat tasot, vaan sitä kuinka merkittävä tuo ero on tilastollisesti. Z-scorea ei voi verrata väestöltään erikokoisten maiden välillä, koska väestöltään pienissä maissa, joissa viikottaisten kuolemien määrät ovat pieniä ja hajonnat suuria, esim. 2022 Malta 54…124, Kypros 99…211, niiden Euroopan korkeimmat ylikuolleisuudet 18 % ja 21% näkyvät vain vähäisinä ja harvinaisina substantial increase -tason ylityksenä (Kuva 1.)  Sensijaan suuressa maassa, kuten Ranskassa, viikottaisten kuolemien määrä on suuri ja hajonta pieni 11 000 .. 15 000. Niinpä Ranskan 9.7% ylikuolleisuus näkyy Z-scoren toistuvina ja suurina substantial increase -tason ylityksinä. EuroMOMO ei julkaise maakohtaisia numeerisia ylikuolleisuus-arviota, ei myöskään laskelmissaan käytettyjä standardipoikkeamia.

Kuva 1. EuroMOMO: Kahden väestöltään pienen maan, Maltan ja Kyproksen, Maltaa 12 ja Kyprosta 5 kertaa suuremman Suomen, sekä Suomea 12 kertaa suuremman Ranskan viikottaisten kuolemien Z-scoret vuoden 2021 heinäkuusta vuoden 2022 joulukuuhun. Maltan ja Kyproksen Euroopan korkeimmat ylikuolleisuudet 18% ja 21% näkyvät Z-scoressa paljon matalampina kuin Ranskan 9.7% ylikuolleisuus.

 

Vakioitu kuolleisuusuhde [SMR, standardized mortality rate].  Väestöotosten vakiointi kuuluu ensimmäisiin asioihin, mikä epidemiologiassa opetetaan.  Sitä  käytetään korjaamaan rinnakkaisten väestöotoksen, esim, altistuneet, ei-altistuneet, kuolleisuus/sairastavuustuloksia vertailukelpoisiksi.  Sillä vakioidaan laskennallisesti väestöotosten raakatuloksiin tutkimuksen kohteena olevan muuttujan ohella vaikuttavia taustamuuttujia, kuten ikä, sukupuoli, sosioekonominen tai terveydellinen tausta.

”Ikävakiointi poistaa kahden populaation välisistä eroista sen osuuden joka johtuu niiden erilaisista ikärakenteista; mutta se ei poista normaaleista kuolemanriskeistä sosioekonomisia eroja, eikä ylipainoisuuden tai tupakoinnin  ja terveydenhoidon eroja”.

Väestön tulevien vuosien kuolleisuutta voi toki ennustaa olettamalla kunkin ikävuosiluokan kuolleisuuden säilyvän nykyisenä, ja laskemalla odotettavissa oleva normaalikuolleisuus tulevien vuosien ennustetuja ikäjakaumia vastaavaksi.  Laskutapa johtaa kuitenkin tulevien vuosien kuolleisuuden systemaattiseen yliarviointiin, koska – poikkeusvuosia lukuunottamatta – kunkin ikävuosiluokan (0…100v) kuolleisuuden trendi on ollut aleneva jo toistasataa vuotta.

Ikävakiointi huomioi lukuisista kuolleisuuteen vaikuttavasta muuttujista vain yhden, iän, mutta sivuuttaa elintavat, ravinnon, elin-, asuin- ja työympäristön, terveyden- ja sairaanhoidon, tapaturmat ja väkivallan ym. joiden pitkän ajan muutoksista kertyvän yhteisvaikutuksen ansiosta suomalaisten eliniän pitkän ajan kasvutrendi on ollut 2,4 kk/v, ts. ikävakioitu kuolleisuus on jatkuvasti alentunut.  Tänään 84 v täyttävän elinajanodote on hänen elinaikanaan kasvanut 31 (!) vuotta.

 

Aikasarja-analyysi:

COVID-pandemiaa edeltävän ja pandemian aikaisen kuolleisuuden arvioinnissa ei ole kyse kahden väestöotoksen vertaamisesta, vaan koko väestön seurannasta, aikasarja-analyysistä, joka on normaali tapa analysoida myös helteen ja pakkasen, ilmansaasteiden, yleisten tupakointirajoitusten ym. vaikutuksia koko väestön terveyteen ja kuolleisuuteen.  Toisin kuin ikävakiointi, reaalidataan perustuva aikasarja-analyysi sulkee sisäänsä kaikkien muutostekijöiden yhteisvaikutuksen ja siten myös niiden keskinäisten tilastollisten riippuvuuksien vaikutukset.  Ikävakiointia ja aikasarja-analyysiä [muiden vaikuttavien tekijöiden huomioimiseksi] ei voi yhdistää, koska aikasarja-analyysi sulkee jo kertaalleen sisäänsä myös väestön ikääntymisen vaikutuksen.

Taustakuolleisuuden arvioimiseen Suomessa tarvittava kuolemien aikasarja (Kuva 2.) ulottuu 1700 luvulle ja korkealla ikäluokka-sukupuoli-alue-aikaresoluutolla se on ladattavissa Tilastokeskuksen verkkosivulta vuodesta 1990 tähän päivään.  Tarkkana, yksityiskohtaisena ja monidimensionaalisena tämä kuolemien tilasto on ihanteellista materiaalia monentyyppiseen datavetoiseen numeeriseen mallintamiseen sekä myös numeeristen aikasarjamallien kehittämiseen ja testaamiseen.

Kuva 2. Kuolleiden määrät Suomessa viikottain vuodesta 1990 vuoteen 2022. Tarkka katsoja erottaa kuvasta kuolleisuuden verkkaisen alenemisen vuoteen 2004 (keskim.-178#/v), ja sen jälkeinen hieman nopeamman kasvun vuoteen 2019 (keskim. +425#/v).

 

COVID-19 pandemiaan liittyvä ylikuolleisuus

Ensimmäinen vastaani tullut useita maita kattanut COVID-19 pandemian ylikuolleisuusarvio julkaistiin The Economistissa heinäkuussa 2020.  Sittemmin mm. Financial Times, New York Times, Karlinsky/WMD ja Economist ovat julkaisseet päivittyviä, kymmeniä…satoja maita ja alueita kattavia ylikuolleisuuslaskelmia.  Niiden mukaan pandemia aiheutti Suomessa vuoden 2021 toisella puoliskolla ylikuolemia moninkertaisesti varmistettuja COVID-19 kuolemia enemmän.  Korkein arvio vuosien 1920-21 ylikuolemista Suomessa – 1740 varmistettua COVID-19 kuolemaa ja 8780 ylikuolemaa (!) – esitettiin Lancetin 10.3.2022 julkaisemassa, IHME-tietokantaan perustuvassa, 191 maan COVID- ja ylikuolema-arviot kattaneessa artikkelissa.

Ylikuolemia kansainvälisesti tutkivat, laskevat ja raportoivat tahot, WHO EuroStat ja OECD.Stat, ja Economist, OWiD/Karlinsky, Karlinsky & Kobak ym. käyttävät omien tietokantojensa ohella Human Mortality Database, ja World Mortality Dataset tietokantoja.  Economistin metodiartikkelin mukaisesti se ei huomioi väestön ikärakenteen muutosta ajassa, vaan jäädyttää demografian vuoteen 2019.  WHO:n vastaava metodiartikkeli kuvaa ylikuolleisuuden jakautumista iän ja sukupuolen mukaan.  Tätä ei kuitenkaan pidä sekoittaa kuolemien ikävakiointiin.

Etsiessäni artikkeleita, tilastoja ja useita maita kattavia ikävakioituja ylikuolleisuusvertailuja löysin yhden artikkelin, jossa on esitetty ikävakioidut ylikuolleisuusarviot 37, toisen 29 maalle vuodelle. 2020, ja kolmannen USA:lle ja Euroopalle v. 2020-2021.  Vasta tämän artikkelini ensimmäisen postauksen jälkeen löysin yhden uudemman ja ehdottomasti kiinnostavimman.  Tämä ajoittain päivittyvä Brittitutkimus on löytämistäni ainoa, jossa ikävakioitua ylikuolleisuutta [Age Standardised Mortality Rate, ASMR] on selvitetty Euroopan laajuisesti ja osittain myös vuoteen 2022 ulottuen.

Sen vuoksi esittelen sen tässä laajemmin.

Tutkimusraportin johdantona kannattaa lukea ONS:n viittä ylikuolleisuuden arviointimenetelmää ja niiden 29 maan tuloksia vertaileva raportti.  Arviointimenetelmät tuottavat 29 maasta hyvin erityyppistä ja menetelmien kesken vaikeasti verrattavaa dataa, mutta kunkin menetelmän sisällä niitä voi verrata hyvin eri maiden välillä.

Mutta takaisin ASMR-tutkimukseen.  Siinä käytetyt kuolleisuuden mittayksiköt eivät aukea intuitiivisesti, joten koetan avata niitä hieman.  Tulokset on vakioitu v. 2013 Euroopan Standardiväestöön, ja viikottaisia ikävakiotuja kuolleisuuslukuja (vko ASMR verrataan vuosien 2015-2019 vastaavien viikkojen ikävakioitujen kuolleisuuslukujen keskiarvoon (ref ASMR).

Tulokset on ilmaistu suhteellisena ikävakioituna kuolleisuuslukuina (rASMR). rASMR = (vkoASMR – refASMR)/refASMR ja ilmaistaan prosentteina.  Positiivinen rASMR (suhteellinen ikävakioitu kuolleisuusluku) tarkoittaa että tarkasteltavan viikon ikävakioitu kuolleisuusluku on korkeampi kuin vuosien 2015-19 vastaavien referenssiviikkojen ikävakioitujen kuolleisuuslukujen keskiarvo, ja negatiivinen, että se on matalampi.

Lopulta valitun aikajakson suhteellinen kumulatiivinen ikävakioitu kuolleisuusluku (rcASMR) ilmaistaan ko. aikajakson viikoittaisten ikävakioitujen kuolleisuuslukujen summan prosentuaalisena muutoksena vastaavien v 2015–2019 viikkojen ikävakioiduista kuolleisuuslukujen keskiarvojen summasta (huh!).

Tuloksiin palaan tuonnempaana pandemian ensimmäisen ja toisen vaiheen kohdalla.

 

Ylikuolleisuuden arviointi aikasarja-analyysillä

Koska en kevättalvella 2022 löytänyt suomalaisia ylikuolleisuusarvioita piti alkaa itse laskea minkä suuruinen tämä Suomen WHO:n määritelmän mukainen ylikuolleisuus [ylikuolleisuus on tapahtuneiden kuolemien ja laskennallisen kuolleisuuden – jos pandemiaa ei olisi – erotus] olisi.

Tilastokeskus raportoi Suomessa tapahtuneet kuolemat viikottain, minkä lisäksi tarvitsin arvion taustakuolleisuudesta ilman pandemiaa.  Yksinkertaisin arvio olisi ollut muutaman pandemiaa edeltävän normaalivuoden kuolemien keskiarvo.  Näin laskien päädyttäisiin Suomessa kuitenkin liian korkeaan ylikuolleisuusarvioon, koska kuolleisuus Suomessa on kasvanut jo ennen pandemiaa vuodesta 2005 lähtien, jaksolla 2005-2019 keskimäärin 425 kuolemaa/v.

Pandemiavuosien laskennalliseen taustakuolleisuuteen on siis tunnettava normaalina pidettävän aikajakson taso ja kasvutrendi.  Tätä varten johdin Tilastokeskuksen raportoimista vuosien 2005-2019 viikottaisista kuolemista tässä artikkelissa käyttämäni regressiomallin pandemia-ajan taustakuolleisuudelle

          laskennalliset kuolemat/vko = 8,7587 x kalenterivuosi – 16643,

Ylikuolemien ja COVID-kuolemien tarkemman ajallisen yhteyden selvittämiseksi tarvitaan regressiomallin lisäksi normaalivuosien kuolemien vuodenaika-, kuukausi- ja/tai viikottaisesta -jakauma.  Tätä varten laskin vuosien 2005-2019 toteutuneiden viikkokuolemien poikkeamat regressiomallin ennustamista, ja niistä edelleen keskipoikkeaman normaalivuoden jokaiselle 52 viikolle.  Lopullinen laskentamalli pandemia-ajan viikottaisten taustakuolemien [siis jos pandemiaa ei olisi] arviointiin yhdistää nämä kaksi mallia.

Viidentoista vuoden jokaisen 52 viikon keskiarvot olisi voitu korvata samasta datasta lasketulla kosinisovitteella, kuten Rönning ja Guldbrandsen erinomaisessa analyysissään Suomen pitkäkestoinen ylikuolleisuusanomalia syksyllä 2021, jonka löysin vasta viime joulun alla.

Käyttämäni regressiomalli ei ole erityisen omintakeinen, mutta koska kehitin sen itse jo ennen kuin huomasin esim. Karlinsky/WMD mallintavan 120 maan ylikuolleisuutta hyvin samankaltaisella datavetoisella mallilla [hän perustaa sen 2015-19 normaalivuosidataan] kutsun silti mallin sovellusta Suomeen 2020-22 MJJ regressiomalliksi.

 

MJJ regressiomallin validointi

 Paras tapa validoida malli on testata kuinka hyvin sillä voi ennustaa tulevaiisuuden sijaan jo tapahtuneita asioita, tässä tapauksessa pandemiaa edeltävien kolmen vuoden 2017…19 kuolleisuutta.  Tätä varten johdin mallin parametrit kuten edellä, mutta vuosien 2005-2016 kuolleisuus- ja viikkopoikkeamista.  Kuvassa 3 on esitetty rinnakkain tällä metodin validointimallilla lasketut ja Tilastokeskuksen mukaiset viikottaiset kuolemat vuosille 2017-19.  Laskettuja kuolemia on yhteensä 161 772, tapahtuneita 161 725, ts. mallin ja todellisuuden erotus on 47 kuolemaa 3 vuodessa, 0,029%.

Kuva 3. Vuosien 2005-16 viikkokuolleisuudatasta johdetulla regressiomallilla lasketun vuosien 2017-19 viikottaisten kuolemien määrän ja vastaavien tapahtuneiden kuolemien vertailu. Vuosittaisten kuolemien keskiarvo on 53 900 ja koko kolmen vuoden jaksolle malli ennusti 47 kuolemaa, 0,029%, enemmän kuin tapahtui.  Erikseen vuodelle 2017 malli ennusti 82 ja vuodelle 2018 443 kuolemaa vähemmän, mutta vuodelle 2019 572 kuolemaa enemmän kuin mitä todellisuudessa tapahtui.

 

Tämä kuulostaa jo liian hyvältä.  Realistisemman kuvan MJJ regressiomallin luotettavuudesta sain analysoimalla mallinnettujen ja toteutuneiden vuosittaisten kuolemien eroja.  Koska kuolemat on sekä mallinnettu ja tilastoitu viikottain, tuotin vuosien 2017-19 datasta 100 eri 52 peräkkäisen viikon [=1 vuoden] pituista jaksoa ja laskin niistä jokaiselle mallinnettujen ja tapahtuneiden kuolemien erotukset – ts. MJJ regressiomallin virhejakauman, kumulatiivisena frekvenssijakaumana kuvassa 4.  Erotusten keskiarvo on 45 kuolemaa (0,08%), mediaani -82 (0,15%), standardipoikkeama 497 (0,91%), ja mallin virheistä 95% osuu välille -736 ja +670 kuolemaa (n. 1,3%).

Kuva 4. Sadan vuosiin 2017-2019 sisältyvän 52 viikon jakson regressimallilla lasketun ja tapahtuneen kuoleman erotuksen kumulatiivinen frekvenssijakauma. 52 viikon jakson kuolemien keskiarvo on 53 900. Mallinnettujen ja tapahtuneiden kuolemien erotuksen keskiarvo on 45 kuolemaa, 0,08%, ja standardipoikkeama 497 kuolemaa (0,91%).

 

Validoinnin tulosten perusteella MJJ regressiomallin ennustamien vuosikuolemien systemaattinen virhe [accuracy] on prosentin kymmenesosan, tilastollinen virhe [precission] prosentin suuruusluokkaa.

 

Pandemia-ajan ylikuolleisuus Suomessa

 Palaan WHO:n määritelmään: – ylikuolleisuus on tapahtuneiden kuolemien ja laskennallisen kuolleisuuden – jos pandemiaa ei olisi – erotus.  Kuva 5 esittää rinnakkain pandemia-ajalle MJJ regressiomallilla lasketun viikkokuolleisuuden [taustakuolleisuus jos opandemiaa ei olisi] sekä viikottain tapahtuneet kuolemat.  Niiden erotus on ylikuolleisuus, jonka rinnalla kuva 6 esittää THL:n nykyisen raportoinnin mukaiset koronasta johtuvat kuolemat.  Kaikki tämän esityksen COVID-19 kuolemat ovat THL:n määrittämiä koronasta johtuvia kuolemia ellei nimenomaan toisin mainita.

 

Kuva 5.  Tilastokeskuksen julkaisemat viikottaiset kuolemat Suomessa sekä MJJ Regressiomallilla lasketut viikottaiset kuolemat jos pandemiaa ei olisi jaksolla 2020 viikko 12 – 2022 viikko 52.

Kuva 6.  THL:n nykyisen ilmoitustavan mukaiset koronasta johtuvat kuolemat [yhteensä 4 694] ja MJJ regressiomallilla lasketut ylikuolemat [yhteensä 10 069] vuosille 2020-2022. Raportoinnin viiveen vuoksi, marras-joulukuun koronasta johtuvista kuolemista puuttuu vuoden 2022 loppua kohti tultaessa kasvava osuus.

Taulukossa 1 on esitetty pandemia-ajan COVID-19 ja ylikuolemat vuosille 2020, -21 ja -22, sekä erikseen vuoden 2021 alku- ja loppupuoliskolle, koska ne eroavat jyrkästi toisistaan.  Siitä voi myös vertailla MJJ regressiomallilla, Karlinskyn/WMD regressiomallilla ja Economistin koneoppivalla mallilla laskettuja ylikuolema-arvioita Suomessa pandemian eri vaiheissa.  Kaikki mallit tuottavat saman yleiskuvan pandemian etenemisestä ja ylikuolleisuuden tasosta.  Economistin malli tuottaa koko ajalle 20% korkeamman ja WMDn malli 5% matalamman ylikuolleisuusarvion kuin MJJ regressiomalli.  Jälkimmäinen tuottaa suhteellisesti hieman matalamman ylikuolleisuusarvion ensimmäiselle ja korkeamman kolmannelle pandemiavuodelle kuin Economistin ja WMDn mallit.  Yksi syy saattaa olla, että MJJ regressio perustuu vuosien 2005-2019, WMD vuosien 2015-2019 trendiin.

Taulukko 1. THL:n vanhan ja nykyisen ilmoitustavan mukaisesti raportoimat COVID kuolemat Suomessa sekä MJJ regressiomallin, Economistin ja Karlinskin WMD laskennalliset arviot ylikuolemista Suomessa vuosina 2020…2022.

 

Pandemian kaksi vaihetta

Keskikesä 2021 jakaa pandemian Suomessa kahteen toisistaan jyrkästi poikkeavaan vaiheeseen – sen vuoksi olen jakanut vuoden 2021 tarkastelussani puoliksi pandemian kahden vaiheen kesken.

 

Ensimmänen vaihe

Pandemiavuoden 2020 maalis-huhtikuun koronasta johtuvat kuolemat saatiin pian taitettua lähes nollatasolle, mikä sai Suomen johtavat kansanterveysviranomaiset julkisesti huolestumaan pandemian pysähtymisestä ja liian hitaasta etenemisestä (?!).  Kesäkuusta lokakuuhun viikottaiset koronakuolemat pysyivät yksinumeroisia, mutta kääntyivat syksyllä uuteen kasvuun. Vuoden loppuun mennessä koronasta johtuvia kuolemia oli kertynyt 530, ja ylikuolemia MJJ regressiomallin mukaan 970, Karlinsky/WMD ja Economistin mallien mukaan 254…445 enemmän.

Vuoden 2021 alkupuoliskolla ylikuolleisuus vaihtui alikuolleisuudeksi (Kuva 5 ja Taulukko 1) mitä selittää MJJ regressiomallin epätarkuuden ohella varmistettujen influenssakuolemien putoaminen pandemiaa edeltävien 5 vuoden keskiarvosta, 248, yhteen.  Ilmiö näkyy selvästi myös Economistin ja Karlinsky/WMD laskentatuloksissa.

Taulukossa 2. verrataan neljällä eri ylikuolleisuusmittarilla neljän Pohjoismaan ja neljän Euroopan suuren maan [Ranska, Saksa, Italia, Yhdistynyt Kuningaskunta] ylikuolleisuutta.

Väestöön suhteutettuna ylikuolemia tapahtui pandemian ensimmäisen vaiheen aikana Suomessa merkittävästi vähemmän kuin Keski-Euroopan verrokkimaissa.  Pohjoismaista Tanska ja Norja selviytyivät Suomea paremmin, Ruotsi selvästi huonommin (Taulukko 2.).

Taulukko 2. Economistin, World Mortality Datasetin, OECD:n ja EuroStatin pandemia-ajan ylikuolleisuuslaskelmien tulokset miljoonaa asukasta kohden neljälle Pohjoismaalle ja neljälle suurelle Euroopan maalle (i) jaksolle 2020 viikko 12 – 2021 viikko 26 ja (ii) 2021 viikko 27 – 2022 viikko 52.  Tähänastisen pandemia-ajan ensimmäisellä puoliskolla näissä 8 maassa ylikuolleisuus oli korkein Italiassa jokaisen käytetyn mittarin mukaan.  Toisella puoliskolla, sensijaan, ylikuolleisuus on korkein Suomessa – samoin jokaisen käytetyn mittarin mukaan.

 

Tässä kohdassa on syytä katsoa erikseen kuinka aiemmin mainitsemani ikävakioidun kuolleisuuden [ASMR] brittitutkimuksen tulokset vertautuvat toisenlaisilla menetelmillä laskettuihin taulukon 2 tuloksiin.

Tämän tutkimuksen tuloksista voi päätyä vastakkaisiin tulkintoihin esim. Suomen pandemia-ajan ylikuolleisuudesta.  Sen kuvasta 4 voi lukea, että tammikuusta 2020 kesäkuuhun 2021 Suomen pandemia-ajan suhteellinen kumulatiivinen ikävakioitu kuolleisuusluku (rcASRM) kuului muiden Pohjoismaiden ja Luxembourgin kanssa Euroopan matalimpiin, -5,2%.  Kahdeksasta käyttämästäni vertailumaasta Brittitutkimuksesta puuttuu Saksa, mutta muut seitsämän asettuvat pandemian ensimmäisessä vaiheessa täsmälleen samaan järjestykseen kuin keskimäärin Economistin, Karlinsky/WMD, OECD.Stat ja EuroStat arvioissa taulukossa 2, Norja-Tanska-Suomi-Ruotsi-Ranska-UK-Italia.

Saman julkaisun kuvasta 2 voi sensijaan lukea, että pandemian toisessa vaiheessa kesäkuusta 2021 kesäkuuhun 2022 Suomen viikottainen suhteellinen ikävakioitu kuolleisuusluku (rASRM) oli >1.0 koko väestön osalta 74,1% ajasta ja yli 65 v väestön osalta 81,5% ajasta.  Edellinen luku on Euroopan neljänneksi korkein Kreikan, Bulgarian ja Kyproksen jälkeen, jälkimmäinen toiseksi korkein Kreikan jälkeen (vrt. Ruotsi 3,7%, Euroopan alhaisin].  Näiden tulosten perusteella seitsämän vertailumaata asettuvat pandemian toisessa vaiheessa järjestykseen Ruotsi-Italia-Ranska-Tanska-UK-Norja-Suomi.  Italiaa lukuunottamatta järjestys on sama kuin taulukossa 2.

Tulosten vertailun kannalta on rohkaisevaa, että vaikka ikävakioitujen ylikuolleisuusarvioiden tuottamat lukuarvot eivät numeerisesti olekaan vertailukelpoisia muilla menetelmillä tuotettujen arvioiden kanssa, ne näyttävät asettavan maita hyvin samakaltaiseen  kuolleisuusjärjestykseen.

 

Toinen vaihe

Vuoden 2021 jälkipuoliskolla – delta-variantin levitessä Suomeen – koronasta johtuvat kuolemat alkoivat kasvaa hitaasti, sitten deltavariantin kiihdyttämämänä vuodenvaihteeseen 2021-22, notkahtivat muutamaksi viikoksi kunnes kasvu jälleen omikronin levitessä kiihtyi maaliskuuhun 2022 (Kuva 6.).  Toisin kuin koronasta johtuvat kuolemat, ylikuolemat kasvoivat jo heti keskikesällä hyvin nopeasti ja ylittivät jo heinäkuussa 2021 aikaisemmat huipputasot.  Vuoden 2021 jälkipuoliskon kuuden kuukauden ylikuolemat ylittivät 16 ensimmäisen pandemiakuukauden ylikuolemat 1800…2500:lla ja samojen kuuden kuukauden koronasta johtuvat kuolemat 5..6 kertaisesti (Taulukko 1.).

Kolmannen pandemiavuoden, 2022, aikana koronasta johtuvia kuolemia kertyi 3 285, 70% kolmen tähänastisen pandemiavuoden kaikista 4 694:sta koronasta johtuvista kuolemista.  Ylikuolemia kertyi samanaikaisesti yli kaksi kertaa enemmän, 6 741, 62…67% kolmen tähänastisen pandemiavuoden kaikista 10 069:sta ylikuolemasta.  Tähän mennessä kolmas pandemiavuosi eli 1/3 pandemia-ajasta on aiheuttanut 2/3 pandemiakuolemista.

Väestöön suhteutettuna ylikuolemia tapahtui pandemian toisen vaiheen aikana Suomessa sekä Keski-Euroopan suurista että Pohjolan verrokkimaista eniten (Taulukko 2).

 

Koronamenestystä siis seurasi koronaromahdus

Ensimmäisessä vaiheessa [15.3.2020 – 30.6.2021] Suomi, Tanska ja Norja muodostivat jokaisella neljällä käytetyllä ylikuolleisuusmittarilla arvioituna kahdeksan vertailumaan joukossa pandemiansa parhaiten hoitaneiden kolmen kärjen.

Sitten seurasi romahdus.

Toisessa vaiheessa [1.7.2021-30.12.2022] Ruotsi kiri näiden kahdeksan maan parhaaksi ja Suomi putosi sen huonoimmaksi – molemmat jokaisella neljällä käytetyllä ylikuolleisuusmittarilla arvioituna.

Suomen pandemiapolitiikan vertailutilanne ei parane tarkastelemalla ylikuolleisuuden sijaan varmistettuja COVID-19 kuolemia.  Vuoden 2022 osalta Suomi johtaa em. kahdeksan maan varmistettujen COVID-kuolemien määrässä (Kuva 7.) ja tätä kirjoitettaessa (13.1.2023) Suomen väestöön suhteutettu COVID-19 kuolemien määrä on Johns Hopkins yliopiston SandDatan mukaan neljän kuukauden aikana ollut yhteensä 100 päivän ajan 32 Euroopan, Pohjois-Amerikan, Aasian ja Oseanian kehittyneimmän maan korkein.

Kuva 7. Suomen viranomaisten ilmoittamien varmistettujen COVID kuolemien kumuloituminen miljoonaa asukasta kohden 12 edellisen kuukauden aikana. Myös tällä mittarilla Suomen pandemiatilanne on poikkeuksellisen synkkä. Lähde: https://ourworldindata.org/covid-deaths

 

Loppukommentteja

 Yleisimpiä reaktioita yllä esitettyjen kaltaisiin numeroihin ja kuvaajiin ovat olleet: (i) koronan kanssa mutta ei koronan vuoksi, (ii) Suomen väestön ikääntymistä ei ole huomioitu, (iii) Tilastot antavat väärän kuvan Suomen koronakuolleisuudesta.

Näistä lyhyet kommentit.

• (i) Ei vaikuta ylikuolleisuuteen tai sen arviointiin.
• (ii) Suomen ja vertailumaiden väestöjen ikääntyminen on kunkin tilastoinnin sisällä huomioitu tai jätetty huomioimatta samalla tavalla, joten sillä ei ole vaikutusta kansainvälisten ylikuolleisuustasojen vertailtavuuteen.

Koska tämä argumentti on niin yleinen, poimin taulukkoon 3 OwiDin yleisestä tietokannasta edellämainittujen kahdeksan vertailumaan viisi keskeistä ikä- ja terveysparametria. Niiden väestöpainotettuihin keskiarvoihin verrattuna Suomen väestö on mediaani-iältään 1,3 v nuorempaa, yli 70 v osuus väestössä on 1,0 %-yksikköä matalampi, elinajanodote on 0,2 v lyhyempi, diabetesprevalenssi sama ja tupakointi merkittävästi vähäisempää. Se vähä minkä Suomen väestön ikärakenne poikkeaa tyypillisistä eurooppalaisista arvoista on siis nuorempaan suuntaan, eikä vertailutilanne muuttunut kun lisäsin siihen 20 muuta Euroopan maata.

Taulukko 3. Suomen ja seitsämän vertailumaan väestön ikä- ja terveysparametreja. Koko joukon väestöpainotettuun keskiarvoon verrattuna Suomen väestö on mediaani-iältään 1,3 v nuorempi, yli 70 v osuus on 1,0 %-yksikköä pienempi, elinajanodote 0,2 v lyhyempi, diabetesprevalenssi sama, ja tupakointi merkittävästi vähäisempää.

• (iii) OECD, EuroStat, EuroMOMO, WHO, Johns Hopkins yliopisto, World Mortality Dataset, the Economist, ym. eivät yhteistuumin tai edes joku niistä erikseen ota vaivakseen vääntää kymmeniä tai satoja maita koskevia tilastoja Suomea mustaavaan suuntaan. Suomi on erikoistapaus vain meille suomalaisille.  Jos me taas itse muokkaamme tilastoja peittämään omia virheitä tai parantellemme omia numeroita, me petämme ainoastaan itseämme.

Suomen pandemia-ajan COVID-19 ja ylikuolleisuus nousivat kesäkuusta 2021 alkaen kevääseen 2022 mennessä eurooppalaisittain matalalta tasolta kehittyneiden maiden korkeimpien joukkoon ja ovat sittemmin pysyneet siellä.  Syitä ovat suomalaisten virka-asiantuntijoiden neuvot sekä päättäjien niistä johtamat valinnat ja toimet, joita – virka-asiantuntijoiden auktoriteetin säröttömyydestä alkaen – suomalainen valtamedia on jokseenkin kritiikittömästi ja varauksetta tukenut.

Mitään suomalaisten omista toimista riippumattomattomia objektiivisia/ulkoisia syitä Suomen erittäin huonoksi kehittyneeseen pandemiatilanteeseen ei ole.

 

---

 

LIITE: Excess mortality & excess deaths definitions and links

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/excess-mortality

Cambridge Dictionary: excess mortality: the number of deaths during a particular period above the usual, expected number under normal conditions, which can show the effect of something like a disease or harmful event.

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/excess-deaths

Cambridge Dictionary: Excess deaths: Deaths during a particular period above the usual, expected number of deaths under normal conditions, which can show the effect of something like a disease or harmful event:

Not all excess deaths during the pandemic were directly caused by the virus.

https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/global-excess-deaths-associated-with-the-COVID-19-pandemic

WHO Global excess deaths associated with the COVID-19 pandemic

Excess mortality associated with the COVID-19 pandemic is used to quantify the direct and indirect impacts of the pandemic. Excess mortality is defined as the difference between the total number of deaths estimated for a specific place and given time period and the number that would have been expected in the absence of a crisis (e.g., COVID-19 pandemic). This difference is assumed to include deaths attributable directly to COVID-19 as well as deaths indirectly associated with COVID-19 through impacts on health systems and society, minus any deaths that would have occurred under normal circumstances but were averted due to pandemic-related changes in social conditions and personal behaviours.

https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Glossary:Excess_mortality

Eurostat – Statistics explained      

Glossary: Excess mortality.  An unusual mortality increase during a specific period, in a given population, is often referred to as an excess mortality. Eurostat’s excess mortality indicator is expressed as a percentage of additional deaths in a month compared to a baseline period. In 2020, the baseline is given by average monthly deaths in the period 2016-2019.

https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/social-issues-migration-health/health-at-a-glance-2021_ec2de914-en

OECD iLibrary Excess mortality

Excess mortality measures whether, and if so to what extent, the total number of deaths from all causes is over and above what could normally be expected for a given period of time. Here, deaths in 2020 are compared against the average over the previous five years.

Excess mortality measures whether, and if so to what extent, the total number of deaths from all causes is over and above what could normally be expected for a given period of time. Here, deaths in 2020 are compared against the average over the previous five years.

https://ourworldindata.org/excess-mortality-covid

Our World in Data (OWiD): Excess mortality is a term used in epidemiology and public health that refers to the number of deaths from all causes during a crisis above and beyond what we would have expected to see under ‘normal’ conditions. In this case, we’re interested in how the number of deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic compares to the deaths we would have expected had the pandemic not occurred — a crucial quantity that cannot be known but can be estimated in several ways.

Estimated excess mortality from the Economist: a machine-learning model to estimate the number of excess deaths during the pandemic for 223 countries and regions.

Methodology: https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2021/05/13/how-we-estimated-the-true-death-toll-of-the-pandemic

Data: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/TheEconomist/covid-19-the-economist-global-excess-deaths-model/main/source-data/country_daily_excess_deaths.csv

 

https://www.bhf.org.uk/what-we-do/news-from-the-bhf/news-archive/2020/july/what-are-excess-deaths

British Heart Foundation: What are ’excess deaths’ and why are people talking about them?

This can sound like a heartless description, but in any given time of year there will be a “usual” or expected number of deaths – “excess deaths” means numbers above this level.

In simple terms, if 200 deaths were expected for a given week and there were 300 recorded, for this week there would have been 100 excess deaths.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, data analysts have been closely comparing the number of deaths each week with the expected number of deaths for the same week, estimated using an average of the number of deaths for the same week across the previous five years.

Preludi

Infektioepidemiologit ympäri maailmaa uskoivat vielä keväällä 2020, että koronavirus leviää suurten pisaroiden, niiden kontaminoimien pintojen ja käsikontaktien kautta.  Aerosolileviämistä ilman kautta ei pidetty mahdollisena kahdesta syystä: se kuulosti paluulta 1880 hylättyyn miasmateoriaan; ja mikrobeja kantamaan kykenevät 5 µm tai suuremmat pisarat putoaisivat maahan enintään 1…2 m etäisyydellä lähtöpisteestään.   Maskien/hengityssuojainten käyttöä he pitivät hyödyttömänä toisaalta edellisestä syystä, toisaalta siksi, että ne eivät kuitenkaan voisi pidättää esim. 5 µm mikropisaroita.

Molemmat käsitykset olivat vääriä, minkä kuka tahansa aerosolitieteen alkeiskurssin suorittanut olisi voinut kysyttäessä kertoa.  Edellinen perustui maailmalla aina uusina painoksina levinneeseen käsikirjaan 60 v. sitten putkahtaneeseen virheeseen (!), jälkimmäinen tietämättömyyteen kuitusuodattimen toiminnan fysikaalisista perusteista.  5 µm mikropisara voi leijua sisäilmassa tunteja, ulkoilmassa paljon painavammatkin hiukkaset matkaavat tuhansia kilometrejä, esimerkiksi Saharan hiekkapöly jota on laskeutunut Etelä-Eurooppaan tonneittain viime päivinä.  Yleisimmin käytetty FFP2/N95 hengityssuojain puolestaan suodattaa 95% 0,3 µm ja 99,5% >1 µm hiukkasista.

WHO, CDC ja ECDC tunnustivatkin v. 2021 aerosolileviämisen ja hengitysilman SARS-CoV-2 viruksen tärkeimmäksi tartuntatieksi.  Tästä puolestaan seuraa, että aerosolin mikropisaroista >95% suodattava FFP2/N95 hengityssuojain antaa erinomaisen suojan tartuntaa vastaan.

Aerosolin leviäminen sisäilmassa, poistuminen siitä pintoihin tarttumalla, ilmanvaihdon kautta ja hiukkassuodattimissa, sekä henkilökohtainen suojautuminen altistumiselta maskien avulla tunnetaan hyvin ja kyetään mallintamaan numeerisesti halutulla tarkkuudella. T ämä tieto avasi aivan uudet, lockdowneja ja ihmiskontaktien välttämistä paljon täsmällisemmin kohdennettavat, sosiaalisesti vähemmän rajoittavat ja tehokkaammat keinot riskiryhmien suojelemiseksi, tartuntojen leviämisen tukahduttamiseksi ja esim. kulttuuritilaisuuksien uudelleen avaamiseksi.  Erityisesti maskien/hengityssuojaimien tehokkuudesta koulutartuntojen rajoittamisessa, sekä ilmanvaihdon ja sisäilman hiukkassuodatuksen merkityksestä altistumisriskin vähentämisessä on kertynyt valtavasti uutta tietoa.  Toisaalta uutta tutkimustietoa on saatu myös puhumisen, laulamisen ja huutamisen tuottamista aerosolimääristä.

Vaikka infektoituneiden ulos- ja terveiden sisäänhengittämä virusaerosoli on osoittautunut erityisesti sisäilmassa koronaviruksen tärkeimmäksi tartuntatieksi, ja vaikka sisäilmatutkimus ja aerosolitiede tarjoavat vahvat ja testatut tieteelliset ja tekniset menetelmät tämän tartuntatien tukahduttamiseksi, uuden paradigman hyväksyminen on valitettavasti osoittautunut monille vanhan koulun miehelle ja naisellekin vaikeaksi tai mahdottomaksi.

Rokotukset ovat luonnollisesti avainroolissa väestön suojaamisessa koronan aiheuttamilta vakavilta sairaustapauksilta ja kuolemilta.  Rokotusten suojavaikutus kuitenkin hiipuu kuukausien kuluessa, suojaa heikosti tartunnalta ja siten viruksen edelleen levittämiseltä ja osoittautuu usein odotettua pienemmäksi uuden virusvariantin hyökätessä.

Siteeraan WHO:n pääjohtajaa Ghebreyesusia (14.12.2021): ”I need to be very clear: vaccines alone will not get any country out of this crisis.  It’s not vaccines instead of masks, distancing, ventilation or hand hygiene.  Do it all.  Do it consistently.  Do it well.”

Wienin Filharmonikkojen perinteistä Uudenvuodenkonserttia katsoi ja kuunteli 50 miljoonan TV-katsojan lisäksi tänä vuonna jälleen myös paikan päällä Musikverein konserttisalissa 1000 h. yleisö, FFP2 maskit kasvoillaan – tiettävästi ilman ainoatakaan koronatartuntaa.

 

---

 

Ensireaktiot pandemiaan tammi-kesäkuussa 2020

COVID-19 epidemian tukahduttamistoimet Wuhanissa, Kiinassa, aloitettiin 23.1.2020 cordon sanitairella [Lockdown, sulku], joka sulki kaikki tapahtumat ja tilat ruokakauppoja ja apteekkeja lukuun ottamatta, lukitsi ihmiset koteihinsa, vaati jokaista käyttämään maskia kaikkialla kotiovien ulkopuolella sekä raportoimaan terveydentilastaan päivittäin.  Lockdown pantiin toimeen välittömästi ja määrätietoisesti, sillä todella onnistuttiin pysäyttämään viruksen kierto Wuhanissa, ja 74 päivää myöhemmin lockdown purettiin ilman epidemian uudelleen puhkeamista Wuhanissa.  SARS-CoV-2 virus oli sillä välin kuitenkin jo levinnyt kaikkialle maailmaan.

Vuoden 2020 kevään muita onnistuneita lockdowneja toteutettiin mm. Uudessa Seelannissa ja Suomessa sekä loppukesällä Australian Victorian osavaltiossa, joissa kaikissa tartunnat saatiin painettua 0…5#/vrk tasolle 81…112 päivässä.  Lockdown on kuitenkin karkea, sosiaalisesti ja taloudellisesti lamaannuttava, matalan osaamisen ja teknologian työkalu.

Siellä missä viruksen kierto väestössä tukahdutettiin tehokkaasti tai painettiin alhaiselle tasolle, pandemian hallinnassa siirryttiin altistusten etsimisessä ja testauksessa, tartuntojen jäljittämisessä, karanteeniin eristettyjen valvonnassa ja huollossa nopeasti täsmällisemmin kohdennettuihin, vähemmän rajoittaviin, korkeamman osaamisen ja teknologian työkaluihin.  Näin saatettiin sekä pandemian torjunnan, että sairaustapausten hoidon kuormitus sairaanhoidolle, yhteiskunnalle ja taloudelle pitää kohtuullisena.  Mm. Etelä-Korea, Taiwan ja Japani aloittivat ajoissa ja suoraan testaus-jäljitys-eristyspolitiikalla.

Saksassa laadittiin jo maalis-huhtikuussa 2020 kaksi [IFO 2.4.2020, Leopoldina 13.4.2020] toisiaan täydentävää exit-suunnitelmaa pandemiasta ulospääsemiseksi.  Käänsimme [M Jantunen, J Tuomisto, M Kolehmainen, M Seuri, J Bonsdorf ja M Paunio] IFO:n suunnitelman suomeksi, jaoimme sen eduskuntaryhmille, valtioneuvostolle, STM:öön ja THL:een sekä julkaisimme 9.4.2020.  Minkäänlaista osoitusta kiinnostuksesta ei vastaanottajilta kuulunut.  EU julkaisi oman etenemissuunnitelmansa rajoitusten purkamiseksi 17.4.2020.  Ainoastaan EU:n suunnitelma mainitsee myös rokottamisen, jota se ennakoi vuoden kuluessa – mikä osoittautui osuneeksi arvioksi.

Eurooppalaisten päättäjien käytännön toimia ei ole juurikaan ohjannut realismi ja pragmaattinen suunnitelmallisuus, vaan niissä ovat aaltoina vuorotelleet poliittinen toiveajattelu ja reaktiot akuutteihin kriiseihin.  Saksalainen suunnitelmallisuus lienee kuitenkin vaikuttanut jossain määrin, koska koronan aiheuttama kuolleisuus on Saksassa jäänyt selvästi Euroopan muita suuria maita pienemmäksi.

 

Kädestä suuhun vai aerosolileviäminen

Edellä mainitut pandemian hallinnan ja rajoittamisen politiikat perustuivat oletukseen, että ainoa virustartuntoja rajoittava keino on pitää tartunnan saaneet ja potentiaaliset tartutettavat vähintään 2 m etäisyydellä toisistaan ja enintään 15 minuuttia samassa tilassa.

Ensimmäisenä pandemiakeväänä, WHO, ECDC, CDC ja useimmat kansanterveysauktoriteetit olettivat, että … COVID-19 viruksen siirtyminen [ihmisten välillä] voi tapahtua suorassa kontaktissa infektoituneisiin ihmisiin ja epäsuorassa kontaktissa ympäristön pintojen tai esineiden kautta joita infektoitunut on käyttänyt (WHO, maaliskuu 2020) = Pisarat-kädet-kasvot-altistumistie.

Pian alkoi kuitenkin tulvia tutkimustuloksia COVID-19 tartunnoista ja joukkotartunnoista sisätiloissa, joita ei voinut selittää edellä kuvatulla mekanismilla (WHO 2020, Günther et al. 2020, Khanh et al. 2020, Park et al. 2020, Ou et al. Jan 2022, Stein-Zamir et al. 2022, Fox-Lewis 2022).  Suomessa tunnetuimmaksi tuli Naistenpäivän konsertti Helsingin uudessa Musiikkitalossa, 8.3.2020, jossa tartunnan sai toistasataa konserttivierasta, mukaan luettuna Eeva ja Martti Ahtisaari (MTV-Uutiset).  Tällaiset joukkotartunnat edellyttävät ilmavälitteistä tartuntaa [vrt. tuhkarokko ja Legionella].

Asiasta kiisteltiin kiivaasti toisaalla sisäilma-altistumis- ja aerosoliasiantuntijoiden, ja toisaalla infektioepidemiologien kesken.  Jälkimmäisistä moni näki aerosolivälitteisyydessä jopa yrityksen 1880 luvulla kumotun miasma-teorian kunnianpalautukseen.  Yllättävä selitys löytyi, kun huomattiin, että aerosolitartuntamahdollisuuden torjunta oli perustunut väärinkäsitykseen yli 5 µm aerosolihiukkasten käyttäytymisestä ilmassa [että ne putoavat ilmasta maahan 1..2 m etäisyydellä lähtöpisteestään], joka oli löytänyt tiensä oppi- ja käsikirjoihin 60 vuotta aikaisemmin, ja siirtynyt aina uusiin painoksiin ilman alkuperäistä lähdeviitettä (Molteni 2021, Wang et al. 2021).  Oikean vastauksen olisi osannut laskea jokainen aerisolitieteen peruskurssin lukenut Stokesin sedimentaatioyhtälön (1851) avulla.  ECDC (2020), CDC (2021) ja WHO (2021) hyväksyivät ja tunnustivat lopulta, että aerosoli on COVID-10:n hallitseva tartuntatie.  WHO muotoili muutoksen näin:

• Nykyinen evidenssi osoittaa, että … virus voi levitä infektoituneelta henkilöltä … pienissä nestepisaroissa kun tämä yskii, aivastaa, puhuu, laulaa tai hengittää. Toinen henkilö voi sitten joutua kontaktiin viruksen kanssa, hengittäessään sitä kantavia ilman kautta leviäviä hiukkasia lähietäisyydellä …
• Virus voi myös levitä huonosti tuuletetuissa/ruuhkaisissa sisäolosuhteissa, jossa ihmiset viettävät pidemmän ajan. … koska aerosolit voivat pysyä leijumassa ilmassa tai kulkeutua kauemmaksi kuin keskusteluetäisyydelle.
• Ihmiset voivat infektoitua myös koskettelemalla silmiään, nenäänsä tai suutaan sen jälkeen, kun he ovat koskettaneet pintoja ja esineitä, jotka virus on kontaminoinut.

Suurin ansio alkuperäisen väärinkäsityksen korjaamisesta ja aerosolitartuntatien tunnustetuksi saamisesta kuuluu puolalaissyntyiselle ystävälleni, Queensland University of Technology (Brisbane, Australia) professorille Lidia Morawskalle (Morawska et al. 2020, sekä 2021).  TIME lehti valitsi hänet tämän johdosta yhdeksi maailman 100 vaikutusvaltaisimmasta ihmisestä v. 2021.

Morawska on sisäilma-aerosolitutkija, jonka kanssa jaoin vuosituhannen vaihteessa ISIAQin presidentin tehtävän ja olemme osallistuneet yhdessä lukuisiin WHO:n asiantuntijatehtäviin Euroopassa, USA:ssa ja Australiassa.

Yskimisen, aivastamisen ja raskaan hengittämisen lisäksi niin infektoituneesta kuin terveestäkin ihmisestä ilmaan vapautuvien aerosolihiukkasten määrä riippuu olennaisesti äänen käytöstä (Asadi et al 2019, Assendelft et al. 2020, Riedeker ja Monn 2020, Mürbe et al. 2021).  Puhuva ihminen tuottaa ilmaan 0,3 – 3 µm aerosolihiukkasia 20…200 #/s, äänettömästi hengitettävä kymmenesosan tai vähemmän, laulava 3,6 – 11 ja huutava 22 – 59 kertaa puhuvaa enemmän.  Pandemiatilanteessa vaarallisimpia paikkoja ovatkin laulukuorot, urheilukatsomot ja meluisat baarit.

 

Voiko ilmavälitteistä aerosolitartuntaa estää?

Moni on vastannut, että ei voi – jokainen saa väistämättä tartunnan (esim. Paunio, 2022).  THL:n asiantuntijat, joilta media ja päättäjät asiaa kysyvät, toistavat että rokottamisen lisäksi Perheen ulkopuolisten kontaktien rajoittaminen on … ainoa keino, jolla koronaviruksen leviämistä voidaan hidastaa ja COVID-19 taudin lisääntymistä loiventaa. (esim. IS 18.12.2021, IL 1.1.2022, Mediuutiset 19.1.2022).  Tämä käsitys ja asenne on jo puolentoista vuoden ajan eristänyt ihmisiä toisistaan sekä estänyt ja rajoittanut ihmisiä kokoavien sosiaalisten tapahtumien ja esittävän taiteen yleisötilaisuuksien järjestämistä kautta koko läntisen maailman.  Lockdown on tartuntojen rajoituskeinona verrattavissa taskukellon säätämiseen lekalla kun tieto paremmasta puuttuu.  Jo yli neljä vuosikymmentä kehittynyt ja laajentunut sisäilmatutkimus [kansainvälinen tieteellinen yhdistys ISIAQ, suomalainen FiSIAQ], sekä sitä lähellä oleva altistumistutkimus [ISES] tarjoavat ihmiskontaktien rajoittamiselle paljon hienovaraisempia, vähemmän rajoittavia, ja toimivaksi osoitettuja vaihtoehtoja.

Aerosolitartunnan tunnustaminen COVID-19 pääasialliseksi leviämisttavaksi muutti tartuntariskin pienentämisen aerosolien ja sisäilma-altistumisen asiantuntijoille aiempaa paljo selkeämmäksi ja helpommaksi tehtäväksi.  Tämän blogin loppuosassa kerron miksi ja miten.

COVID-19 riskin arviointiin sisätiloissa on jo saatavilla useita verkossa toimivia tai verkosta ladattavia työkaluja niin jokamiehen (Dinklage et al. 2020, Khan et al. 2021, NIA Canada 2021, Gkantonas et al. 2021) kuin asiantuntijoidenkin tarpeisiin (Rutter et al. 2021, Jimenez and Peng, 2022 ja Peng et al. 2022).  Niitä käyttäen voidaan arvioida ja verrata tartuntariskejä erilaisissa altistumistilanteissa sekä altistumista rajoittavien toimenpiteiden tehokkuutta.

 

Maskien ja hengityssuojainten merkitys

Henkilökohtaisesti altistumista virusaerosolille voidaan rajoittaa tehokkaimmin FFP2/3, N95 tai KN95 standardien mukaisilla hengityssuojaimilla, jotka suodattavat yli 90% niin ulos- kuin sisäänhengityksenkin aerosolihiukkasista, virusaerosolihiukkaset mukaan lukien.

Hengityssuojaimien (maskien) hiukkaserotuskykyä ihmisen kasvoilla on mitattu lukuisissa tutkimuksissa. Clapp et al. (2020) selvittivät laboratoriossa erityyppisten maskien ja hengityssuojainten suodatustehokkuutta normaalisti hengittävän koehenkilön kasvoille huolellisesti sovitettuna laboratoriossa.  Yleisin, joustavilla korvalenkeillä varustettu kirurginmaski, alensi sisäänhengitysilman 0,02–0,6 µm hiukkasten määrää 38,5%, parempi kirurginmaski, joka sovitetaan kasvoille kahdella niskan takaa solmittavalla nauhalla 71,5%, ja eurooppalaista FFP2 hengityssuojainta vastaava amerikkalainen N95 98,4%.

Päivittäisessä käytössä maskien sovitus kasvoille ei ole aina paras mahdollinen, ja niiden käytössä lipsutaan.  Silti huonomminkin istuva N95 hengityssuojain alensi pienhiukkasaltistusta Sickbert-Bennett et al. (2020) mukaan 90…95%.

Maskien tehokkuus koululaisten suojaamisessa

Maskien käytön vaikutusta on tutkittu myös COVID-19 tartuntoihin myös elävässä elämässä.  Alla lyhyet kuvaukset kolmesta koulututkimuksesta, joissa käytettiin pääasiassa korvalenkeillä varustettuja kirurginmaskeja tai kangasmaskeja.

Budzyn et al. (2021) vertasivat lasten COVID-19 tartuntoja 3 kk ajan 520:ssa USA:n piirikunnassa, joissa maskivelvoite kouluissa koski toisissa piirikunnissa (A) kaikkia lapsia ja toisissa (B) ei ketään lapsista.  Alle 18 v. ikäisten koululaisten COVID-19 tartunnat kasvoivat koulun alkamista edeltävältä viikolta toiselle alkamisen jälkeiselle viikolle (A) 16,32 #/100 000 ja (B) 34,85 #/100 000, ts. yli kaksi kertaa enemmän.

Jehn et al. (2021) puolestaan selvittivät COVID-19 tartuntaryppäiden [≥ 2 tartuntaa] yleisyyttä Arizonan Maripocan piirikunnan 1020:ssa koulussa syyslukukauden 2021 toisen ja kolmannen kouluviikon aikana. Tartuntaryppäitä ilmeni 3,5 kertaa todennäköisemmin kouluissa, joissa maskivelvoitetta ei ollut verrattuna kouluihin, joissa maskeja oli käytettävä.

Boutzoukas et al. (2022) osoittivat USA:n yhdeksän osavaltiota läpi syksyn 2021 Delta-aallon kattaneessa koulututkimuksessa [1,1 miljoonaa oppilasta, 157 000 opettajaa], että koulupiireissä, joissa maskeja ei tarvinnut käyttää, oppilailla oli 3,6 kertaa enemmän tartuntoja kuin koulupiireissä, joissa oli voimassa maskivelvoite, ts. maskien käyttö vähensi tartuntoja 72%.

Gennings et al. (2021) selvitti kyselytutkimuksella maskien, tehostetun ilmanvaihdon ja ilmanpuhdistimien (HEPA suodatus ja UV säteilytys) käyttöä sekä niiden vaikutuksia, yhdessä ja erikseen, lasten (tarhaikäisistä viidesluokkalaisiin) COVID-19 tartuntoihin syyslukukaudella 2020 Georgian osavaltion 1461 koulussa.  Kouluissa, joissa oppilaat ja opettajat käyttivät maskeja, tartuntoja oli 37% vähemmän kuin kouluissa joissa maskeja ei käytetty. Vastaavasti ilmanvaihdon tehostaminen alensi tartuntoja 35% ja kun luokkahuoneisiin asennettiin lisäksi HEPA puhdistimet, 48%.

Maskien käytön vaikutuksia COVID-tartuntoihin kouluissa on selvitetty pääasiassa USA:ssa syyskaudella 2021 Delta-variantin aikana tutkimuksissa jotka kattoivat satoja koulupiirejä, tuhansia kouluja, satojatuhansia opettajia ja miljoonia koululaisia.  Maskien eriasteiset käyttövelvoitteet vähensivät lasten tartuntoja 37-72%.  Tämä on erittäin tärkeä tieto, koska nyt vallassa oleva Omikron-variantti on osoittautunut lapsille huomattavasti edeltäjiään vaarallisemmaksi (Guardian 11.3.2022).

Maskien ja hengityssuojainten tehokkuus väestön suojaamisessa

Abaluk et al. (2021) toteuttivat cluster-satunnaistetun yhdyskuntatason maskisuositustutkimuksen Bangladeshissa (Marraskuu 2020 – Huhtikuu 2021).  Siihen osallistui 600 kylää, joiden asukkaista 178 000 kuului koe- ja 164 000 vertailuryhmään.  Tämä tekee siitä yhden suurimmista koskaan toteuteutuista RCT tutkimuksista.  Koekylien asukkaille jaettiin kangas- tai kirurginmaskeja, valistettiin maskien käytöstä, motivoitiin kylien johtajia roolimalleiksi, sekä muistutettiin maskien käytöstä henkilökohtaisesti 8 viikon ajan.  Vertailukylissä vastaavia toimenpiteitä ei tehty.  Maskien käyttö lisääntyi vertailukylien 13,3%:sta koekylien 42,3%:iin.  Koekylissä, joissa käytettiin kirurginmaskeja oireisen SARAS-CoV-2 seroprevalenssi oli koko väestössä 11,1%, ja yli 60 v. ikäisessä väestössä 35,3% pienempi kuin vertailukylissä.  Kangasmaskin käytön vaikutus oli jonkin verran pienempi.

Andrejko et al. (2022) vertasivat maskien kykyä suojata käyttäjää COVID-19 tartunnalta jatkuvassa ja tavanomaisessa arkikäytössä.  He selvittivät kuinka todennäköisesti COVID-19 testitulos on positiivinen ihmisillä, jotka ilmoittivat etteivät koskaan käytä maskia, verrattuna ihmisiin jotka ilmoittavat käyttävänsä sitä aina julkisissa sisätiloissa.  Ei-koskaan ryhmään verrattuna positiivinen testitulos oli 56% vähemmän todennäköinen kangasmaskin, 66% korvalenkki-kirurginmaskin ja 83% N95 hengityssuojaimen vakiokäyttäjillä.

Edellinen tutkimus osoittaa että maskivalistus-, -jakelu ja käytön opastus ovat tehokkaita keinoja maskien käytön lisäämiseksi ja COVID-19 tartuntojen vähentämiseksi.  Jälkimmäinen taas vahvistaa jokseenkin odotuksia vastaavat erot COVID-19 tartunnoissa maskeja käyttämättömien ja erityyppisiä maskeja ja hengityssuojaimia arjessaan käyttävien välillä.  Maskia käyttämättömän riski saada COVID-19 tartunta oli kuusinkertainen N95 hengityssuojaimia käyttävään verrattuna!

Hengityssuojain on tehokkain, yksilöllisin ja edullisin tapa vähentää COVID-19 tartunnan riskiä.  On jokseenkin vaikea ymmärtää niiden suosittelemiseen ja käyttöön kohdistettua disinformaatiota ja vastustamista, ei ainoastaan asiasta ymmärrettävästi tietämättömien vaan myös monien vastuullisten kansanterveysviranomaisten, terveysauktoriteettien, poliitikkojen ja median toimesta.

Sisäilmahygienia: ilmanvaihto ja pienhiukkassuodatus

Sveitsin Graubünden kantoni selvitti pilottitutkimuksessa ilmanvaihdon määrää indikoivan CO₂ pitoisuuden (<1000 ppm … >3000 ppm) ja oppilaiden koronatartuntojen 1-19.11.2021 välistä yhteyttä 150 koululuokassa.  Alustavien tulosten mukaan luokan ilman CO₂ pitoisuuden ja lasten koronatartuntojen määrät korreloivat, tartuntamäärien ero matalien ja korkeiden CO₂ pitoisuuksien [rajana 2000 ppm] välillä on tilastollisesti merkitsevä, ja tartuntojen ero eniten ja vähiten tuuletettujen luokkien välillä oli kuusinkertainen (EMPA 2021, Swissinfo 2021).  Kts. myös Gennings et al. (2021) josta kerroin aiemmin maskien koulukäytön yhteydessä.

Aerosolien leviämistä sisäilmassa ja altistumista alentavien ilmahygieenisten tekniikoiden vaikutusta voidaan arvioida käyttäen laajaa valikoimaa ilmanvaihto-, sisäilman kierto- ja sisäilma-altistumismalleja, alkaen yksinkertaisimmista täydellisen sekoittumisen laatikkomalleista ja päätyen suurta laskentakapasiteettia vaativiin numeerisiin virtausdynamiikan simulaatioihin.  Aalto-yliopiston professori Ville Vuorinen oli ensimmäinen, joka sovelsi tätä tekniikkaa kuvaamaan SARS-CoV-2 virusaerosolin leviämistä sisäilmassa (Vuorinen et al. 2020).

Tartuntariskiä voidaan alentaa merkittävästi sisäilmahygienian keinoin, tehostamalla ilmanvaihtoa ja/tai käyttämällä pienhiukkassuodattimia.  Edellinen poistaa virusaerosolia sisältävää ilmaa huoneesta, jälkimmäinen virusaerosolia sisäilmasta.  Jos huoneilmaa kierrätetään HEPA (H11 tai parempi) hiukkassuodattimen kautta, virusaltistumista alentava vaikutus on yhtä suuri kuin vaihtamalla sama määrä huoneilmaa ulkoilmaan.  Energiataloudellisesti edullisemmaksi tulee lämpimänä vuodenaikana ilmanvaihdon, kylmänä vuodenaikana suodatuksen painottaminen.

 

Aerosolitartunta sisätiloissa – mitä ilmahygienialla ja hengityssuojaimilla voidaan saavuttaa 

SARS-CoV-2 viruksen siirtymistä sairaalta terveelle voidaan estää/rajoittaa alkaen infektoituneen uloshengityksestä ja päätyen terveen sisäänhengitykseen.  Altistumista rajoittavien ilmahygieniatoimenpiteiden vertailun tulee näin ollen kattaa koko altistumistie.  Tähän tarkoitukseen istuu hyvin käsite intake fraction [iF = se osuus päästöstä ympäristöön, jonka koko altistuva väestö, tai (iF_i) yksi kohdehenkilö hengittää sisään ja/tai nielee, Bennett et al. (2002].  iF integroi yhteen dimensiottomaan numeroarvoon kaiken sen mikä vaikuttaa altisteen siirtymiseen päästöstä kohteeseen.  iF:n numeroarvojen soveltaminen on helppoa, se tuntuu jopa petollisen helpolta, mutta kuhunkin määrättyyn tarkoitukseen tarvittavien iF:n arvojen määrittämiseen ja validointiin tarvitaan usein paljon dataa ja laskentaa.

Fantke et al. (2017) käytti globaaleja tietokantoja selvittääkseen tyypilliset iF arvot haja-asutus- ja kaupunkialueiden erityyppisille ulko- ja sisäilman pienhiukkaslähteille.  Ilacqua et al. (2007) puolestaan sovelsi kuuden eurooppalaisen kaupungin väestön EXPOLIS tutkimuksessa kerättyä henkilökohtaisen ilmansaasteille altistumisen, sisäilma- ja ulkoilmapitoisuuksien, asumisen ja ajankäytön mittausdataa sekä Monte Carlo simulointitekniikkaa tuottaakseen Ateenan, Baselin, Helsingin, Oxfordin ja Prahan asuntokantojen sisäilmapäästöjen iF todennäköisyysjakaumat sekä koko väestölle että yksilötasolle. Vaikka käytetyt tietokannat ja laskentamenetelmät ovat tyystin erilaiset, koko väestölle lasketut asuntokannan iF arvot tukevat hyvin toisiaan: Fanke 0,013 (0,0005 – 0,062), Ilacqua 0,006 (0,0009 – 0,014).

Seuraavassa laskentaesimerkissä arvioin isännän (A) altistumista hengitystieperäisille pienhiukkaisille keskimääräisessä helsinkiläisasunnossa yhden tunnin aikana kolmen vieraan (k = 1, 2, 3) läsnä ollessa.  Samalla arvioin puheen/hiljaisuuden [päästö], alhaisen (5%)/tyypillisen (50%)/korkean (95%) ilmanvaihdon [laimeneminen], sekä maskittomuuden/kiruginmaskien/FFP2 hengityssuojainten [henkilökohtainen suojautuminen] käytön vaikutuksia isännän A altistumiseen.

Exp_A = p_A * iF_i * Σ (R_k p_k)                       (1)

Exp_A = isännän A altistuminen hengitysperäisille pienhiukkasille [#/sec]

p_A    = isännän A maskin suoja COVID-tartuntaa vastaan [0-100%] (¤

iF_i     = inertin sisäilmapäästön yksilöllinen intake fraction helsinkiläisessä asunnossa (^#

R_k     = vieraan k tuottama hengitysperäisten pienhiukkasten päästö [#/sec] (^§

p_k     = vieraan k maskin suoja COVID-tartuntaa vastaan [0-100%]

¤) Esim.  Andrejko et al. 2022

§) Esim. Mürbe et al. 2021. Tässä esimerkissä käytetään perustasona puheen tuottamaa päästöä. Hengitysperäisten aerosolihiukkasten käyttäytyminen on sama riippumatta siitä kantavatko ne viruksia vai eivät.

^#) Ilacqua et al. 2007  Tässä esimerkissä käytetään perustasona Helsingin asuntokannan iF_i jakauman mediaaniarvoa, (50%) lisäksi sen korkeaa, 5%, ja matalaa, 95%, arvoa.

Taulukkoon 1 olen laskenut yhtälöä (1) käyttäen isännän altistumisen kolmen vieraan uloshengittämille aerosolihiukkasille 13 eri skenaariossa, joista jokaisessa samat ihmiset ovat samassa huonetilassa yhden tunnin ajan [= altistuminen viruksille, jos vieraista yksi tai useampi on infektoitunut ja tartuttavassa vaiheessa].

 

 

Perusskenaariossa (0) ilmanvaihto/henkilö vastaa Helsingin asuntokannan [1996–7] mediaanitasoa eli 50. persentiiliä, maskeja ei käytetä ja ihmiset puhelevat normaalisti.  Altistumisskenaarioissa perusskenaarion (0) parametreistä muutetaan vain yhtä kerrallaan: ilmanvaihto vähennetään vastaamaan asuntokannan 5. persentiiliä (skenaario -1), ilmanvaihto lisätään 95. persentiilin tasolle [voidaan korvata kierrättämällä vastaava määrä sisäilmaa ilmanpuhdistimen kautta] (1), puhumista vältetään (2), isäntä käyttää kirurgimaskia (3), kaikki käyttävät kirurginmaskeja (4), isäntä käyttää FFP2/N95 hengityssuojainta (5), kaikki käyttävät FFP2/N95 hengityssuojaimia (6).  Viisi viimeistä skenaariota yhdistelevät kahta tai kolmea parametriä.

Laskentatulokset osoittavat, että ilmanvaihdon/ilmanpuhdistuksen, puhumisen/hiljaisuuden ja maskien/hengityssuojaimien käytön vaikutus hengitysaerosolialtistumiseen voi olla valtava – altistumisen ero ääripäiden välillä on 10 000 kertainen!  Asuntojen parasta tasoa oleva ilmanvaihto vähentää altistumista huonoimpaan tasoon verrattuna 95%, hiljaisuus puhumiseen verrattuna 93%, kirurginmaskin tai FFP2/N95 hengityssuojaimen käyttö vastaavasti 66% tai 83%.  Jos kaikki käyttävät maskeja, suojausteho COVID-19 tartuntaa vastaan kertautuu, kirurginmaskien osalta 88%:iin, FFP2/N95 hengityssuojainten osalta 97%:iin.  Yhdistelemällä ilmanvaihdon/suodatuksen tehostamista, maskeja tai hengityssuojaimia on mahdollista alentaa tartuntariskiä perusskenaariosta yli 99%.

Silti mm. THL on toistuvasti esittänyt ihmisten välisten kontaktien vähentämisen olevan – rokotusten lisäksi – jokseenkin ainoa COVID-19 tartuntojen rajoittamiskeino.  Tiedot ilmahygienian ja henkilökohtaisten suojainten tehokkuudesta COVID-19 tartuntojen rajoittamisessa perustuvat erittäin laajaan pandemian aikana kertyneeseen ja  julkaistuun kansainväliseseen kenttätutkimusaineistoon.  Näiden keinojen yhdisteleminen tarjoaa parhaimmillaan useita vaihtoehtoja yli 95% suojausvaikutuksen saavuttamiseen, eikä tämä edellytä ihmisten välisten kontaktien rajoittamista tai esim. kulttuuritilaisuuksien kieltämistä.

Suosittelen ja kehoitan jokaista suojaamaan itseään yjksilöllisesti käyttämällä FFP2/3 hengityssuojainta kaikissa julkisissa sisätiloissa, julkisissa kulkuneuvoissa ja väentungoksessa myös ulkona.  Ei yksilö, ei edes suuri joukko yksilöitä kykene kuitenkaan torjumaan itse pandemiaa.  Siihen kykenee vain koko väestö yhdessä.  Vasta julkisten tilojen, koulujen yms.  yleisellä ilmanvaihdon ja ilmanpuhdistuksen tehostamisella ja sillä, että kaikki läsnä olevat käyttävät FFP2/3 hengityssuojaimia on mahdollista painaa viruksen tarttuvuus alle R=1, ja siten myös tukahduttaa COVID-19 leviäminen.  Näin on mm. useiden COVID-19 sairaalaepidemioiden kohdalla paikallisesti myös tehty ja onnistuttu, esim. Kanta Hämeen Keskussairaalassa (Hetemäki et al. 2021) ja Addenbrookin sairaalassa Cambridgessä (Guardian 26.6.2021).

 

Keskeiset viestit

”Jokainen tilanne, jossa ihmiset ovat pitkän ajan toisiaan lähellä kasvattaa tartuntojen riskiä.  Sisätiloissa, erityisesti ilmanvaihdon ollessa riittämätön, riski on monin verroin korkeampi kuin ulkotiloissa.  Aktiviteetit, joiden aikana hengitysperäisten aerosolihiukkasten tuotto on suurta, kuten laulettaessa, hengitettäessä raskaasti kuntoharjoituksissa, lisäävät myös tartuttamisen riskiä”. (WHO 2021)

Jokaisella toimenpiteellä, joka vähentää hengitysperäisten hiukkasten vapautumista [sisä]ilmaan, vähentää niiden pitoisuutta tai poistaa niitä sisäilmasta, tai estää niiden joutumista ihmisten hengityselimiin on merkitystä tartuntojen vähentämisessä.  Yhdistämällä näitä toimenpiteitä niiden vaikutus kertautuu. (kts. Sveitsinjuustomalli, Pueyo 2020)

Viruksen tartuttamista voidaan vähentää perustilanteesta 90–99% käyttämällä ilmahygienian ja henkilökohtaisen suojautumisen keinoja jotka eivät estä ihmisten kokoontumisia ja kontakteja.  Konsertteja, elokuva- ja teatterinäytöksiä on mahdollista järjestää turvallisesti.  Loistavan esimerkin tarjosi Wienin Filharmonikkojen perinteinen, kaikkialle maailmaan välitetty Uuden Vuoden konsertti 1.1.2022.  Konserttisaliin otettiin yleisöä 50% maksimikapasiteetista, ja sisälle pääsi vai rokotettuna, tuoreen PCR testin kanssa.  FFP2 hengityssuojainta oli käytettävä koko Wiener Musikverein rakennuksessa olemisen ajan (Wiener Philharmoniker 2022).

Kaikista käytännöllisistä, yleisesti saatavilla olevista, halvoista ja yksilöllisistä ei-lääketieteellisistä suojautumiskeinoista FFP2/N95 hengityssuojain on ylivoimaisesti tehokkain.  Sellaista tavallisesti käyttävien COVID-19 tartuntariski on 83% maskittomia pienempi. Kun FFP2/N95 on sovitettu kasvoille tiiviisti, se antaa 97% suojan ja jos kaikki läsnäolijat käyttävät sellaista – kuten Wienin Uuden Vuoden konsertissa – suoja on yli 99%.

Vol 7 korvaa täysin Vol 6:n Linkit, joiden täydentäminen alkoi 7.2.2021. Uusimmat linkit ovat ylimpänä. Tämä nopeuttaa kiinnostavimpien, usein uusimpien linkkien löytämistä. Jatkuvasti päivittyvät löytyvät edelleen alimpana.

Disclaimer: Tästä ja edellisistä viidestä linkkikokoelmasta löytyvät artikkelit eivät muodosta täydellistä, edustavaa, suositeltua eikä luotettavaksi varmennettua koostetta eri medioissa julkaistuista SARS-CoV-2 virukseen, Covid-19 sairauteen, sen hoitoon tai estämiseen liittyvistä artikkeleista.

---

 

How do clinicians use post-COVID syndrome diagnosis? Analysis of clinical features in a Swedish COVID-19 cohort with 18 months’ follow-up: a national observational cohort and matched cohort study (Hanna M Ollila. Mechanical ventilation correlated with PCS (OR 114.7, 95% CI 105.1 to 125.3) compared with no outpatient/inpatient contact during initial COVID-19. Dyspnoea (13.4%), malaise/fatigue (8%) and abnormal pulmonary diagnostic imaging findings (4.3%) were the most common features linked to PCS. We compared clinical features of PCS with matched controls (COVID-19 negative, n=23 795) and COVID-19 severity-matched patients (COVID-19 positive, n=25 556). Hypertension associated with PCS cohort (26.61%) than in COVID-19-negative (OR 17.16, 95% CI 15.23 to 19.3) and COVID-19-positive (OR 9.25, 95% CI 8.41 to 10.16) controls, although most individuals received this diagnosis before COVID-19. Dyspnoea was the second most common feature in the PCS cohort (17.2%), and new to the majority compared with COVID-19-negative (OR 54.16, 95% CI 42.86 to 68.45) and COVID-19-positive (OR 18.7, 95% CI 16.21 to 21.57) controls.). BMJ Public Health. 26.3.2024. https://bmjpublichealth.bmj.com/content/2/1/e000336

March 21-31

HELIXNANO’S SUBSIDIARY, HELIXNANO AUSTRALIA, RECEIVES HREC APPROVAL TO INITIATE A PHASE 1 CLINICAL TRIAL (Hannu Rajaniemi. First participants anticipated to be dosed with HN-0001, a next-generation COVID19 mRNA vaccine candidate, in April 2024) EinPressWire 20.3.2024. https://www.einpresswire.com/article/697341469/helixnano-s-subsidiary-helixnano-australia-receives-hrec-approval-to-initiate-a-phase-1-clinical-trial

Väitöksen yllätyslöytö: Koronan aikana tehohoidon määrä väheni osassa sairaaloita, vaikka toisin uskottiin. (2020-2021 Vain 3% kaikista tehohoidossa hoidetuista potilaista oli tehohoidossa koronaviruksen takia, kertoo tuore väitöstutkimus. Lisäksi muiden potilaiden määrä väheni.) YLE-Uutiset. 20.3.2024. https://yle.fi/a/74-20080000

COVID’s toll on the brain: new clues emerge. A leaky blood–brain barrier and inflammation might account for some of the cognitive symptoms of COVID-19 (Using these criteria, ML methods have demonstrated the ability to improve the prediction of mortality risk and diagnosis of COVID-19, forecast near-future infection rates, and identify symptoms of long COVID.4 Outside of the COVID-19 pandemic, sequence-guided approaches have been developed successfully in the prediction of pathogen immune system escape patterns for HIV-1 and influenza.).  nature. 20.3.2024. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00828-9

The Role of AI in Pathogen Detection and Epidemic Prediction (). News Medical. 18.3.2024. https://www.news-medical.net/health/The-Role-of-AI-in-Pathogen-Detection-and-Epidemic-Prediction.aspx

Why should we care about a virus with a ”99.8% survival rate”? (1. Virus can get into and damage almost every part of the body / 2. Long term impact or disability even from mild infection (children & adults) / 3. Increased risks of cardiovascular, cancer, diabetes and other disease after infection / 4. Repeat infections can cause cumulative damage (38% with Long COVID after 3 infections) / 5. Healthcare cost increases / 6. Healthcare system overwhelmed and understaffed / 7. No approved treatments for long-term damage / 8. Impact on business from people exiting workforce due to long-term illness / 9. Economy impacted by not enough healthy people to work / 10. Real world examples of people after COVID / 11. 3rd leading cause of death in Canada and Australia despite most people surviving / 12. What can we do now?). Jeff Gilchrist. 17.3.2024. https://tinyurl.com/COVIDrealImpact

Long covidiin sairastuneet on jätetty heitteille. (Sairastuneiden jääminen yksin on Suomessa hiljaisesti hyväksytty. / Yleisesti vain kerrotaan, että suurin osa toipuu covid-19-virusinfektiosta ja sen pitkittyneistä oireista. Tällainen tapa kertoa koronasta ohittaa joka kerta ne sairastuneet, jotka edelleen kärsivät covid-19-virusinfektion pitkittyneistä oireista. / Oman kokemukseni mukaan Suomessa on long covidiin sairastuneita, jotka eivät ole toipuneet entiselleen. Terveyden- ja hyvinvoinnin laitoksen mukaan Suomessa lähes 43 000 ihmistä on jo saanut long covid -diagnoosin.) Satakunnan Kansa. 17.3.2024. https://www.satakunnankansa.fi/lukijalta/art-2000010295392.html

 

 

 

Mystery in Japan as dangerous streptococcal infections soar to record levels (Health officials racing to identify cause of rise in streptococcal toxic shock syndrome, which has a 30% fatality rate). Guardian. 15.3.2024. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/15/japan-streptococcal-infections-rise-details?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Laaja tutkimus: Koronapandemian kaksi ensimmäistä vuotta laskivat elinajanodotetta enemmän kuin on luultu. (COVID-19-pandemian ensimmäiset kaksi vuotta laskivat ihmiskunnan elinajanodotetta vuodella ja kuudella kuukaudella, kertoo Lancet-lehdessä julkaistu laaja tutkimus. Pudotus oli suurempi kuin tähän saakka on luultu. / – COVID-19:lla on ollut maailman aikuisväestön elinikään isompi vaikutus kuin millään muulla tapahtumalla puoleen vuosisataan, sanoo yhdysvaltalaisen IHME-instituutin tutkimusta johtanut apulaisprofessori Austin Schumacher. / Koronapandemia tappoi vuosina 2020–2021 lähes 16 miljoonaa ihmistä. Pandemia ei pyyhkinyt pois vuosikymmenien hyvää kehitystä elinajan maailmanlaajuisessa kokonaisodotteessa mutta aiheutti kasvuun notkahduksen. / Miesten kuolleisuus kasvoi 22 prosenttia, naisten 17 prosenttia. Luvut koskevat yli 15-vuotiaita. Iäkkäimmillä ihmisillä maailmanlaajuinen kuolleisuus nousi enemmän kuin 70 vuoteen, kertoo tutkimus, jossa on mukana myös aiemmin aliraportoituja alueita. / Elinajanodote putosi 84 prosentissa maailman valtioista. Se tarkoitti globaalisti, että vuonna 2021 syntyneelle lapsella on odotettavissa 71,7:n elinvuotta.). YLE. 14.3.2024. https://yle.fi/a/74-20079095

Global age-sex-specific mortality, life expectancy, and population estimates in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, 1950–2021, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: a comprehensive demographic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 (Global all-cause mortality followed two distinct patterns over the study period: age-standardised mortality rates declined between 1950 and 2019 (a 62·8% [95% UI 60·5–65·1] decline), and increased during the COVID-19 pandemic period (2020–21; 5·1% [0·9–9·6] increase). In contrast with the overall reverse in mortality trends during the pandemic period, child mortality continued to decline, with 4·66 million (3·98–5·50) global deaths in children younger than 5 years in 2021 compared with 5·21 million (4·50–6·01) in 2019. An estimated 131 million (126–137) people died globally from all causes in 2020 and 2021 combined, of which 15·9 million (14·7–17·2) were due to the COVID-19 pandemic (measured by excess mortality, which includes deaths directly due to SARS-CoV-2 infection and those indirectly due to other social, economic, or behavioural changes associated with the pandemic). Excess mortality rates exceeded 150 deaths per 100 000 population during at least one year of the pandemic in 80 countries and territories, whereas 20 nations had a negative excess mortality rate in 2020 or 2021, indicating that all-cause mortality in these countries was lower during the pandemic than expected based on historical trends. Between 1950 and 2021, global life expectancy at birth increased by 22·7 years (20·8–24·8), from 49·0 years (46·7–51·3) to 71·7 years (70·9–72·5). Global life expectancy at birth declined by 1·6 years (1·0–2·2) between 2019 and 2021, reversing historical trends. An increase in life expectancy was only observed in 32 (15·7%) of 204 countries and territories between 2019 and 2021. The global population reached 7·89 billion (7·67–8·13) people in 2021, by which time 56 of 204 countries and territories had peaked and subsequently populations have declined. The largest proportion of population growth between 2020 and 2021 was in sub-Saharan Africa (39·5% [28·4–52·7]) and south Asia (26·3% [9·0–44·7]). From 2000 to 2021, the ratio of the population aged 65 years and older to the population aged younger than 15 years increased in 188 (92·2%) of 204 nations.). Lancet. 11.3.2024. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(24)00476-8/fulltext

March 11-20

The association between prolonged SARS-CoV-2 symptoms and work outcomes (At three months post-infection, 40.8% of participants reported at least one SARS-CoV-2 symptom and 9.6% of participants reported five or more SARS-CoV-2 symptoms. When asked about missed work due to their SARS-CoV-2 infection at three months, 7.1% of participants reported missing ≥10 workdays and 13.9% of participants reported not returning to work since their infection. At three months, participants with ≥5 symptoms had a higher adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of missing ≥10 workdays (2.96, 95% CI 1.81-4.83) and not returning to work (2.44, 95% CI 1.58-3.76) compared to those with no symptoms.). medRxiv. 10.3.2024. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.03.10.24304054v1

Current clinical findings of acute neurological syndromes after SARS-CoV-2 infection (In summary, this multicenter study has unveiled the presence of viral RNA and antigens in the CSF of individuals diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection and acute neurological syndrome. Notably, patients with viral RNA in their CSF displayed more pronounced symptoms of acute brain disease. Addressing COVID-19, both acute and post-acute neuropsychiatric consequences, particularly cognitive deficits colloquially referred to as “COVID fog,” are raising public concern. This includes issues with memory, attention, language fluency, and daily problem-solving persisting for months after infection. Brain fog is a complex phenomenon in clinical practice, involving both objective and subjective factors. A systematic review of 81 studies found that75 20–30% of individuals with COVID-19 experienced persistent cognitive impairment 12 or more weeks after diagnosis. While the cause remains unclear, whether related to hypoxia, inflammatory factors, or direct viral effects, it warrants further attention.76 In our study, RNACSF-positive patients demonstrated more acute encephalopathy manifestations, such as seizures and psychosis. These findings underscore the increasing invasion or affinity of SARS-CoV-2 for the CNS, emphasizing the need for clinicians to explore objective evidence across various dimensions for personalized treatment strategies.) Wiley Online Library. 9.3.2024. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/mco2.508

Official Statistics [UK]: National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports: 2023 to 2024 season (). Gov.UK. 7.3.2024, https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/national-flu-and-covid-19-surveillance-reports-2023-to-2024-season

Uusi tutkimus paljasti koronan ikävän vaikutuksen (https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2311330 Älykkyysosamäärässä näkyi selvä ero koronataudin sairastaneiden ja sairastamattomien välillä uudessa tutkimuksessa.) ilta=sanomat. 7.3.2024. https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000010274606.html

The Covid-19 pandemic killed off one strain of the flu, and that will change the next vaccines (…a panel of experts who advise the US Food and Drug Administration on vaccines voted unanimously to recommend three-strain flu vaccines that will exclude any viruses from B strains that are part of branch of the flu’s family tree called Yamagata. / Yamagata viruses were in decline before the pandemic, and all the precautions that helped people avoid Covid-19 – including masking, staying at home and better ventilation – appear to have finished them off. They haven’t been detected in testing since March 2020.) CNN Health. 5.3.2024. https://edition.cnn.com/2024/03/05/health/flu-vaccine-yamagata-strains/index.html

Adaptive immune responses are larger and functionally preserved in a hypervaccinated individual (a 62-year-old male hypervaccinated individual from Magdeburg, Germany (HIM), who deliberately and for private reasons received 217 vaccinations against SARS-CoV-2 within a period of 29 months (figure A; appendix 1 tab 1). HIM’s hypervaccination occurred outside of a clinical study context and against national vaccination recommendations. Evidence for 130 vaccinations in a 9 month period was collected by the public prosecutor of Magdeburg, Germany, who opened an investigation of this case with the allegation of fraud, but criminal charges were not filed. 108 vaccinations are individually recorded and partly overlap with the total of 130 prosecutor-confirmed vaccinations (appendix 2 p 12)…. From November 2019, to October 2023, 62 routine clinical chemistry parameters showed no abnormalities attributable to hypervaccination (appendix 1 tab 2). Furthermore, HIM had no signs of a past SARS-CoV-2 infection, as indicated by repeatedly negative SARS-CoV-2 antigen tests, PCRs and nucleocapsid serology) Lancet Infectious Diseases. 4.3.2024. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(24)00134-8/fulltext

REPORT: COVID-19 Vaccination Insights Report (A standard analytic report produced of key COVID-19 vaccine implementation data, including uptake, supply received, and delivery financing across WHO Member States and the COVAX AMC portfolio. This report covers from January 2021 through the end of December 2023.) 4.3.2024. WHO. https://www.technet-21.org/en/resources/report/covid-19-vaccination-insights-report-04-march-2024

CDC Drops 5-Day Isolation Guidance for COVID-19 As Pandemic Threat Wanes
‘We’re in a new place and that’s fantastic,’ says CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen, noting that the COVID-19 threat has fallen significantly (This unified approach recommends that people with symptoms of COVID-19 (and other respiratory viruses) should stay home and away from others until at least 24 hours after their fever has resolved and their overall symptoms are getting better.). Epoch Health 1.3.2024. https://www.theepochtimes.com/health/cdc-drops-5-day-isolation-requirement-for-covid-19-as-pandemic-threat-wanes-5598553

March 1-10

Sex differences in symptomatology and immune profiles of Long COVID (Males with LC had decreased frequencies of monocyte and DC populations, elevated NK cells, and plasma cytokines including IL-8 and TGF-β-family members. Females with LC had increased frequencies of exhausted T cells, cytokine-secreting T cells, higher antibody reactivity to latent herpes viruses including EBV, HSV-2, and CMV, and lower testosterone levels than their control female counterparts. Testosterone levels were significantly associated with lower symptom burden in LC participants over sex designation.). medRxiv. 29.2.2024. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.02.29.24303568v1

Prospective Memory Assessment before and after Covid-19 (The adjusted mean EMQ scores were numerically higher (indicating worse memory problems) after a positive test than after a negative test at all time points (at 0 to 1 month after a test, 0.66 vs. 0.60; at >1 to 3 months, 0.74 vs. 0.62; at >3 to 6 months, 0.72 vs. 0.62; at >6 to 9 months, 0.71 vs. 0.62; at >9 to 12 months, 0.75 vs. 0.63; at >12 to 18 months, 0.82 vs. 0.62; and at >18 to 36 months, 0.82 vs. 0.62) / In contrast, scores in the two groups were essentially the same before SARS-CoV-2 testing, with a mean score at more than 1 month before testing of 0.61 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.60 to 0.62) among participants who tested positive and 0.60 (95% CI, 0.58 to 0.62) among those who tested negative. In the context of a score range of 0 to 4, the scores at all time points were toward the milder end of severity of memory issues.) New England Journal of Medicine. 29.2.2024. https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMc2311200

Long Covid and Impaired Cognition — More Evidence and More Work to Do (In a study published in this issue of the Journal, Hampshire et al.5 bring greater clarity to how SARS-CoV-2 infection may affect cognition. They studied 800,000 adults from a larger community sample of more than 3 million persons in the Real-Time Assessment of Community Transmission (REACT) study of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in England. Using an online assessment tool for cognitive function with eight domains, the investigators estimated global cognitive scores among participants who had been previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 and had had symptoms that persisted at least 12 weeks, whether resolved or not, and among uninfected participants.) New England Journal Of Medicine. 29.2.2024. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe2400189

Cognition and Memory after Covid-19 in a Large Community Sample (Of the 141,583 participants who started the online cognitive assessment, 112,964 completed it. In a multiple regression analysis, participants who had recovered from Covid-19 in whom symptoms had resolved in less than 4 weeks or at least 12 weeks had similar small deficits in global cognition as compared with those in the no–Covid-19 group, who had not been infected with SARS-CoV-2 or had unconfirmed infection (−0.23 SD [95% confidence interval {CI}, −0.33 to −0.13] and −0.24 SD [95% CI, −0.36 to −0.12], respectively); larger deficits as compared with the no–Covid-19 group were seen in participants with unresolved persistent symptoms (−0.42 SD; 95% CI, −0.53 to −0.31). Larger deficits were seen in participants who had SARS-CoV-2 infection during periods in which the original virus or the B.1.1.7 variant was predominant than in those infected with later variants (e.g., −0.17 SD for the B.1.1.7 variant vs. the B.1.1.529 variant; 95% CI, −0.20 to −0.13) and in participants who had been hospitalized than in those who had not been hospitalized (e.g., intensive care unit admission, −0.35 SD; 95% CI, −0.49 to −0.20). Results of the analyses were similar to those of propensity-score–matching analyses. In a comparison of the group that had unresolved persistent symptoms with the no–Covid-19 group, memory, reasoning, and executive function tasks were associated with the largest deficits (−0.33 to −0.20 SD); these tasks correlated weakly with recent symptoms, including poor memory and brain fog. No adverse events were reported.). New England Journal of Medicine. 29.2.2024. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2311330

Long Covid May Lead to Measurable Cognitive Decline, Study Finds. (People with long Covid symptoms scored slightly lower on a cognitive test than people who had recovered. But long Covid patients who eventually got better scored as well as those whose symptoms did not last long.) New York Times 28.2.2024. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/28/health/long-covid-cognitive-effects.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

Mounting research shows that COVID-19 leaves its mark on the brain, including with significant drops in IQ scores (Large epidemiological analyses showed that people who had COVID-19 were at an increased risk of cognitive deficits, such as memory problems. / Imaging studies done in people before and after their COVID-19 infections show shrinkage of brain volume and altered brain structure after infection. / A study of people with mild to moderate COVID-19 showed significant prolonged inflammation of the brain and changes that are commensurate with seven years of brain aging. / Severe COVID-19 that requires hospitalization or intensive care may result in cognitive deficits and other brain damage that are equivalent to 20 years of aging. / Laboratory experiments in human and mouse brain organoids designed to emulate changes in the human brain showed that SARS-CoV-2 infection triggers the fusion of brain cells. This effectively short-circuits brain electrical activity and compromises function. / Autopsy studies of people who had severe COVID-19 but died months later from other causes showed that the virus was still present in brain tissue. This provides evidence that contrary to its name, SARS-CoV-2 is not only a respiratory virus, but it can also enter the brain in some individuals. But whether the persistence of the virus in brain tissue is driving some of the brain problems seen in people who have had COVID-19 is not yet clear. / Studies show that even when the virus is mild and exclusively confined to the lungs, it can still provoke inflammation in the brain and impair brain cells’ ability to regenerate. / COVID-19 can also disrupt the blood brain barrier, the shield that protects the nervous system – which is the control and command center of our bodies – making it “leaky.” Studies using imaging to assess the brains of people hospitalized with COVID-19 showed disrupted or leaky blood brain barriers in those who experienced brain fog. / A large preliminary analysis pooling together data from 11 studies encompassing almost 1 million people with COVID-19 and more than 6 million uninfected individuals showed that COVID-19 increased the risk of development of new-onset dementia in people older than 60 years of age. ) The Conversation. 28.2.2024. https://theconversation.com/mounting-research-shows-that-covid-19-leaves-its-mark-on-the-brain-including-with-significant-drops-in-iq-scores-224216

Neuroimaging findings in children with COVID-19 infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis (The pooled proportion of pediatric COVID-19 patients with neurological symptoms and exhibiting abnormal neuroimaging findings was 43.74%. These findings were further categorized into neurovascular findings (8.22%), ADEM-like lesions (7.69%), encephalitic pattern (13.95%), myelitis (4.60%), transient splenial lesions (16.26%), and other abnormalities (12.03%). Insignificant between-study heterogeneity was observed in all categories, and our analysis did not reveal significant publication bias. In conclusion, a substantial proportion of pediatric COVID-19 patients with neurological symptoms have abnormal neuroimaging findings, underscoring the need for vigilant monitoring of neurological complications in this vulnerable population.) Scientific Reports. 27.2.2024. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-55597-2

The medical gaslighting of long COVID patients could be nearing its end (Presiding last month at a hearing of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), addressed the many issues faced by patients suffering from long COVID, an often debilitating condition that can persist for months or years following a SARS-CoV-2 infection.) The Hill. 26.2.2024.  https://thehill.com/opinion/healthcare/4488127-the-medical-gaslighting-of-long-covid-patients-could-be-nearing-its-end/

Persistence in risk and effect of COVID-19 vaccination on long-term health consequences after SARS-CoV-2 infection (The persisting risk of long-term health consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the protection against such risk conferred by COVID-19 vaccination remains unclear. Here we conducted a retrospective territory-wide cohort study on 1,175,277 patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection stratified by their vaccination status and non-infected controls to evaluate the risk of clinical sequelae, cardiovascular and all-cause mortality using a territory-wide public healthcare database with population-based vaccination records in Hong Kong. A progressive reduction in risk of all-cause mortality was observed over one year between patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection and controls. Patients with complete vaccination or have received booster dose incurred a lower risk of health consequences including major cardiovascular diseases, and all-cause mortality than unvaccinated or patients with incomplete vaccination 30-90 days after infection. Completely vaccinated and patients with booster dose of vaccines did not incur significant higher risk of health consequences from 271 and 91 days of infection onwards, respectively, whilst un-vaccinated and incompletely vaccinated patients continued to incur a greater risk of clinical sequelae for up to a year following SARS-CoV-2 infection. This study provided real-world evidence supporting the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in reducing the risk of long-term health consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection and its persistence following infection.) Nature Communications. 26.2.2024. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-45953-1

Early COVID-19 research is riddled with poor methods and low-quality results − a problem for science the pandemic worsened but didn’t create (However, in my review of 74 COVID-19 papers published in 2020 in the top 15 generalist public health journals listed in Google Scholar, I found that many of these studies used poor quality methods. Several other reviews of studies published in medical journals have also shown that much early COVID-19 research used poor research methods. / Some of these papers have been cited many times. For example, the most highly cited public health publication listed on Google Scholar used data from a sample of 1,120 people, primarily well-educated young women, mostly recruited from social media over three days. Findings based on a small, self-selected convenience sample cannot be generalized to a broader population. And since the researchers ran more than 500 analyses of the data, many of the statistically significant results are likely chance occurrences. However, this study has been cited over 11,000 times.). The Conversation. 23.2.2024. https://theconversation.com/early-covid-19-research-is-riddled-with-poor-methods-and-low-quality-results-a-problem-for-science-the-pandemic-worsened-but-didnt-create-220635

Potential immune evasion of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 Omicron variants (Compared to those of other mutants, the Omicron variant has the most highly expressed amino acid mutations, with almost 60 mutations throughout the genome, most of which are in the spike (S) protein, especially in the receptor-binding domain (RBD). These mutations increase the binding affinity of Omicron variants for the ACE2 receptor, and Omicron variants may also lead to immune escape.). Frontiers Immunology. 23.2.2024. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1339660/full

Solving the puzzle of Long Covid (Long Covid provides an opportunity to understand how acute infections cause chronic disease. Ziyad Al-Aly, Eric Topol. … use of the antiviral ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir within 5 days of symptom onset of SARS-CoV-2 infection may reduce the risk of Long Covid by 26% (6). Molnupiravir—with known mutagenic effects on SARS-CoV-2 and putative mutagenic potential in human cells—has also been shown to reduce the risk of Long Covid. However, the studies on ritonavir-nirmatrelvir and molnupiravir were limited to those who presently qualify for antivirals, including older adults or those with risk factors for the progression to severe COVID-19, and the mutagenic potential of molnupiravir is concerning because mutations of SARS-CoV-2 may spawn new variants and mutations in humans may lead to cancer or other diseases. Another SARSCoV-2 antiviral, ensitrelvir, has been shown to reduce the risk of Long Covid in preliminary analyses. Additionally, the diabetes drug metformin initiated within 7 days of SARSCoV-2 infection reduced the risk of Long Covid by 41% in a RCT (7)..). Science. 22.2.2024. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adl0867

Blood–brain barrier disruption and sustained systemic inflammation in individuals with long COVID-associated cognitive impairment (Transcriptomic analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells revealed dysregulation of the coagulation system and a dampened adaptive immune response in individuals with brain fog. Accordingly, peripheral blood mononuclear cells showed increased adhesion to human brain endothelial cells in vitro, while exposure of brain endothelial cells to serum from patients with long COVID induced expression of inflammatory markers. Together, our data suggest that sustained systemic inflammation and persistent localized BBB dysfunction is a key feature of long COVID-associated brain fog.) nature neuroscience. 22.2.2024. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-024-01576-9

Prevalence of persistent SARS-CoV-2 in a large community surveillance study (…using viral sequence data collected as part of a national infection survey, we identified 381 individuals with SARS-CoV-2 RNA at high titre persisting for at least 30 days, of which 54 had viral RNA persisting at least 60 days. We refer to these as ‘persistent infections’ as available evidence suggests that they represent ongoing viral replication, although the persistence of non-replicating RNA cannot be ruled out in all. Individuals with persistent infection had more than 50% higher odds of self-reporting long COVID than individuals with non-persistent infection. We estimate that 0.1–0.5% of infections may become persistent with typically rebounding high viral loads and last for at least 60 days.). Nature. 21.2.2024. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07029-4

 

February 21-29

When and Why to Wear a Mask. The Benefits of Masking and Tips for Choosing the Right Mask (Respirators, such as N95s, KN95s, or KF94s, [European standards: FFP2 and FFP3] are the best type of masks. They offer more protection because they generally have better fit and filtration. Other masks such as surgical masks and cloth face coverings, tend to be looser and not as protective as respirator masks. N95, KF94 and KN95 respirators can be purchased at drugstores, hardware supply stores, and online. ). California Department of Public Health. 20.2.2024. https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Respiratory-Viruses/When-and-Why-to-Wear-a-Mask.aspx

Cognitive impairment after recovery from COVID-19: Frequency, profile, and relationships with clinical and laboratory indices ( Brain. More than one third of the screened subjects presented a CI (COG+); it was associated to age, education, male gender, COVID-19 severity, and presence of anosmia, dyspnea at rest and exertional dyspnea during the acute phase. COG+ subjects showed a higher severity of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic distress, and worse global functioning, than subjects without CI. The MCCB showed that 45% of the subjects had a CI involving attention, working memory, verbal learning, visual learning, and reasoning and problem solving. Finally, neurocognitive functioning was inversely correlated with LDH blood levels, a potential biomarker of disease severity.) European Neuropsychopharmacology. Feb 2024. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0924977X23007071

Associations Between Cardiac Function and Brain Health in Diverse Middle-Aged Adults: The Dallas Heart Study-2 (LV [left ventricular] ejection fraction was associated with total Montreal Cognitive Assessment score (β = 0.06 [95% CI: 0.003-0.12], P = 0.042) and LV Ecc was associated with WMH [white matter hyperintensities] volume (β = 0.08 [95% CI: 0.01-0.14], P = 0.025) in the overall cohort without significant interaction by race/ethnicity. Higher LV mass and concentricity were associated with larger WMH volume in the overall cohort (β = 0.13 [95% CI: 0.03-0.23], P = 0.008 and 0.10 [95% CI: 0.03-0.17], P = 0.005). These associations were more predominant in Black than White participants (β = 0.17 [95% CI: 0.04-0.30] vs β = −0.009 [95% CI: −0.16 to 0.14], P = 0.036 and β = 0.22 [95% CI: 0.13-0.32] vs β = −0.11 [95% CI: −0.21 to −0.01], P < 0.0001, for LV mass and concentricity, respectively). Subclinical cardiac dysfunction indicated by LVEF was associated with lower cognitive function. Moreover, LV mass and concentric remodeling were associated with higher WMH burden, particularly among Black individuals.) JACC: Advances. Feb 2024. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772963X23008086

Why Americans Suddenly Stopped Hanging Out. Too much aloneness is creating a crisis of social fitness (In its earliest decades, the United States was celebrated for its citizens’ extroversion. Americans weren’t just setting out to build new churches and new cities. Their associations were, as Alexis de Tocqueville wrote, “of a thousand different types … religious, moral, serious, futile, very general and very limited, immensely large and very minute.” Americans seemed adept at forming social groups: political associations, labor unions, local memberships. It was as if the continent itself had imbued its residents with a vibrant social metabolism—a verve for getting out and hanging out. “Nothing, in my view,” de Tocqueville wrote, “deserves more attention than the intellectual and moral associations in America.”). Atlantic. 14.2.2024. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/02/america-decline-hanging-out/677451/

How Risky Are Repeat COVID Infections? What We Know So Far. (Ziyad Al-Aly: Four years into the pandemic, many people have had COVID more than once—but the health consequences of repeat infections are not yet clear. What we do know is that COVID is here to stay—and that catching it doesn’t give people permanent immunity. Four years into the pandemic, researchers and clinicians know that people are racking up multiple infections, but the long-term consequences of repeatedly getting the virus aren’t yet clear. Fortunately, both individuals and governments have strategies to avoid some infections—if they use them.) Scientific American. 13.2.2024. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-risky-are-repeat-covid-infections-what-we-know-so-far/

COVID-19 vaccines and adverse events of special interest: A multinational Global Vaccine Data Network (GVDN) cohort study of 99 million vaccinated individuals (Participants included 99,068,901 vaccinated individuals. In total, 183,559,462 doses of BNT162b2, 36,178,442 doses of mRNA-1273, and 23,093,399 doses of ChAdOx1 were administered across participating sites in the study period. Risk periods following homologous vaccination schedules contributed 23,168,335 person-years of follow-up. OE ratios with LBCI > 1.5 were observed for Guillain-Barré syndrome (2.49, 95 % CI: 2.15, 2.87) and cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (3.23, 95 % CI: 2.51, 4.09) following the first dose of ChAdOx1 vaccine. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis showed an OE ratio of 3.78 (95 % CI: 1.52, 7.78) following the first dose of mRNA-1273 vaccine. The OE ratios for myocarditis and pericarditis following BNT162b2, mRNA-1273, and ChAdOx1 were significantly increased with LBCIs > 1.5.). Vaccine. 12.2.2024. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X24001270

February 11-20

Population on 1 January by age and sex./ Deaths by week, sex and 5-year age groupEurostat./Deaths by week – special data collection (demomwk), Reference Metadata in Euro SDMX Metadata Structure./  Persons reporting basic activity difficulty by sex, age, level of difficulty, type of basic action and risk of poverty threshold. Eurostat Data 8.2.2024. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/demo_pjan/default/table?lang=en / https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/demo_r_mwk_05/default/table?lang=en / https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/cache/metadata/en/demomwk_esms.htm https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/ilc_hch19__custom_9450041/bookmark/table?lang=en&bookmarkId=8cf0f0fa-c4ec-4fe5-9429-fb52d3129339

Persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection: significance and implications (SARS-CoV-2 causes persistent infections in a subset of individuals, which is a major clinical and public health problem that should be prioritised for further investigation for several reasons. First, persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection often goes unrecognised, and therefore might affect a substantial number of people, particularly immunocompromised individuals. Second, the formation of tissue reservoirs (including in non-respiratory tissues) might underlie the pathophysiology of the persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection and require new strategies for diagnosis and treatment. Finally, persistent SARS-CoV-2 replication, particularly in the setting of suboptimal immune responses, is a possible source of new, divergent virus variants that escape pre-existing immunity on the individual and population levels. Defining optimal diagnostic and treatment strategies for patients with persistent virus replication and monitoring viral evolution are therefore urgent medical and public health priorities). Lancet Infectious Diseases. 7.2.2024. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(23)00815-0/fulltext

CDC hides replies referencing the Senate HELP Committee’s Long COVID Hearing
The public health body is purposely suppressing information about the severity and frequency of Long COVID, as well as information about high-quality masks. The Gauntlet. 5.2.2024. https://www.thegauntlet.news/p/cdc-hides-replies-referencing-the

Covid inquiry: Tears and tensions as Sturgeon takes the stand (The inquiry heard that 50% of the deaths in Scotland in the first wave of the pandemic happened in care homes. Giving evidence on 29 January, Jeane Freeman, the former Scottish health secretary, said, “I regret very much, and will do for the rest of my life, any deaths that occurred there because of action that the Scottish government didn’t take or did take but could have done better.”) BMJ. 2.2.2024. https://www.bmj.com/content/384/bmj.q289?=&utm_source=adestra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=usage&utm_content=daily&utm_term=text&utm_campaign=The%20BMJ%20curated%20daily%20email%20alert&utm_medium=email&utm_source=adestra

Now you’ll be able to pay for a Covid vaccine privately! Chemists will sell top-up jabs to anyone for £45 under major shake-up of roll-out scheme. (Unlike flu jabs, Covid jabs have only been offered to those eligible on the NHS Pharmadoctor aims to launch the service across the UK by April ’at the latest’) Mail online. 1.2.2024.  https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-13032965/Now-youll-able-pay-Covid-vaccine-privately-Chemists-sell-jabs-45-major-shake-roll-scheme.html

Cognitive dysfunction after covid-19 (Cognitive problems are common after acute SARS-CoV-2 infection and can be disabling and frightening / Symptoms tend to improve, but this may take up to a year. Those with chronically persistent symptoms lasting more than 12 months have a lower chance of improving / Symptoms usually fluctuate / Assessment should be directed to documenting the nature and trajectory of the impairment and excluding alternative diagnoses / Self-management techniques may help patients manage their condition) BMJ. 1.2.2024. https://www.bmj.com/content/384/bmj-2023-075387

February 1-10

Remote Instruction and Student Mental Health. Swedish Evidence from
the Pandemic (When COVID-19 reached Sweden, upper-secondary students (ages 17–19) transitioned to remote instruction, while lower-secondary schools (ages 14–16) remained open. We use this setting as a natural experiment to analyze how modes of instruction affect student mental health. We find a 4.4 percent decrease in mental healthcare use from remote instruction, primarily due to fewer diagnoses and prescriptions for depression and anxiety. The reduction persists throughout the study period; 21 months after the initial closure and 9 months after schools resumed usual operations. This suggests potential mental health benefits from remote instruction, at least in the medium term.). Associación Americana de Economia. 31.1.2024.https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/pol.20220699 / Online appendix  https://www.aeaweb.org/content/file?id=20099

”Zombie” viral fragments trigger inflammation to cause serious COVID-19 outcomes
Download PDF Copy (PNAS, autoimmune,  In a study published today in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a UCLA-led multidisciplinary research team explores one way that COVID-19 turns the immune system -; which is crucial for keeping people alive -; against the body itself, with potentially deadly results.) News Medical. 30.1.2023. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20240130/Zombie-viral-fragments-trigger-inflammation-to-cause-serious-COVID-19-outcomes.aspx

The Strength of Evidence for a Lab Origin.  Probable cause, preponderance of evidence, and beyond reasonable doubt. (Alex Wahburne: I had previously made the case that the totality of circumstances surrounding SARS-CoV-2 origins is sufficient for probable cause to believe the virus originated in a lab. In addition to the circumstances surrounding the origin of SARS-CoV-2, the evidence we lack for a zoonotic origin makes our case even stronger.). Biosafety Now, 28.1.2024. https://biosafetynow.org/the-strength-of-evidence-for-a-lab-origin/

Risk för flera år av ”hjärndimma” efter mild covid. (Sverige: Att smittas av covid kan orsaka flera år av hjärndimma, koncentrationssvårigheter och trötthet även om man bara fått förkylningssymptom, det visar ny forskning från Danderyds sjukhus – Våra patienter som var med i den här studien har haft milda eller måttliga infektioner, många har haft en vanlig hosta eller som en förkylning, säger överläkaren Kristian Borg.). Göteborgs Posten. 27.1..2022. https://www.gp.se/nyheter/sverige/risk-for-flera-ar-av-hjarndimma-efter-mild-covid.f60cbaf7-0ec9-432f-8626-4311a9e2bddd

mRNA vaccine boosters and impaired immune system response in immune compromised individuals: a narrative review (Over the last 24 months, there has been growing evidence of a correlation between mRNA COVID-19 vaccine boosters and increased prevalence of COVID-19 infection and other pathologies. Recent works have added possible causation to correlation. mRNA vaccine boosters may impair immune system response in immune compromised individuals. Multiple doses of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines may result in much higher levels of IgG 4 antibodies, or also impaired activation of CD4 + and CD8 + T cells. The opportunity for mRNA vaccine boosters to impair the immune system response needs careful consideration, as this impacts the cost-to-benefit ratio of the boosters’ practice.) Clinical and Experimental Medicine. 27.1.2024. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10238-023-01264-1

Post-COVID Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome and Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia in the Pediatric Population (Inappropriate sinus tachycardia (IST)  and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) are under-recognized conditions in children. Clinical findings as well as diagnostics like 24-h ECG and heart rate variability are non-invasive tests to diagnose IST and POTS. If properly recognized, these conditions are treatable.). Curr Clin Micro Rpt 27.1.2024,   https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40588-024-00217-w

SARS-CoV-2 shedding and evolution in patients who were immunocompromised during the omicron period: a multicentre, prospective analysis (Participants had B-cell malignancy or anti-B-cell therapy (n=18), solid organ transplantation or haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT; n=59), AIDS (n=5), non-B-cell malignancy (n=23), and autoimmune or autoinflammatory conditions (n=45). 38 (25%) participants were real-time RT-PCR-positive and 12 (8%) were culture-positive 21 days or longer after initial SARS-CoV-2 detection or illness onset. Compared with the group with autoimmune or autoinflammatory conditions, patients with B-cell dysfunction (adjusted hazard ratio 0·32 [95% CI 0·15–0·64]), solid organ transplantation or HSCT (0·60 [0·38–0·94]), and AIDS (0·28 [0·08–1·00]) had longer duration of infection, defined as time to last positive real-time RT-PCR test. There was no significant difference in the non-B-cell malignancy group (0·58 [0·31–1·09]). Consensus de novo spike mutations were identified in five individuals who were real-time RT-PCR-positive longer than 56 days; 14 (61%) of 23 were in the receptor-binding domain). Lancet Microbe. 26.1.2024. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(23)00336-1/fulltext

Vaccination coverage in the EU/EEA during autumn 2023 campaigns () ECDC. 26.1.2024. https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/news-events/vaccination-coverage-eueea-during-autumn-2023-campaigns

Germany Was a Literal Sick Man Last Year. (Absences shaved 0.8 percentage point off growth, study says. Tally of illness among employees reached a record in 2023 ) Bloomberg. 26.1.2024. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-01-26/germany-is-sick-man-after-all-with-illness-crippling-economy

Koronavirus aiheutti suuren määrän ammattitauteja, varsinkin sote-alalla työskenteleville naisille () MediUutiset. 25.1.2024. https://www.mediuutiset.fi/uutiset/koronavirus-aiheutti-suuren-maaran-ammattitauteja-varsinkin-sote-alalla-tyoskenteleville-naisille/fef40def-16bd-4668-9122-c913e14b7347

Suomalaisia kuoli viime vuonna tuhansia enemmän kuin ennen korona-aikaa – pian suomalaiset elävät 80-vuotiaaksi harvemmin kuin EU-maissa (”Meillä on ääretön hoitovelka.”Yli 60 000 suomalaista kuoli viime vuonna, kertoo Tilastokeskus. Luku on vähemmän kuin vuotta aiemmin, mutta tuhansia enemmän kuin ennen korona-aikaa.) MTV Uutiset. 25.1.2024. https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/suomalaisia-kuoli-viime-vuonna-tuhansia-enemman-kuin-ennen-korona-aikaa-pian-suomalaiset-elavat-80-vuotiaaksi-harvemmin-kuin-eu-maissa/8864564#gs.4zjyyo

Long COVID is associated with severe cognitive slowing: a multicentre cross-sectional study (We identified pronounced cognitive slowing in patients with PCC, which distinguished them from age-matched healthy individuals who previously had symptomatic COVID-19 but did not manifest PCC. Cognitive slowing was evident even on a 30-s task measuring simple reaction time (SRT), with patients with PCC responding to stimuli ∼3 standard deviations slower than healthy controls. 53.5% of patients with PCC’s response speed was slower than 2 standard deviations from the control mean, indicating a high prevalence of cognitive slowing in PCC. This finding was replicated across two clinic samples in Germany and the UK. Comorbidities such as fatigue, depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and post-traumatic stress disorder did not account for the extent of cognitive slowing in patients with PCC. Furthermore, cognitive slowing on the SRT was highly correlated with the poor performance of patients with PCC on the NVT measure of sustained attention.). eClinicalMedicine. 25.1.2024. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(24)00013-0/fulltext

Lung Function Trajectories in Mild COVID-19 With 2-year Follow-up (52 individuals (48.6%) attended the 2-year examination at median 1.9 years (interquartile range, 1.8–2.4) after COVID-19, all with mild infection. Individuals with COVID-19 had an adjusted excess decline in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) of 13.0 mL per year (95% confidence interval [CI], −23.5 to −2.5; P = .02) from before infection to 6 months after infection compared to uninfected controls. From 6 to 24 months after infection, they had an excess decline of 7.5 mL per year (95% CI, −25.6–9.6; P = .40). A similar pattern was observed for forced vital capacity (FVC). Participants had a mean increase in diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLco) of 3.33 (SD 7.97) between the 6- and 24-month examination). J Infect Dis IDSA. 25.1.2024. https://academic.oup.com/jid/advance-article/doi/10.1093/infdis/jiae037/7589572 25.1.2024.

Aftonbladet: Lievällä koronalla voi olla vakava jälki­seuraus – suomalainen yli­lääkäri rauhoittelee.
(HUSin pitkittyneiden oireiden kuntoutuspoliklinikalla työskentelevä ylilääkäri Helena Liira rauhoittelee ja kertoo, että Suomessa vastaavia havaintoja ei ole tehty ja kertoo, että long covid -tapausten määrä on jatkuvasti vähentynyt.) ilta=sanomat. 25.1.2024.  https://www.is.fi/ulkomaat/art-2000010144779.html

SARS-CoV-2 neurovascular invasion supported by Mendelian randomization (This work provides the first genetically predictive causal evidence between COVID-19 infection and inner retinal thickness in a European population. These findings will contribute to further understanding of the pathogenesis of COVID-19 and stimulate improvements in treatment modalities.). J Translational Medicine. 24.1.2024. https://translational-medicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12967-024-04907-3

Svenska forskare: Mild covid kan få allvarliga effekter på hjärnan. Svenska forskare kan visa att lättare covidinfektioner kan få långvariga effekter. Resultatet oroar Kristian Borg, överläkare och professor vid Karolinska Institutet. ”Det finns säkert ett mörkertal”, säger han. Aftonbladet. 24.1.2024. https://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/Kn0Kl4/svensk-studie-mild-covid-kan-fa-allvarliga-effekter-pa-hjarnan

Institutional COVID denial has killed public health as we knew it. Prepare to lose several centuries of progress. (Public health cannot be individualized. Abandoning collective approaches to disease mitigation is a recipe for disaster. Let’s say tomorrow the US government decided to stop cleaning our water supply. President Joe Biden or one of his minions gets on TV and says “cholera has been defeated, it’s over, and we need to get back to normal. We can’t live in fear of cholera forever- we need to live our lives!” Massive cholera outbreaks ensue, and people are quietly told they can (pay out of pocket) for private water filtration systems. Those who do pay this burdensome individual tax are told they are living in fear and mocked by those who do not. People with cholera are pushed by their employers to come to work anyway, and CDC guidance reduces cholera isolation to one day, whether or not you’re still symptomatic or infectious.) The Gauntlet. 24.1.2024. https://www.thegauntlet.news/p/institutional-covid-denial-has-killed?utm_medium=web

Long-term symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 infection in a cohort of hospital employees: duration and predictive factors (Cologne, Germany: Of 221 included HEs (Hospital Employees), a number of 104 HEs (47.1%) reported at least one persisting symptom for more than 90 days after initial SARS-CoV-2 detection. Each one cycle higher initial Ct value significantly increased the chances of overcoming symptoms (odds ratio [OR] 1.05; 95% confidence interval (95%CI) 1.01–1.09; p = 0.019). The occurrence of breathlessness within the first ten days (OR 7.89; 95%CI 1.87–41.43; p = 0.008), an initial Ct value under 30 (OR 3.36; 95%CI 1.22–9.94; p = 0.022) as well as the occurrence of anosmia or ageusia within the first ten days (OR 3.01; 95%CI 1.10–8.84; p = 0.037) showed a statistically significant association with increased odds of illness duration over 90 days.). BMC Infectious Diseases. 23.1.2024.  https://bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12879-023-08710-1

Ilman­puhdistus vähensi sairastumisia päiväkodissa, osoitti suomalais­tutkimus (Kun helsinkiläiseen päiväkotiin tuli ilmanpuhdistimia, vanhemmat joutuivat selvästi harvemmin jäämään töistä lapsen sairastumisen takia. Töistä pois jääntejä oli 30 prosenttia vähemmän kuin muissa päiväkodeissa.) Helsingin Sanomat. 23.1.2024. https://www.hs.fi/tiede/art-2000010071847.html

How Should We Treat Long COVID? — Long COVID expert explains the latest research on potential treatments (Video of expert statements + transcript). MedPageToday. 22.1.2024. https://www.medpagetoday.com/opinion/faustfiles/108353

Strong links found between Long COVID and ME/CFS: Otago study (The pilot study, published in Scientific Reports, a Nature journal, has confirmed what researchers have suspected for some time: the two conditions are closely related – see Scientific Reports 12.12.2023 ) EurekAlert/AAAS. 22.1.2024. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1032051

January 21-31

Analysis of seemingly recovered COVID-19 patients indicates that SARS-CoV-2 infection can persist significantly longer than suggested by PCR-negative tests (In a study published in The Journal of Pathology, scientists have described the infection dynamics and clinical features of PCR-negative patients who eventually died due to the worsening of COVID-19.) . News Medical. 20.1.2024. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20230120/Analysis-of-seemingly-recovered-COVID-19-patients-indicates-that-SARS-CoV-2-infection-can-persist-significantly-longer-than-suggested-by-PCR-negative-tests.aspx

Microstructural brain abnormalities, fatigue, and cognitive dysfunction after mild COVID-19 (The patients reported memory loss (36%), fatigue (31%) and headache (29%). The quantitative analyses confirmed symptoms of fatigue (83% of participants), excessive somnolence (35%), impaired phonemic verbal fluency (21%), impaired verbal categorical fluency (13%) and impaired logical memory immediate recall (16%). The WM analyses with DTI revealed higher axial diffusivity values in post-infected patients compared to controls. Compared to controls, there were no significant differences in the functional connectivity of the posterior cingulum cortex. There were no significant correlations between neuropsychological scores and neuroimaging features (including DTI and RS-fMRI). Our results suggest persistent cognitive impairment and subtle white matter abnormalities in individuals mildly infected without anxiety or depression symptoms.) Scientific Reports. 19.1.2024. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-52005-7

Vanhaksi menevät koronarokotteet tulevat kalliiksi. (Koronan ennaltaehkäisy, diagnostiikka ja hoito eivät toimi Suomessa. / LÄHES kaksi miljoonaa koronarokoteannosta on menossa Suomessa vanhaksi tammikuun lopussa. Jo aiemmin on hävitetty lähes kolme miljoonaa vanhentunutta koronarokoteannosta. / Moni virallisiin riskiryhmiin kuulumaton, vaikkapa omaishoitaja, sote-henkilökunta tai taksinkuljettaja, joka kuljettaa vanhuksia tai syöpäsairaita, olisi halunnut ottaa rokotteen. Riskiryhmien rokotukset myöhästyivät puolestaan syksyllä, ja nämä yli 65-vuotiaat ja sairaat ihmiset joutuivat sitten jonottamaan rokotteita enimmillään tunteja massarokotuspisteillä, joissa he myös altistuivat koronavirukselle.). Mielipidekirjoitus, Helsingin Sanomat. 19.1.2024. https://www.hs.fi/mielipide/art-2000010129199.html

Post-marketing active surveillance of Guillain Barré Syndrome following COVID-19 vaccination in persons aged ≥12 years in Italy: A multi-database self-controlled case series study (Italy: Increased risk of GBS was found after first (RI = 6.83; 95% CI 2.14–21.85) and second dose (RI = 7.41; 2.35–23.38) of mRNA-1273 and first dose of ChAdOx1-S (RI = 6.52; 2.88–14.77). Analysis by age found an increased risk among those aged≥60 years after first (RI = 8.03; 2.08–31.03) and second dose (RI = 7.71; 2.38–24.97) of mRNA-1273. The first dose of ChAdOx1-S was associated with GBS in those aged 40–59 (RI = 4.50; 1.37–14.79) and in those aged ≥ 60 years (RI = 6.84; 2.56–18.28). / mRNA-1273 and ChAdOx1-S vaccines were associated with an increased risk of GBS however this risk resulted in a small number of excess cases. Limitations were loss of GBS outpatient cases and imprecision of the estimates in the subgroup analysis due to a low number of event). PLOS ONE. 19.1.2024. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38241309/

Immune damage in Long Covid (Links between the complement and coagulation systems could lead to Long Covid therapies. / Not everyone fully recovers from COVID-19, leading to Long Covid, the treatment of which is a major unmet clinical need (1). Long Covid can affect people of all ages, follows severe as well as mild disease, and involves multiple organs. The persistence of lingering symptoms after acute disease creates a considerable challenge for understanding the specific pathophysiology and risk factors underlying Long Covid. ). Science. 18.1.2024. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adn1077

Full Committee Hearing: Addressing Long COVID: Advancing Research and Improving Patient Care () US Senate Committree on Health, Education, Lobor & Pensions. 18.1.2024. https://www.help.senate.gov/hearings/addressing-long-covid-advancing-research-and-improving-patient-care

Cardiovascular effects of the post-COVID-19 condition (While this syndrome (PCC or LC) spans multiple organ systems, cardiovascular complications are often the most prominent features. These include, but are not limited to, myocardial injury, heart failure, arrhythmias, vascular injury/thrombosis and dysautonomia. As the number of individuals with the post-COVID-19 condition continues to climb and overwhelm medical systems, summarizing existing information and knowledge gaps in the complex cardiovascular effects of the post-COVID-19 condition has become critical for patient care. In this Review, we explore the current state of knowledge of the post-COVID-19 condition and identify areas where additional research is warranted.). nature cardiovascular research. 18.1.2024. https://www.nature.com/articles/s44161-023-00414-8

Handwashing, Gloves, and Masks: Oh My! (Naomi Bar-Yam: As handwashing became an integral part of medical hygiene practices, and as HIV/AIDS rates went down, there was no discussion of tracking rates so that we could dispense with hand washing or gloves where disease transmission was low. / HIV/AIDS is now less common, and there are treatments that help those with the disease live longer, fuller lives; it is still a very serious disease with short and long term effects of the disease and its treatments. Similarly, there are some treatments against COVID-19; but it is still a serious disease. We are also beginning to understand the long term effects of COVID-19 symptoms and organ damage. Prevention is paramount. / It is time for the medical community to make N95 or better respirator masks standard for patients and providers throughout all healthcare settings. Masks must be worn wherever the air might carry airborne viruses.) World Health Network. 18.1.2024. https://whn.global/handwashing-gloves-and-masks-oh-my/

Sydäninfarkti mutta ei sepelvaltimotautia – mistä on kyse? (• Osalta sydäninfarktipotilaista ei löydy tyyppioireista ja löydöksistä huolimatta veritulppaa sepelvaltimoista. Tilaa kutsutaan MINOCAksi. / • Potilas on usein keski-ikäinen nainen, jolta puuttuvat klassiset sepelvaltimotaudin riskitekijät. / • MINOCA johtuu monenlaisista sairauksista ja vaatii lisätutkimuksia. Syy voi olla sydänperäinen tai ei-sydänperäinen. / • Hoitona käytetään asetyylisalisyylihappoa, statiinia ja angiotensiinikonvertaasin estäjää tai angiotensiinireseptorin salpaajaa. / • Ennuste on hieman parempi kuin varsinaisen sydäninfarktin sairastaneilla.) Lääkärilehti 17.1.2024. https://www.laakarilehti.fi/tieteessa/katsausartikkeli/sydaninfarkti-mutta-ei-sepelvaltimotautia-mista-on-kyse/?public=606eac644160c7f503bf763c7a80e562

THL: Vammaisten kuolleisuus kasvoi muuta väestöä enemmän ensimmäisenä koronavuotena 2020
(Kelan vammaisetuisuutta saavien 16–64-vuotiaiden kuolleisuus kasvoi hieman yli neljänneksen. Vammaisetuisuutta saaneiden miesten kuolleisuus kasvoi 26 prosenttia ja naisten 27 prosenttia. Muussa väestössä samanikäisten miesten kuolleisuus kasvoi 12 prosenttia ja naisten vähentyi 8 prosenttia).Yle uutiset. 17.1.2024. https://yle.fi/a/74-20069796

COVID-19 May Infect Dopamine Neurons (Approximately 5% of dopamine neurons can be infected by SARS-CoV-2, leading to senescence [ageing] and inflammation, which may contribute to neurological symptoms in long COVID. / The research used human stem cells to generate various cell types and found that only dopamine neurons activated the senescence pathway upon infection.
Three drugs – riluzole, metformin, and imatinib – were identified as potential protectors against SARS-CoV-2 infection in dopamine neurons.) Neuroscience News. 17.1.2024. https://neurosciencenews.com/dopamine-covid-25475/

Contralateral second dose improves antibody responses to a two-dose mRNA vaccination regimen (In previously unexposed adults receiving an initial vaccine series with the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, contralateral boosting (= injections in opposite rather than the same arm) substantially increases antibody magnitude and breadth at times beyond 3 weeks after vaccination. This effect should be considered during arm selection in the context of multi-dose vaccine regimens.). J Critical Medicine. 16.1.2024.

Evolution of enhanced innate immune suppression by SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants (We discovered that subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 have improved their suppression of innate immunity when compared with earlier subvariants BA.1 and BA.2. Similarly, more recent subvariants (BA.2.75 and XBB lineages) also triggered reduced innate immune activation. This correlated with increased expression of viral innate antagonists Orf6 and nucleocapsid, reminiscent of VOCs Alpha to Delta. Increased Orf6 levels suppressed host innate responses to infection by decreasing IRF3 and STAT1 signalling measured by transcription factor phosphorylation and nuclear translocation. Our data suggest that convergent evolution of enhanced innate immune antagonist expression is a common pathway of human adaptation and link Omicron subvariant dominance to improved innate immune evasion.) nature microbiology. 16.1.2024. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41564-023-01588-4

Civilian Labor Force – With a Disability, 16 Years and over (growth from 6.0M 2020 => 8.4M 2023). FRED. Jan 2024. https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/LNU01074597

Hiukkaset, mikrobit ja kemikaalit – Ilmanpuhdistimien vaikutukset altistumiseen kouluissa (HiMiKKo / Hanna Leppänen … Tarja Yli-Tuomi …. Martin Täubel … Anne Hyvärinen). Työpaperi 5/2024. THL.15.2.2024. https://www.julkari.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/148434/URN_ISBN_978-952-408-257-0.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

Tutkimus: Ilmanpuhdistin ei suojannut mikrobeilta – koronaviruksen osalta tarvitaan lisätutkimusta
(Ilmanpuhdistin tehosi hajusteiden kaltaisiin kaasumaisiin päästöihin, mutta ei suojannut mikrobeilta ja muilta hiukkasilta. Koronavirusta havaittiin, mutta määrät olivat niin pieniä, että asia vaatii lisäselvitystä, sanoo THL:n tutkija.) Yle. 15.2.2024. https://yle.fi/a/74-20074595

Tutkimus: Ilmanpuhdistimista ei ole kouluissa kaikissa tilanteissa hyötyä – tarve ja mitoitus selvitettävä ennen hankintaa. (Ilmanpuhdistimista oli niukasti hyötyä koululuokkien ilmanlaadun parantamisessa laitteiden puhtaan ilman tuoton nykyisellä mitoituksella ja kun lähtökohtaisesti epäpuhtauksia oli hyvin vähän, selviää Terveyden ja hyvinvoinnin laitoksen (THL) tuoreesta tutkimuksesta). THL. 15.2.2024. https://thl.fi/-/tutkimus-ilmanpuhdistimista-ei-ole-kouluissa-kaikissa-tilanteissa-hyotya-tarve-ja-mitoitus-selvitettava-ennen-hankintaa.

Maternal mortality 2020-2022 (UK: Compared to 2017-19, the last complete triennium, there was a statistically significant increase in the overall maternal death rate in the UK in 2020-22. This increase remained statistically significant when deaths due to COVID-19 were excluded. / Thrombosis and thromboembolism was the leading cause of maternal death in the UK in 2020-22 during or up to six weeks after the end of pregnancy. COVID-19 was the second most common cause of maternal death followed by cardiac disease and mental health-related causes.). MBRRACE-UK. Jan 2024.  https://www.npeu.ox.ac.uk/mbrrace-uk/data-brief/maternal-mortality-2020-2022

Immune dysregulation in long COVID patients uncovered in new study (The results showed that compared to COVID-19 patients who had fully recovered, long COVID patients showed evidence of immune dysregulation and systemic inflammation, with the distribution of T cells exhibiting global differences indicative of continued immune responses. The cytolytic subsets also showed sex-specific signals. / Individuals with long COVID had a significantly lower frequency of anti-SARS-CoV-2 CD8+ or cytotoxic T cells, mis-coordinated B and T-cell responses against SARS-CoV-2, elevated antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, and a higher frequency of CD4+ or helper T cells ready to migrate towards inflamed tissue). News Medical 14.1.2024. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20240114/Immune-dysregulation-in-long-COVID-patients-uncovered-in-new-study.aspx

Outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 and Seasonal Viruses Among Children Hospitalized in Brazil (A total of 235 829 patients had available results of the viral tests, with SARS-CoV-2 predominance. According to the competing-risk survival analysis, the estimated probability of a fatal outcome at 30 days of hospitalization according to the viral strain was 6.5%, 3.4%, 2.9%, 2.3%, 2.1%, and 1.8%, for SARS-CoV-2, coinfection, adenovirus, influenza, other viruses, and respiratory syncytial virus, respectively. Individuals with a positive test for SARS-CoV-2 had hazard of death 3 times higher than subjects with a negative test (hazard ratio, 3.3; 95% confidence interval, 3.1–3.5). After adjustment by the competing-risk multivariable analysis, admission in Northeast and North regions, oxygen saturation <95%, and the presence of comorbidities were risk factors for death in all viral strains.) Pediatrics. 12.1.2023. https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/153/2/e2023064326/196412/Outcomes-of-SARS-CoV-2-and-Seasonal-Viruses-Among?autologincheck=redirected

COVID-19 vaccines found to be effective in reducing long COVID symptoms (We were able to demonstrate how both vaccines prevented the development of persistent COVID symptoms. Additionally, we compared different vaccinations and found that the BNT162b2 vaccine (BioNTech/Pfizer) provided better protection against long COVID compared to the ChAdOx1 vaccine (Oxford/AstraZeneca).). UoOxford News and Events. 12.1.2024 https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2024-01-12-covid-19-vaccines-found-be-effective-reducing-long-covid-symptoms

The effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines to prevent long COVID symptoms: staggered cohort study of data from the UK, Spain, and Estonia [] (A total of 1 618 395 (UK GOLD), 5729 800 (UK AURUM), 2744821 (SPAIN), and 77603 (Estonia) vaccinated people and 1640 371 (UK GOLD), 5860 564 (UK AURUM), 2 588 518 (SPAIN), and 302 267 (Estonia) unvaccinated people were included. Compared with unvaccinated people, overall HRs for long COVID symptoms in people vaccinated with a first dose of any COVID-19 vaccine were 0·54 (95% CI 0·44–0·67) in UK GOLD, 0·48 (0·34–0·68) in UK AURUM, 0·71 (0·55–0·91) in SPAIN, and 0·59 (0·40–0·87) in Estonia. A slightly stronger preventative effect was seen for the first dose of BNT162b2 than for ChAdOx1 (sHR 0·85 [0·60–1·20] in UK GOLD and 0·84 [0·74–0·94] in UK AURUM).) Lancet Respiratory Medicine. 11.1.2024. https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lanres/PIIS2213-2600(23)00414-9.pdf

Long COVID manifests with T cell dysregulation, inflammation and an uncoordinated adaptive immune response to SARS-CoV-2 (We found that LC individuals exhibited systemic inflammation and immune dysregulation. This was evidenced by global differences in T cell subset distribution implying ongoing immune responses, as well as by sex-specific perturbations in cytolytic subsets. LC individuals displayed increased frequencies of CD4+ T cells poised to migrate to inflamed tissues and exhausted SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8+ T cells, higher levels of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and a mis-coordination between their SARS-CoV-2-specific T and B cell responses. Our analysis suggested an improper crosstalk between the cellular and humoral adaptive immunity in LC, which can lead to immune dysregulation, inflammation and clinical symptoms associated with this debilitating condition.) nature immunology. 11.1.2024. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41590-023-01724-6

A single-cell atlas reveals shared and distinct immune responses and
metabolism during SARS-CoV-2 and HIV-1 infections (While immune cells in
both cohorts (HIV and COVID-19) show shared inflammation and disrupted mitochondrial function, COVID-19 patients exhibit stronger humoral immunity, broader IFN-I  signaling, elevated Rho GTPase and mTOR pathway activities, and  downregulated mitophagy. Our results elucidate transcriptional signatures associated with COVID-19 and HIV-1 that may reveal insights into fundamental disease biology and potential therapeutic targets to treat these viral infections.). bioRxiv. 11.1.2024. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.01.10.475725v1.full.pdf

Mice without immune cells show no SARS-CoV-2 symptoms () Cornell Chronicle. 11.1.2024. https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2024/01/mice-without-immune-cells-show-no-sars-cov-2-symptoms

Is It Dangerous to Keep Getting COVID-19? (Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, clinical epidemiologist at Washington University in St. Louis, studies Long COVID: a condition marked by health effects that linger after infection. “Reinfection remains consequential,” he says. In a paper published in Nature Medicine in 2022, he found that people who had gotten COVID-19 at least twice experienced higher rates of short- and long-term health effects, including heart, lung, and brain issues, compared to those who were only infected once.). Time. 11.1.2024. https://time.com/6553340/covid-19-reinfection-risk/

January  11-20

Neljä vuotta COVID-19:n alkamisesta – koronapandemia on arkipäiväistynyt mutta ei ohi (Viruksen uusin alavariantti on aiheuttamassa Yhdysvaltain toiseksi suurimman korona-aallon. Aiempaa tarttuvampi virusversio on yleisin jo myös Euroopassa.) Yle 10.01.2024.https://yle.fi/a/74-20067725

Risks of digestive diseases in long COVID: evidence from a population-based cohort study (Compared with the contemporary comparison group, patients with previous COVID-19 infection had higher risks of digestive diseases, including gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction (HR 1.38 (95% CI 1.26 to 1.51)); peptic ulcer disease (HR 1.23 (1.00 to 1.52)); gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) (HR 1.41 (1.30 to 1.53)); gallbladder disease (HR 1.21 (1.06 to 1.38)); severe liver disease (HR 1.35 (1.03 to 1.76)); non-alcoholic liver disease (HR 1.27 (1.09 to 1.47)); and pancreatic disease (HR 1.36 (1.11 to 1.66)). The risks of GERD were increased stepwise with the severity of the acute phase of COVID-19 infection. Even after 1-year follow-up, GERD (HR 1.64 (1.30 to 2.07)) and GI dysfunction (HR 1.35 (1.04 to 1.75)) continued to pose risks to COVID-19 patients. Compared to those with one SARS-CoV-2 infection, reinfected patients were at a higher risk of pancreatic diseases (HR 2.57 (1.23 to 5.38)). The results were consistent when the historical cohort was used as the comparison group.). BMC Medicine. 10.1.2024. https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-023-03236-4

Vaccines reduce the risk of long COVID in children (The results … demonstrated that vaccination reduced the likelihood of developing at least one long COVID symptom by 34% and of developing two or more symptoms by 48%. Yousaf says that this is likely to be an underestimate, because the study only looked at children who had an infection; it did not consider that the vaccine can reduce the chances of developing the infection, which also decreases the likelihood of long COVID.). nature. 10.1.2024. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-04032-z

Neljä vuotta COVID-19:n alkamisesta – koronapandemia on arkipäiväistynyt mutta ei ohi. (Viruksen uusin alavariantti on aiheuttamassa Yhdysvaltain toiseksi suurimman korona-aallon. Aiempaa tarttuvampi virusversio on yleisin jo myös Euroopassa.). Yle. 10.1.2024. https://yle.fi/a/74-20067725

Krav på ansiktsmasker från och med imorgon (Hälsominister Mónica García föreslog under gårdagen att alla regioner i landet skulle enas om att införa maskkrav i sjukhus, vårdcentraler och apotek. Vid mötet nåddes inte konsensus och endast ett fåtal regioner gick med på att införa detta krav. ) 9.1.2024. https://svenskamagasinet.nu/nyheter/krav-pa-ansiktsmasker-fran-och-med-imorgon/

Spain makes face masks mandatory in hospitals as flu and Covid cases surge. Rules reintroduced as ‘commonsense measure’ despite opposition from some regional administrations. Guardian. 9.1.2024.  https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/09/spain-facemasks-mandatory-hospitals-flu-covid-cases-surge?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Health effects associated with exposure to secondhand smoke: a Burden of Proof study (We conservatively estimated that SHS increases the risk of ischemic heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and lung cancer by at least around 8%, 5%, 1% and 1%, respectively, with the evidence supporting these harmful associations rated as weak (two stars). Nature Medicine. 9.1.2024. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-023-02743-4

Antiviral humoral immunity against SARS-CoV-2 omicron subvariants induced by XBB.1.5 monovalent vaccine in infection-naive and XBB-infected individuals (We collected sera before and 3–4 weeks after vaccination, and then performed a neutralisation assay using these sera and pseudoviruses. As expected, XBB.1.5 vaccine sera with previous XBB infection efficiently (1·8-fold to 3·6-fold) boosted antiviral humoral immunity against all variants tested with statistical significance. Importantly, in the case of the XBB.1.5 vaccine sera without previous infection, XBB.1.5 vaccine also efficiently induced antiviral activity (2·1-fold to 3·9-fold) against all variants tested with statistical significance. These observations suggest that a single dose of XBB.1.5 monovalent vaccine potentially induces antiviral humoral immunity against XBB subvariants as well as BA.2.86 without previous infection.). The Lancet. 8.1.2024. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(23)00784-3/fulltext

”Koronapandemia on ohi” – ihmisille jäänyt pelko surettaa ylilääkäriä (Asko Järvinen: Nyt ollaan aika pitkälti siinä tilanteessa, jossa koronavirus on meille tavallisen immuunijärjestelmän omaaville ihmisille yksi hengitystievirusten aiheuttaja muiden mukana). MTV Uutiset. 8.1.2024. https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/koronapandemia-on-ohi-ihmisille-jaanyt-pelko-surettaa-ylilaakaria/8851414?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter#gs.3mft6v

 

Suomessa jyllää nyt kaksi virusta – Tämä tautitilanteesta on hyvä tietää. (Koronavirustautiin on kuollut etenkin iäkkäitä. Tehohoidossa koronan vuoksi olevien määrä on nyt laskenut, mutta influenssaepidemian piikki on vasta käsillä. Koronatestien tekemisestä ei Järvisen mukaan ole valtaosalle väestöstä enää mitään hyötyä). Helsingin Sanomat. 8.1.2024. https://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000010086798.html

Post-COVID cognitive deficits at one year are global and associated with elevated brain injury markers and grey matter volume reduction: national prospective study (We report the one-year cognitive, serum biomarker, and neuroimaging findings from a prospective, national longitudinal study of cognition in 351 COVID-19 patients who had required hospitalisation, compared to 2,927 normative matched controls. Cognitive deficits were global and associated with elevated brain injury markers and reduced anterior cingulate cortex volume one year after admission. The severity of the initial infective insult, post-acute psychiatric symptoms, and a history of encephalopathy were associated with greatest deficits. There was strong concordance between subjective and objective cognitive deficits. Treatment with corticosteroids during the acute phase appeared protective against cognitive deficits. ). Research Square. 6.1.2024. https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-3818580/v1

Effectiveness and safety of azvudine in older adults with mild and moderate COVID-19: a retrospective observational study (The study included 55 patients treated with azvudine (n = 14), nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (n = 18), and SOC (n = 23). The median time from symptom onset to NANC of the azvudine, nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, and SOC groups was 14 (range, 6–25), 15 (range, 11–24), and 19 (range, 18–23) days, respectively. The median time from treatment initiation to NANC of the azvudine and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir groups was 8 (range, 4–20) and 9 (range, 5–16) days, respectively. The median length of hospital stay in the three groups was 10.5 (range, 5–23), 13.5 (range, 10–21), and 17 (range, 10–23) days, respectively. No treatment-related adverse events or serious adverse events were reported.). BMC Infectious Diseases. 4.1.2024. https://bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12879-023-08944-z

Recombination-aware phylogenetic analysis sheds light on the evolutionary origin of SARS-CoV-2 (. This result suggests that the variable loop of the RBD didn’t have a recombinant origin and the key amino acid residues were likely present in the common ancestor of SARS-CoV-2 and RaTG13, with the latter losing five of them probably as the result of recombination.) Scientific Reports. 4.1.2024. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-50952-1#Abs1

Suomessa saatetaan tänä vuonna hävittää miljoonia korona­rokotteita – STM:n Puumalainen kritisoi THL:n toimintaa (Taneli Puumalaisen arvion mukaan yksityiset terveydenhuollon toimijat voisivat päästä antamaan neljänsiä koronarokoteannoksia kaikille kansalaisille muutaman viikon kuluttua. THL ei näe asialle edelleenkään lääketieteellisiä perusteita.). ilta=sanomat. 4.1.2024. https://www.is.fi/politiikka/art-2000009305181.html

USU: Koronarokotteiden hävikki ”todella suuri” – Taas kaksi miljoonaa annosta menossa hukkaan
(Jo aiemmin on hävitetty lähes kolme miljoonaa vanhentunutta koronarokoteannosta. Kaikkiaan Suomeen on tullut noin 22 miljoonaa koronarokoteannosta, joten hävikki on noin 23 prosenttia. THLn johtava asiantuntija MiaKontio arvioi Uutissuomalaiselle hävikin määrän olevan todella suuri verrattuna kansallisen rokotusohjelman rokotehävikkiin, joka on noin pari prosenttia.) Helsingin Sanomat. 4.1.2024. https://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000010098091.html

Effectiveness and safety of azvudine in older adults with mild and moderate COVID-19: a retrospective observational study (The study included 55 patients treated with azvudine (n = 14), nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (n = 18), and SOC (n = 23). The median time from symptom onset to NANC of the azvudine, nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, and SOC groups was 14 (range, 6–25), 15 (range, 11–24), and 19 (range, 18–23) days, respectively. The median time from treatment initiation to NANC of the azvudine and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir groups was 8 (range, 4–20) and 9 (range, 5–16) days, respectively. The median length of hospital stay in the three groups was 10.5 (range, 5–23), 13.5 (range, 10–21), and 17 (range, 10–23) days, respectively. No treatment-related adverse events or serious adverse events were reported.). BMC Infectious Diseases. 4.1.2024. https://bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12879-023-08944-z

Adaptive immune cells are necessary for SARS-CoV-2–induced pathology (Here, we used mouse-adapted SARS-CoV-2 strain MA10 to investigate the role of adaptive immune cells in disease. We found that while infected wild-type mice lost ~10% weight by 3 to 4 days postinfection, rag−/− mice lacking B and T lymphocytes did not lose weight. Infected lungs at peak weight loss revealed lower pathology scores, fewer neutrophils, and lower interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor–α in rag−/− mice. Mice lacking αβ T cells also had less severe weight loss, but adoptive transfer of T and B cells into rag−/− mice did not significantly change the response. Collectively, these findings suggest that while adaptive immune cells are important for clearing SARS-CoV-2 infection, this comes at the expense of increased inflammation and pathology.) Science Advances. 3.1.2024. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adg5461

Alles Faulpelze und Simulanten? Georg Schomerus forscht zur Stigmatisierung von Menschen, die an den Spätfolgen einer Corona-Erkrankung leiden (Long-Covid-Erkrankte stoßen bei Ärztinnen und Ärzten oft auf Unverständnis. Ihre körperlichen Leiden werden psychologisiert, oft wird sogar eine psychische Erkrankung diagnostiziert. Menschen mit ME/CFS kennen das schon seit Jahrzehnten. Mehr oder weniger explizit wird ihnen auch unterstellt, dass sie lieber Sozialleistungen bekommen als gesund werden möchten. Das sind Zuschreibungen, die den Menschen selbst völlig fremd sind: Es sind häufig sehr leistungsbereite Menschen – aber jetzt, da sie krank sind, unterstellt man ihnen plötzlich fehlenden Willen.). taz. 3.1.2024. https://taz.de/Einstellungen-zu-Long-Covid/!5979805/

Virological characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 JN.1 variant. Lancet Infectious Diseases. 3.1.2024. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(23)00813-7/fulltext

Cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction in post-COVID-19 syndrome: a major health-care burden (Cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction (CVAD), in particular postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome and inappropriate sinus tachycardia, are among the most frequent and distinct phenotypes of post-COVID-19 syndrome; one-third of highly symptomatic patients can be affected. / CVAD arises from a malfunction of the autonomic control of the circulation, and can involve failure or inadequate or excessive activation of the sympathetic and parasympathetic components of the autonomic nervous system. / As well as global circulatory disturbances, CVAD in post-COVID-19 syndrome can manifest as microvascular and endothelial dysfunction, with local symptoms such as headache, brain fog, chest pain, dyspnoea and peripheral circulatory symptoms, including skin discolouration, oedema, Raynaud-like phenomena, and heat and cold intolerance. / A structured diagnostic work-up based on a detailed patient history, cardiovascular autonomic testing, long-term electrocardiogram and blood-pressure monitoring, and ancillary cardiac and peripheral vascular tests will lead to an appropriate diagnosis. / Management of CVAD in post-COVID-19 syndrome should involve a correct diagnosis, patient education, and both non-pharmacological and pharmacological methods; a tailored exercise training programme, blood volume expansion and compression garments are especially effective. / Pharmacological approaches target heart rate control, blood volume expansion, promotion of vasoconstriction and venoconstriction, and reduction of hyperadrenergic drive.) nature reviews cardiology. 2.1.2024. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41569-023-00962-3

Genetic and molecular architecture of complex traits (Tuuli Lappalainen: Human genetics has emerged as one of the most dynamic areas of biology, with a broadening societal impact. In this review, we discuss recent achievements, ongoing efforts, and future challenges in the field. Advances in technology, statistical methods, and the growing scale of research efforts have all provided many insights into the processes that have given rise to the current patterns of genetic variation. Vast maps of genetic associations with human traits and diseases have allowed characterization of their genetic architecture. Finally, studies of molecular and cellular effects of genetic variants have provided insights into biological processes underlying disease. Many outstanding questions remain, but the field is well poised for groundbreaking discoveries as it increases the use of genetic data to understand both the history of our species and its applications to improve human health.) Cell. 2.1.2024. https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(24)00060-6

WHAT THERAPISTS NEED TO KNOW: COVID-19 IN 2024. Olivia Belknap and Erin Batall (01 WHAT IS COVID? n/ 02 IMPACT ON THE BRAIN / 03 IMPACT ON THE BODY / 04 SOCIAL JUSTICE CONCERNS / 05 CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS / 06 ADVOCACY & RESOURCES) .2024.  https://covid-for-therapists.my.canva.site/

January 2024 1-10

Why the Psychosomatic View on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Is Inconsistent with Current Evidence and Harmful to Patients (Although numerous studies over time have uncovered organic abnormalities in patients with ME/CFS, and the majority of researchers to date classify the disease as organic, many physicians still believe that ME/CFS is a psychosomatic illness. In this article, we show how detrimental this belief is to the care and well-being of affected patients and, as a consequence, how important the education of physicians and the public is to stop misdiagnosis, mistreatment, and stigmatization on the grounds of incorrect psychosomatic attributions about the etiology and clinical course of ME/CFS.). MDPI 31.12.2023. https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/60/1/83

COVID Mask Mandates Return Across US Hospitals. Masks are back in some locations in New York, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Washington state (the NYC Health + Hospitals—officially the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation that operates public hospitals and clinics in New York City—announced that mask mandates will be reimplemented at its hospitals.). Epoch Health. 31.12.2023. https://www.theepochtimes.com/health/covid-mask-mandates-return-across-us-hospitals-5554781

Suomessa jyllää nyt moni virusepidemia: Pirkanmaalla koronatapausten määrä taittumassa, mutta muiden tautien nousu alkamassa. Korona, influenssa ja RS-virus kiertävät nyt ympäri Suomea. (THL:n ylilääkäri Hanna Nohynek kertoo sähköpostitse, että koronarokotteita on syksyn ja syystalven aikana annettu yhteensä noin 900 000 annosta. / ”Määrä on ehkä hieman alakanttiin, sillä tiedonsiirrossa on edelleen jonkin verran puutteita yhdeltä isolta paikkakunnalta ja joiltakin pieniltä paikkakunnilta”, Nohynek sanoo. / Influenssarokotteita oli annettu joulukuun 23. päivään mennessä yhteensä lähes 1,6 miljoonaa. Huom: THLn rokotusrekisterin mukaan koronarokotteiotra on annettu vain 115 000!). Aamulehti. 29.12.2023. https://www.aamulehti.fi/kotimaa/art-2000010088880.html

Tällainen on vuoden­vaihteen epidemiatilanne – yksi virus kasvussa. Korona, influenssa ja RS-virus kiertävät nyt ympäri Suomea. ilta=sanomat.29.12.2023. https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000010088879.html

Pääkirjoitus: Vuonna 2022 koronaan menehtyi 4349 suomalaista – Opittiinko mitään? Selvää on, ettei koronakriisin ensimmäisistä vuosista paljon opittu, kirjoittaa Juha Ristamäki (Itsenäisyyspäivän alla Tilastokeskus kertoi vuoden 2022 kuolleisuusluvuista. Tilastokeskuksen mukaan ikävakioitu kuolleisuus kasvoi vuonna 2022 edellisvuodesta 7,7 prosenttia. / Kuolleisuuden kasvuun vaikutti kuolleisuuden lisääntyminen erityisesti koronavirustautiin. Koronavirustautiin menehtyi Tilastokeskuksen mukaan 4 349 henkilöä eli liki 7 prosenttia kuolleista. Lisäksi covid-19 oli mukana vaikuttamassa yli 2 800 henkilön kuolemaan myötävaikuttavana kuolemansyynä. / Kuolleisuus kasvoi myös muistisairauksiin sekä sydän- ja verenkiertoelinten sairauksiin. Sen sijaan kuolleisuus väheni edellisvuodesta kasvaimiin, tapaturmiin ja itsemurhiin). Iltalehti 27.12.2023. https://www.iltalehti.fi/paakirjoitus/a/59713e10-c18f-4769-9698-8aac72a54f91

Socioemotional Development of Infants and Toddlers During the COVID-19 Pandemic (In this study, exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic, especially during the first year of life, was associated with higher odds of positive Ages and Stages Questionnaire Social-Emotional, Second Edition (ASQ:SE-2) screening, even when adjusting for demographics and family risks. These findings suggest that unmeasured community, family, and child factors that changed as a result of the pandemic contributed to delays in young children’s socio-emotional development). JAMA Pediatric. 26.12.2023. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/article-abstract/2812812

Predicted risk of heart failure pandemic due to persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection using a three-dimensional cardiac model (• Persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection model of human cardiac tissue was established / • Hypoxic stress to the persistent infection model led to cardiac dysfunction / • ACE2 and SARS-CoV-2 S protein expression were elevated after the hypoxic stress / • This research may predict a “heart failure pandemic” in the post COVID-19 era) iScience. 22.12.2023. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004223027189

Para-infectious brain injury in COVID-19 persists at follow-up despite attenuated cytokine and autoantibody responses (…neurological complications of COVID-19 are associated with evidence of neuroglial injury in both acute and late disease and these correlate with dysregulated innate and adaptive immune responses acutely.). nature communications. 22.12.2023. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-42320-4

Suomalaisia kuolee taas ennätysmäärin, mutta kiinnostaako se vieläkään? (Nyt voidaan sanoa varmuudella, että laskelmat huikeasta ylikuolleisuudesta olivat oikeassa ja Helsingin Sanomien analyysi oli väärässä. Helsingin Sanomat onnistui vähättelemään tuhansien suomalaisten kuolemaa. / Vuoden 2023 alussa näytti, että pahin olisi jo takana ja kuolleisuus putoaisi lähemmäs pandemiaa edeltänyttä trendiä. Nyt loppuvuodesta kuolleiden määrä on taas kasvanut jyrkästi. Marraskuussa tehtiin uusi ennätys kuolleiden määrässä.) Taloustaito. 21.12.2023. https://www.taloustaito.fi/blogit/juha-itkonen/suomalaisia-kuolee-taas-ennatysmaarin-mutta-kiinnostaako-se-vielakaan/#e001660f

December 21-31

Study helps explain post-COVID exercise intolerance. Exercise intolerance is one symptom associated with long COVID. A new study helps explain its cause. Yale News. 19.12.2023 https://news.yale.edu/2023/12/19/study-helps-explain-post-covid-exercise-intolerance

Är det säkert att fira jul med släkten trots att man är förkyld? Så svarar experten (överlekare Tuija Leino, THL. Julen närmar sig med stormsteg, men samtidigt börjar även influensasäsongen nå sin kulmen. Hur ska man då fira jul på ett säkert sätt, utan att familjens äldre eller sjuka medlemmar smittas?) Huvudstadsbladet, Hbl. 19.12.2023. https://www.hbl.fi/artikel/3745647f-b18d-58fe-97c7-7e3f5eccc749

Stillbirth risk factors, causes and evaluation (Risk factors: In resource-rich countries, the most common risk factors associated with stillbirth are nulliparity, advanced maternal age, non-Hispanic Black race, obesity, pregestational diabetes, chronic hypertension, tobacco or alcohol use, multiple gestation, male fetal sex, unmarried status, and past adverse obstetric outcomes.) Seminars in Perinatology. 19.12.2023. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0146000523001702

Cases of ’100-day cough’ are rising in the UK. Here’s what you should know about whooping cough (Cases of the highly contagious disease have more than tripled in the UK, with experts urging pregnant women and children to get vaccinated.). euronews.health. 17.12.2023. https://www.euronews.com/health/2023/12/17/cases-of-100-day-cough-are-rising-in-the-uk-heres-what-you-should-know-about-whooping-coug

Sydäninfarktit kasvussa keski-ikäisillä naisilla. Hoidon räätälöinnissä on Husissa apuna geenitesti.(…35–54-vuotiaat naiset, joilla [sydäninfarktien] määrät ovat kääntyneet nousuun. Syytä nousulle ei tiedetä, mutta ylipainon lisääntyminen voi vaikuttaa, arvioi Husin sydän- ja keuhkokeskuksen osastonylilääkäri, kardiologian professori Juha Sinisalo tiedotteessa. Covid?). Lääkärilehti. 15.12.2023. https://www.laakarilehti.fi/terveydenhuolto/sydaninfarktit-kasvussa-keski-ikaisilla-naisilla/?public=17251781deab8e1d84479d8131f615d0

Changes in SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and population immunity in Finland, 2020-2022 (We assessed antibody-mediated immunity to SARS-CoV-2 induced by infections and vaccinations from April 2020 to December 2022 in Finland by measuring serum IgG to SARS-CoV-2 nucleoprotein (N-IgG) and spike glycoprotein from randomly selected 18-85-year-old subjects (n = 9794). N-IgG seroprevalence remained at <7% until the last quartile (Q) of 2021. After the emergence of the Omicron variant, N-IgG seroprevalence increased rapidly and was 31% in Q1/2022 and 54% in Q4/2022. Seroprevalence was highest in the youngest age groups from Q2/2022 onwards. We did not observe regional differences in seroprevalence in 2022. We estimated that 51% of the Finnish 18-85-year-old population had antibody-mediated hybrid immunity induced by a combination of vaccinations and infections by the end of 2022. In conclusion, major shifts in the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting population immunity could be observed by serological testing.). Emerg. Microbes Infect. Dec. 2023. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37289188/

SARS-CoV-2 hampers dopamine production in iPSC-derived dopaminergic neurons.  Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dec. 2023. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0014480023000254

Urgent Need to Increase Immunization Coverage for Influenza, COVID-19, and RSV and Use of Authorized/Approved Therapeutics in the Setting of Increased Respiratory Disease Activity During the 2023 – 2024 Winter Season (Low vaccination rates, coupled with ongoing increases in national and international respiratory disease activity caused by multiple pathogens, including influenza viruses, SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), and RSV, could lead to more severe disease and increased healthcare capacity strain in the coming weeks. In addition, a recent increase in cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) following SARS-CoV-2 infection in the United States has been reported. Healthcare providers should administer influenza, COVID-19, and RSV immunizations now to patients, if recommended. Healthcare providers should recommend antiviral medications for influenza and COVID-19 for all eligible patients, especially patients at high-risk of progression to severe disease such as older adults and people with certain underlying medical conditions. Healthcare providers should also counsel patients about testing and other preventive measures, including covering coughs/sneezes, staying at home when sick, improving ventilation at home or work, and washing hands). CDC Emergency Preparedness and Response. CDC Health Alert Network. 14.12.2023. https://emergency.cdc.gov/han/2023/han00503.asp

GUEST ESSAY. 1,374 DAYS – MY LIFE WITH LONG COVID (Then I’m shoved back into my new reality. As I fully come into consciousness, I feel dizzy, faint and nauseated. Pain pulses throughout my body, and my limbs feel simultaneously as heavy as concrete and weak as jelly. It feels as if a machine were squeezing my skull, and extreme exhaustion overtakes me.) New York Times. 14.12.2023. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/12/14/opinion/my-life-with-long-covid.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

SARS-COV-2 nucleocapsid protein and/or spike protein were detected in fetal brain hemorrhage, placenta, amnion and umbilical cord during early gestation (The cortical hemorrhage was found in 26 of 661 fetal tissue samples. These hemorrhagic samples were obtained from fetuses aged 8 to 22 gestational weeks, but the majority of the  hemorrhagic samples (57.6%) were from fetuses aged 12–14 gestational weeks. Of the 26 hemorrhagic samples, 25 were from elective terminations (no abnormalities were recorded), and one sample was recorded to have trisomy 21. The hemorrhagic samples were received during periods when the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases was highest in the UK. The presence of iron deposition in cortex, which occurs after the red blood cell lysis, showed
that more recent hemorrhages were more common in the younger samples (12–14 weeks of  gestation) than in the older samples (19–21 weeks of gestation). 
26 cortical hemorrhages in 661 fetal tissue samples is highly unusual as only two cases of similar hemorrhages were observed in 300 randomly selected cortical samples out of a total of 4917 collected by the HDBR.).  DiscoverMedNews. 14.12.2023.  https://discovermednews.com/sars-cov-2-detected-in-fetal-brain-hemorrhage-placenta-umbilical-cord/

The role of COVID-19 vaccines in preventing postCOVID-19 thromboembolic and cardiovascular
complications ( The study included 10.17million vaccinated and 10.39million unvaccinated people. Vaccination was associated with reduced risks of acute (30-day) and post-acute COVID-19 VTE, ATE and HF: for example, meta-analytic sHR of 0.22 (95% CI 0.17 to 0.29), 0.53 (0.44 to 0.63) and 0.45 (0.38 to 0.53), respectively, for 0–30 days after SARS-CoV-2 infection, while in the 91–180 days sHR were 0.53 (0.40 to 0.70), 0.72 (0.58 to 0.88) and 0.61 (0.51 to 0.73), respectively). Heart. 13.12.2023. https://heart.bmj.com/content/heartjnl/early/2024/01/24/heartjnl-2023-323483.full.pdf

Association between COVID-19 and outstanding academic performance at a Spanish university (A total of 658 (9.3%) participants were diagnosed with COVID-19, almost 4.0% of them achieved outstanding academic results, while uninfected students did so in 7.3%. SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with a significant decrease in having outstanding academic results (OR = 0.57; 95% CI: 0.38–0.86).). Archives of Public Health. 13.12.2023. https://archpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13690-023-01225-w

Early COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness of XBB.1.5 vaccine against hospitalization and ICU admission, the Netherlands, 9 October – 5 December 2023 (We present early vaccine effectiveness (VE) estimates of the 2023 seasonal COVID-19 vaccination campaign using XBB.1.5 vaccine against COVID-19 hospitalization and ICU admission in previously vaccinated adults ≥60 years old in the Netherlands. We compared vaccination status of 2050 hospitalizations including 92 ICU admissions with age group-, sex-, region- and date-specific population vaccination coverage between 9 October and 5 December 2023. VE against hospitalization was 70.7% (95% CI: 66.6; 74.3), VE against ICU admission was 73.3% (95% CI: 42.2; 87.6).). medRxiv. 13.12.2023. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.12.12.23299855v1

Viral Dynamics of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant in Pediatric Patients: A Prospective Cohort Study (Among 101 children aged 2 to 17 years, the median time to study-defined non-infectious viral load was 5 days post–symptom onset, with 75% meeting this threshold by 7 days and 90% by 10 days. On the day of and day after symptom resolution, 43 (49%) and 52 (60%) of 87 had met the non-infectious thresholds, respectively. Of the 50 participants completing a RAT, positivity at symptom onset and on the day after symptom onset was 67% (16/24) and 75% (14/20). On the first day where the non-infectious threshold was met, 61% (n = 27/44) of participant RAT results were positive.) Clinical Infectious Diseases. 12.12.2023. https://academic.oup.com/cid/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/cid/ciad740/7469948

Ontdekking van Belgische onderzoekers brengt betere behandeling van long covid dichterbij (Two Belgian scientists have taken steps towards better treatment of long-term Covid. In a study, the two were able to identify potential biomarkers in blood samples that can be used in treatment. Their findings were presented last week at a conference in Madrid. / Patients with long covid experience recurring symptoms, sometimes long after infection with SARS-CoV-2 or coronavirus. The most common symptom is extreme fatigue or exhaustion, but headaches, memory and concentration problems, muscle pain, breathing problems, sleep disorders, anxiety and depression also occur.) HLN. 12.12.2023. https://www.hln.be/medisch/ontdekking-van-belgische-onderzoekers-brengt-betere-behandeling-van-long-covid-dichterbij~a43a502d/

A pilot study on the immune cell proteome of long COVID patients shows changes to physiological pathways similar to those in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (There were overlapping protein clusters and enriched molecular pathways particularly in immune functions, between Post Covid Condition  (PCC or LC ) and ME/CFS suggesting the two conditions have similar immune pathophysiology as a prominent feature, and mitochondrial functions involved in energy production were affected in both conditions.). Scientific Reports. 12.12.2023.  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-49402-9

Clinical characteristics of Long COVID patients presenting to a dedicated academic post-COVID-19 clinic in Central Texas (During the acute COVID-19 infection, 50% of patients experienced moderate disease severity and 10.5% were hospitalized. The top three co-morbid conditions prior to SARS-CoV-2 infection included mental health conditions, hypertension and asthma. Patients reported a median of 18 new symptoms following COVID-19 illness, the most common were fatigue (89%), forgetfulness or “brain fog” (89%), and difficulty concentrating (77%). MoCA (Montreal Cognitive Assessment) assessment demonstrated that 46% had mild cognitive dysfunction. PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire) testing revealed 42% had moderate to severe depression, and 38% had moderate to severe anxiety on the GAD-7 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder) assessment. Symptom burden was similar across gender, age, and initial disease severity. PASC patients presenting to an academic Post-COVID-19 clinic experienced numerous multisystem symptoms and functional impairment, independent of the initial COVID-19 disease severity.). Scientific Reports. 11.12.2023. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-48502-w

Artificial Intelligence vs Clinician Performance in Estimating Probabilities of Diagnoses Before and After Testing (Compared with humans, the LLM had less error in pretest and posttest probability after a negative result in all 5 cases, even when the median LLM estimate differed more from the correct answer than the median human estimate; for example, for the asymptomatic bacteriuria case, the median pretest probability was 26% (IQR, 20%-30%) for the LLM vs 20% (IQR, 10%-50%) for humans and the MAE (MAPE) was 26.2 (5240%) vs 32.2 (6450%) (Table). Overall, the LLM had a narrower distribution of responses compared with humans, which likely explains this finding (Figure). The LLM was more accurate than humans in estimating posttest probability after a positive test result in 2 cases (breast cancer and hypothetical testing), similarly accurate in 2 cases, and less accurate in 1 case.) JAMA Network. 11.12.2023. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2812737

Reporting on Long Covid Taught Me to Be a Better Journalist (By May 2020, affected patients had already formed support groups thousands strong, coined terms like long Covid and long-hauler and even conducted research on their own communities. Even that March, people with similar illnesses like myalgic encephalomyelitis (also known as chronic fatigue syndrome or M.E./C.F.S.) had warned that the new pathogen would trigger a wave of disability. They knew then what is clear now: People infected by Covid can be pummeled by months or years of debilitating symptoms, including extreme fatigue, cognitive impairment, chest pain, shortness of breath and postexertional malaise — a state in which existing symptoms worsen after even minor physical or mental exertion.). New York Times. 11.12.2023. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/11/opinion/long-covid-reporting-lessons.html

December 11-20

Suomessa kuoli viikossa ennätysmäärä ihmisiä – asiantuntija (Lasse Lehtonen) arvioi, mistä on kyse (TILASTOKESKUS tiedotti perjantaina 8.12., että kuluvan vuoden viikkojen 45–47 kuolleiden määrä on ollut huomattavan korkea. Viikon 47 kuolleiden määrä viikon odotusajalla on koko pandemia-ajan korkein: 1 225. / – Jo nyt voidaan arvioida, että kuolleiden määrä viikolla 47 tulee varmasti nousemaan uuteen ennätykseen, Tilastokeskuksen yliaktuaari Markus Rapo sanoi tiedotteessa perjantaina.). ilta=sanomat. 9.12.2023.  https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000010046816.html

A century of COVID-19: what history tells us about the long-term effects of a pandemic (USC research showed that people born during or just after the 1918 flu pandemic [Spaqnish Flu] faced increased heart disease risk more than 60 years later. The legacy of the novel coronavirus could be worse.) USC Leomnard Davis. 8.12.2020. https://gero.usc.edu/2020/12/08/century-covid-pandemic-risk/

Experiences of Canadians with long-term symptoms following COVID-19 (A new study released today,  ”Experiences of Canadians with long-term symptoms following COVID-19,”  examines COVID-19 infections including reinfections, long-term symptoms and their impact on the Canadian adult population more than three years since the beginning of the pandemic. The study is based on data from the 2023 Canadian COVID-19 Antibody and Health Survey—Follow-up Questionnaire which are also being released today. The survey and the study were both done in partnership with the Public Health Agency of Canada./ 1. Nearly one in five Canadian adults have had more than one known or suspected COVID-19 infection, 2. About one in nine of all Canadian adults have experienced long-term symptoms from a COVID-19 infection. 3. Over half (58.2%) of Canadian adults who ever had long-term symptoms continued to experience these symptoms up to June 2023. 4. About 7 in 10 Canadian adults with long-term symptoms experienced them on a daily or nearly daily basis. 5. Two-thirds of Canadian adults who sought healthcare services for their long-term symptoms reported not receiving adequate care for any of their symptoms.). Statistics Canada. 8.12.2023. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/231208/dq231208a-eng.htm

Burnet Oration: Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly urges action for long COVID treatment (There are currently no approved treatments for long COVID, but Dr Al-Aly said it represents an opportunity to mobilise resources in that direction. / The people suffering from long COVID need and deserved treatment yesterday, / Current vaccine technologies reduce the risk of severe disease that reduce the risk of hospitalisation, reduce the risk of death and reduce the risk of long COVID. They don’t block the infection very well. / But we know of technologies that could be developed and scaled up, including new vaccines that induce strong mucosal immunity to block infection open-ended and prevent transmission. / There are now more than 65 million people around the world living with the chronic condition of long COVID.). Burnet. 7.12.2023.  https://www.burnet.edu.au/knowledge-and-media/news-plus-updates/burnet-oration-dr-ziyad-al-aly-urges-action-for-long-covid-treatment/

Pitkittyneiden kehollisten oireiden hoito – mitä uutta? (Helena Liira, Hélène Virrantaus, Markku Sainio: • Pitkittyneet keholliset oireet ovat monitekijäisiä ja selittyvät neurobiologisesti. Mekanismit ja hoitokeinot tunnetaan yhä paremmin. • Pitkittyneesti aktivoituneet aivojen stressimekanismit tai niiden säätelyn häiriintyminen aiheuttavat muutoksia hermoverkkojen toimintaan. Näin tapahtuu myös kroonisessa kivussa. • Suositeltava selitysmalli tukee kuntoutusta, katkaisee tutkimuskierteen ja tekee ymmärrettäväksi, että vaikeistakin oireista voi toipua. • Kuntoutuksen suunnittelu perustuu altistavien, laukaisevien ja ylläpitävien tekijöiden kartoitukseen.). Lääkärilehti. 7.12.2023. https://www.laakarilehti.fi/tieteessa/katsausartikkeli/pitkittyneiden-kehollisten-oireiden-hoito-mita-uutta/?public=3b3e668ebd44ccc7c8e427a9d6773bcc&utm_source=facebook

10 Reasons Why Societies Fail to Respond to Their Greatest Threats. It’s all in our heads. (The human brain evolved over millions of years. Most psychologists agree, it’s good at responding to immediate threats. / It’s terrible at responding to slow, gradual threats, even when they’re far more important. As Brian Merchant writes in Vice, ”Humans have, historically, proven absolutely awful, even incapable, of comprehending the large, looming… slow burn threats facing their societies.” In Collapse, Jared Diamond chronicles how leaders of past civilizations failed to address clear dangers because it was easier to shrug them off and downplay them. / As it turns out, there’s a lot wrong with the human brain. It’s full of contradictory impulses that fight against our better reasoning. / 1) People don’t take invisible threats seriously./ 2) Everyone thinks, ”It won’t happen to me.” / 3) People get high off ignoring threats. / 4) People shoot the messenger. / 5) People trust their gut too much. / 6) People want to forget collective trauma. / 7) People can adjust to almost anything. / 8) People defend what they consider normal. / 9) Most people just want to fit in. / 10) The elites always panic.). Ok Doomer. 7.12.2023. https://www.okdoomer.io/you-arent-the-one-panicking-they-are/

Viime vuonna kuolleista lähes seitsemän prosenttia kuoli koronaan – Olisiko tämä voitu välttää?
Koronaan kuolleita oli moninkertaisesti enemmän kuin kahtena edellisenä vuonna yhteensä. THL:n johtava asiantuntija Sirkka Goebeler antaa arvion tämän vuoden luvuista. Helsingin Sanomat. 6.12.2023. https://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000010039210.html

Incidence and burden of long COVID in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis (Among 1547 papers initially screened, 25 were included, consisting of 29,213 participants. The incidence of any long COVID symptomatology was 48.6% (95% CI 37.4–59.8) as psychiatric conditions were the most frequent, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder reaching a cumulative incidence of 25% (95% CI 21.1–30.4). Higher age (p = 0.027) and hospitalization (p = 0.05) were associated with a higher frequency of long COVID. Long COVID poses a significant burden in Africa, particularly concerning psychiatric conditions. The study recommends identifying at-risk people and defining treatment strategies and recommendations for African long-COVID patients.). Scientific Reports. 6.12.2023. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-48258-3

Contrasting mechanistic susceptibilities of hematopoietic and endothelial stem-progenitor cells in respective pathogeneses of HIV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 infections (). Frontiers Cell Dev Biol. 6.12.2023.  https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2023.1296986/full

From a Detour to Global Dominance. The rise of the JN.1 variant (…6 weeks later, this variant, first spotted up by Dave McNally, a UK data scientist, has proceeded towards global dominance. By mid-November here is the exponential growth seen in several countries in Europe, as posted by Ryan Hisner. Recall that it takes a level of 50% or greater to see the real impact in terms of clinical outcomes such as hospitalizations. By the end of November, this variant, as noted by Mike Honey, had reached >50% in Denmark, where SARS-CoV-2 sequencing is still extensive, and likely the other countries that were already above 20% below. The same pattern is being seen throughout Europe, including The Netherlands, Ireland, and many other countries not included on the graph). Ground Truths. 6.12.2023. https://erictopol.substack.com/p/from-a-detour-to-global-dominance

Developmental impairment in children exposed during pregnancy to maternal SARS-COV2: A Brazilian cohort study (• A prospective cohort of infants exposed to maternal SARS-CoV-2 intra uterus. • SARS-CoV-2-exposed infants had an increased risk of neurodevelopmental impairment. • Fine motor and personal-social were the subdomains most at risk of delay. • A total of 10% of exposed infants had an abnormal result at cranial sonography.) International Journal of Infectious Diseases. 5.12.2023. https://www.ijidonline.com/article/S1201-9712(23)00802-0/fulltext

Dose matters: HIV drug could prevent coronaviruses, study finds (In this study, published in Antiviral Research today (5 December)  the researchers studied whether the anti-SARS-CoV-2 properties of cobicistat were maintained against the key variants of concern (VOCs) of SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses, including Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). / MERS-CoV circulates in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia and has a death rate of more than 30% with no vaccine or specific treatments being currently available. The team also compared the effects of cobicistat to those of ritonavir, which is a structurally similar molecule and also one of the components of Paxlovid, which is the current gold standard for antiviral treatment of SARS-CoV-2.). MedicalXpress. 5.12.2023. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-12-dose-hiv-drug-coronaviruses.html

Broad-spectrum antiviral activity of two structurally analogous CYP3A inhibitors against pathogenic human coronaviruses in vitro (• Two FDA-approved pharmacoenhancers, cobicistat and ritonavir, inhibit multiple human coronaviruses in vitro. • Coronaviruses susceptible to inhibition include highly pathogenic SARS-CoV-2 variants and MERS-CoV. • The anti-coronavirus potency of cobicistat is higher than that of ritonavir. • The antiviral concentrations of cobicistat and ritonavir are highly synergistic with the Mpro inhibitor nirmatrelvir.) Antiviral Research. 5.12.2023. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0166354223002449?via%3Dihub

Koronavirustauti suurin syy kuolleisuuden kasvuun 2022 (Koronavirustauti kasvatti kuolleisuutta vuonna 2022. Koronaan menehtyi viime vuonna 4 349 henkilöä eli lähes 7 % kaikista kuolleista. Kuolleisuus kasvoi 7,7 % vuodesta 2021. / Suomessa kuoli viime vuonna yhteensä 63 200 henkeä, mikä on yli 5 500 enemmän kuin vuotta aiemmin. Kuolleisuus kasvoi myös muistisairauksiin sekä sydän- ja verenkiertoelinten sairauksiin.) Tilastoksekus. 5.12.2023. https://tilastokeskus.fi/uutinen/koronavirustauti-suurin-syy-kuolleisuuden-kasvuun-2022

Long COVID is associated with severe cognitive slowing (We identified pronounced cognitive slowing in PCC patients, which distinguished them from age-matched healthy individuals who previously had symptomatic COVID-19 but did not manifest PCC. Cognitive slowing was evident even on a 30-second task measuring simple reaction time (SRT), with PCC patients responding to stimuli ∼3 standard deviations slower than healthy controls. This finding was replicated across two clinic samples in Germany and the UK. Comorbidities such as fatigue, depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and post-traumatic stress disorder did not account for the extent of cognitive slowing in PCC patients. Furthermore, cognitive slowing on the SRT was highly correlated with the poor performance of PCC patients on the NVT measure of sustained attention.). medRxiv. 3.12.2023. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.12.03.23299331v1

Child mask mandates for COVID-19: a systematic review (Real-world effectiveness of child mask mandates against SARS-CoV-2 transmission or infection has not been demonstrated with high-quality evidence. The current body of scientific data does not support masking children for protection against COVID-19.). Archives of Disease in Childhood). 2.12.2023.  https://adc.bmj.com/content/109/3/e2

Infectivity of exhaled SARS-CoV-2 aerosols is sufficient to transmit covid-19 within minutes (The source strength of the three individuals was highest during singing, when they exhaled 4, 36, or 127 TCID50/s, respectively. Calculations with an indoor air transmission model showed that if an infected individual with this emission rate entered a room, a susceptible person would inhale an infectious dose within 6 to 37 min in a room with normal ventilation.). Scientific Reports- 1.12.2023. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-47829-8

The Cause of the Mysterious Pneumonia Surging in China, South Korea, France, Netherlands, Denmark and the U.S. is Revealed (We uncover what’s behind the surge in respiratory illnesses. How concerning is it? Hint: It was necessary to provide an updated forecast.). TACT. 1.12.2023. https://tactnowinfo.substack.com/p/the-cause-of-the-mysterious-pneumonia

COVID-19 vaccine data (New Zealand). This page is updated weekly at 1 pm on Wednesday. Vaccine data is up to Friday 01 December 2023.  Te Wathu Ora / Health New Zealand. https://www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/our-health-system/data-and-statistics/covid-vaccine-data/

EPIDEMIOLOGY OF RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS IN FINNISH CHILDREN DURING THE EARLY PHASES OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC (Marjut Haapannen: Koronavirusta vastaan suunnattujen rajoitustoimenpiteiden myötä suomalaisten lasten hengitystieinfektioiden epidemiologia muuttui selvästi vuonna 2020 ja hengitystieinfektioiden määrä romahti monen viruksen osalta. / Kevään 2020 aikana, jolloin poikkeustila oli voimassa, erityisesti päiväkoti-ikäisten lasten päivystyskäyntien määrät vähenivät. Poikkeustilan aikana lasten hengitystieinfektioiden määrä väheni selvästi ja pysyi matalana vielä senkin jälkeen, kun kevään tiukkoja rajoitustoimenpiteitä kevennettiin. Vain rinovirusinfektioiden määrä alkoi nousta kesän aikana ja myöhemmin syksyllä myös koronavirusinfektioiden määrä nousi toisen aallon myötä. / Näimme myös selvän muutoksen lasten antibioottikuurien, astmalääkkeiden, korvien putkitusten ja nielu- sekä kitarisaleikkausten määrissä. Antibioottikuurien ja erityisesti avaavien astmalääkkeiden haut apteekeista vähenivät vuoden 2020 aikana. Myös korvien putkitusten sekä nielu- ja kitarisaleikkausten määrät vähenivät vuoden 2020 aikana. Nämä ilmiöt tukevat löydöksiämme siitä, että hengitystieinfektioiden määrä väheni merkittävästi vuonna 2020.). Publications of the University of Eastern Finland. Dissertations in Health Sciences, 780. 1.12.2023. https://erepo.uef.fi/handle/123456789/30785

SARS-CoV-2 Epidemiology and COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine Effectiveness Among Infants and Children Aged 6 Months–4 Years — New Vaccine Surveillance Network, United States, July 2022–September 2023 (Among vaccine-eligible children aged <5 years hospitalized or seeking care in emergency departments for acute respiratory illness during July 2022–September 2023, 86% had not received any COVID-19 vaccine. Despite low vaccination coverage, only 5% of children received a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result. Receipt of ≥2 COVID-19 mRNA vaccine doses was 40% effective (95% CI = 8%–60%) in preventing emergency department visits and hospitalization.) CDC MMWR. 1.12.2023. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7248a2.htm

 

December 1-10

Kriisin jälkeen kohti uutta. Korona-ajan johtaja Mika Salminen astuu THL:n puikkoihin radikaalisti muuttuneessa toimintaympäristössä, josta ei haasteita puutu. Onneksi hän uskaltaa kyseenalaistaa totuttuja tekemisen tapoja () Potilaan Lääkärilehti. 30.11,2023. https://www.potilaanlaakarilehti.fi/uutiset/kriisin-jalkeen-kohti-uutta/

President Biden’s Executive Order on Artificial Intelligence—Implications for Health Care Organizations (“It must be governed,” President Biden remarked on October 30, 2023, introducing a landmark executive order on artificial intelligence (AI).1,2 Addressing the explosive promise and grave risks posed by AI, the executive order outlines the Biden administration’s vision for ensuring that AI is developed and used responsibly. In what it outlines as roles for government and what it leaves to the private sector, the executive order has important implications for health care organizations.) Jama Network. 30.11.2023. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2812613

Incidence and outcome of hospital-acquired COVID-19 infections in secondary and tertiary care hospitals in the era of COVID-19 vaccinations (Helsinki, 18 HUS hospitals, Asko Järvinen: 177 HA COVID-19 infections were retrieved with an incidence of 0.55 per 1000 patient days. Of these patients, 71 (40%) were treated in medicine, 52 (29%) in operative, and 54 (31%) in psychiatric wards, leading to incidences of 0.51, 0.39, and 1.10 per 1,000 patient days, respectively. In association with COVID-19, 16 (23%) in medicine, 3 (6%) in operative, and 1 (2%) patient in psychiatric wards deceased. Of the deceased patients, 16 (80%) had received at least one COVID-19 vaccine. ). Cambridge University Press. 30.11.2023. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antimicrobial-stewardship-and-healthcare-epidemiology/article/incidence-and-outcome-of-hospitalacquired-covid19-infections-in-secondary-and-tertiary-care-hospitals-in-the-era-of-covid19-vaccinations/A82A501A5C2A075A71BB1E53D1FC3A40

New route for COVID-19 into human cells found by scientists. In addition to the known ACE2 receptor, the SARS-CoV-2 virus can also bind to the RAGE receptor found in white blood cells. nature. 30.11.2023. https://www.nature.com/articles/d43978-023-00179-5

THL: Syksyn korona-aalto osui iäkkäisiin voimakkaammin kuin koskaan ennen. THL:n mukaan koronakuolemien määrä voi vielä kasvaa (Epidemia-aalto alkoi alkusyksystä. Koronaan kuolleiden määrä kasvoi jo syyskuussa. THL:n tiedotteen mukaan korona-aalto on osunut rekisteröityjen tartuntojen perusteella tänä syksynä iäkkäisiin voimakkaammin kuin vielä kertaakaan aiemmin. Koronaan kuolleiden mediaani-ikä on ollut 85 vuotta, naisilla 87 vuotta ja miehillä 84 vuotta.). ilta=sanomat. 29.11.2023. https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000010025541.html

Krista Kiuru kritisoi rajusti koronatoimia: ”Pitäisi ottaa toisenlainen, aktiivisempi vaihde”
Eduskunnan sosiaali- ja terveysvaliokunnan puheenjohtaja Krista Kiuru (sd) muistuttaa, että joka viikko 20–40 ihmistä kuolee koronaan. Hänen mukaansa korona pitää yhä ottaa vakavasti. Iltalehti.  29.11.2023. https://www.iltalehti.fi/politiikka/a/9562254b-4d80-419b-9f65-4614034b4ead

DN Debatt. ”Fel att begränsa tillgången till vaccin mot covid-19” (Sverige var sent i starten med höstens vaccineringar mot covid-19, och avråder fortfarande tydligt från påfyllning utanför riskgrupperna. Ändå är det viktigt att vaccinera brett i alla åldrar, för att stärka det gemensamma skyddet. Att vänta in influensasprutan av praktiska och ekonomiska skäl har med facit i hand visat sig felaktigt, skriver sju forskare.). 28.11.2023. Dagens Nyheter. https://www.dn.se/debatt/fel-att-begransa-tillgangen-till-vaccin-mot-covid-19/

CIA analysts were ’bribed to change position’ on COVID-19 origins as Fauci led ’orchestrated’ effort to undermine lab-leak origin theory. A new Sky News Australia documentary reveals further evidence of the ”orchestrated effort” to push the narrative that COVID-19 had natural origins, despite intelligence officials saying it ”most likely” leaked out of the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Sky News Live. 28.11.2023. https://www.skynews.com.au/world-news/cia-analysts-were-bribed-to-change-position-on-covid19-origins-as-fauci-led-orchestrated-effort-to-undermine-lableak-origin-theory/news-story/654fc9e34a605ddc32a43b52111d0d45

These volunteers want to be infected with disease to aid research — will their altruism help?
An advocacy group is pushing for more ‘human challenge’ trials to spur vaccine discovery. Following COVID-19 and Zika studies, hepatitis C could be next. nature. 28.11.2023. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03583-5?utm_source=Live+Audience&utm_campaign=8af5391161-briefing-dy-20231129&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b27a691814-8af5391161-51306652

Canada’s mortality rate spikes, life expectancy dips for third straight year. For the first time last year, COVID-19 climbed into the third leading cause of death in Canada, behind heart disease and cancer. BIV. 27.11.2023. https://biv.com/article/2023/11/life-expectancy-canadians-fell-2022-third-year-row-says-statcan

Päiväkoteihin tuodut ilmanpuhdistimet vähensivät lasten sairastelua lähes kolmanneksella
Kaksivuotinen tutkimus selvittää, miten päiväkodin ilman tehokkaampi puhdistaminen vaikuttaa lasten ja henkilökunnan sairastavuuteen sekä päivähoidossa olevien lasten vanhempien työpoissaoloihin. Yle Uutiset. 27.11.2023. https://yle.fi/a/74-20052273

Insändare. ”Ett svek att inte skydda patienter i riskgrupp mot smitta”. Den svenska senfärdigheten under pandemin återupprepas denna höst när covid-19 på nytt sprider sig i landet. Det är ett svek att inte skydda patienter i riskgrupp mot smitta med munskyddskrav för alla i sjukvården, skriver Susanna Eriksson Lindberg, patient i riskgrupp. Dagens Nyheter. 27.11.2023.  https://www.dn.se/insandare/ett-svek-att-inte-skydda-patienter-i-riskgrupp-mot-smitta/

XBB.1.5 monovalent mRNA vaccine booster elicits robust neutralizing antibodies against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants (…administration of an updated monovalent mRNA vaccine (XBB.1.5 MV) to uninfected individuals boosted serum virus-neutralization antibodies significantly against not only XBB.1.5 (27.0-fold) and the currently dominant EG.5.1 (27.6-fold) but also key emergent viruses like HV.1, HK.3, JD.1.1, and JN.1 (13.3-to-27.4-fold). In individuals previously infected by an Omicron subvariant, serum neutralizing titers were boosted to highest levels (1,764-to-22,978) against all viral variants tested. While immunological imprinting was still evident with the updated vaccines, it was not nearly as severe as the previously authorized bivalent BA.5 vaccine.). bioExiv. 26.11.2023. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.11.26.568730v1

Korona-asiantuntijan mielestä viruksen kanssa on tehty ratkaiseva virhe: Kyseessä ei ole mikä tahansa flunssa. Tuomas Aivelo kritisoi suomalaisia siitä, että pandemia-ajasta on siirrytty suoraan toiseen ääripäähän, jossa koronaa käsitellään kuin flunssaa. Koronaviruksen määrä jätevesissä on kääntynyt laskuun. Helsingin Sanomat. 24.11.2023. https://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000010011023.html

Markant lägre risk för postcovid hos vaccinerade. Personer som vaccinerat sig mot covid-19 löper avsevärt lägre risk för postcovid efter covidinfektion. Det visar en studie vid Göteborgs universitet. Forskarna betonar vikten av vaccin för att minska det mänskliga lidandet och trycket på vården. Göteborgs Universitet. 23.11.2023. https://news.cision.com/se/sahlgrenska-akademin-vid-goteborgs-universitet/r/markant-lagre-risk-for-postcovid-hos-vaccinerade,c3878075

COVID infection control measures in Queensland Health hospitals (AMA Queensland has written to Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard expressing members’ concerns about rising COVID cases and inadequate infection controls within Queensland Health hospitals.). AMA Queensland. 15.11.2023. https://www.ama.com.au/qld/correspondence/CHOcovid

WHO statement on reported clusters of respiratory illness in children in northern China (While WHO seeks this additional information, we recommend that people in China follow measures to reduce the risk of respiratory illness, which include recommended vaccination; keeping distance from people who are ill; staying home when ill; getting tested and medical care as needed; wearing masks as appropriate; ensuring good ventilation; and regular hand-washing.). Twitter. 23.11.2023. https://twitter.com/who/status/1727452971816935537?s=46&t=Jrfq4F_8H1jZL0SOxuxb5Q

Predicting Antibody and ACE2 Affinity for SARS-CoV-2 BA.2.86 with In Silico Protein Modeling and Docking. bioRxiv. 23.11.2023. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.11.22.568364v1

Suomen sote-henkilöstö ei saa enää koronarokotteita – muusta Euroopasta poikkeava linja saa kritiikkiä ylilääkäreiltä. Muualla Euroopassa perusterveillä sote-alan työntekijöillä on mahdollisuus saada syystalven koronatehosterokotus. Suomen poikkeava linja kirvoittaa kritiikkiä Laphasta ja HUSista. YLE Uutiset. 22.11.2023. https://yle.fi/a/74-20061399

Novel MRI Reveals Brain Changes in Long-COVID Patients (). RSNA Press Release. 22.11.2023. https://press.rsna.org/timssnet/media/pressreleases/14_pr_target.cfm?id=2481

Repeated Omicron exposures override ancestral SARS-CoV-2 immune imprinting (Consequently, immune imprinting was largely mitigated, and the bias towards non-neutralizing epitopes observed in single Omicron exposures was restored. On the basis of the deep mutational scanning profiles, we identified evolution hotspots of XBB.1.5 RBD and demonstrated that these mutations could further boost the immune-evasion capability of XBB.1.5 while maintaining high ACE2-binding affinity. ). nature. 22.11.2023. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06753-7

Covid-19 vaccine effectiveness against post-covid-19 condition among 589 722 individuals in Sweden: population based cohort study (Covid-19 vaccination with any number of doses before infection was associated with a reduced risk of PCC (adjusted hazard ratio 0.42, 95% confidence interval 0.38 to 0.46), with a vaccine effectiveness of 58%. Of the vaccinated individuals, 21 111 received one dose only, 205 650 received two doses, and 72 931 received three or more doses. Vaccine effectiveness against PCC for one dose, two doses, and three or more doses was 21%, 59%, and 73%, respectively.). BMJ. 22.11.2023. https://www.bmj.com/content/383/bmj-2023-076990

Paxlovid koronaviruslääke käytettävissä nyt kliinisen arvion perusteella. Lääkärilehti, 22.11.2023. https://www.laakarilehti.fi/kumppanisisallot/paxlovid-koronaviruslaake-kaytettavissa-nyt-kliinisen-arvion-perusteella/

Mystery child pneumonia outbreak reported in China hospitals. Alert issued over reported epidemic of ’undiagnosed pneumonia’ among Chinese children. The Telegraph. 22.11.2023. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/china-disease-children-hospitals-pneumonia/

Chinese hospitals swamped with severe child pneumonia cases. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is causing a wave of severe illness among children, as well as some adults, experts say. rfa. 22.11.2023. https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/child-pneumonia-11222023114634.html

LL Marjut Haapanen, väitös 1.12.2023: Koronarajoitukset osoittivat, että lasten hengitystieinfektioiden esiintymiseen voidaan vaikuttaa (Kevään 2020 aikana, jolloin poikkeustila oli voimassa, erityisesti päiväkoti-ikäisten lasten päivystyskäyntien määrät vähenivät. Poikkeustilan aikana lasten hengitystieinfektioiden määrä väheni selvästi ja pysyi matalana vielä senkin jälkeen, kun kevään tiukkoja rajoitustoimenpiteitä kevennettiin. Vain rinovirusinfektioiden määrä alkoi nousta kesän aikana ja myöhemmin syksyllä myös koronavirusinfektioiden määrä nousi toisen aallon myötä.). University of Eastern Finland. 21.11.2023.  https://www.uef.fi/fi/artikkeli/ll-marjut-haapanen-vaitos-1122023-koronarajoitukset-osoittivat-etta-lasten-hengitystieinfektioiden

How do viruses get into cells? Their infection tactics determine whether they can jump species or set off a pandemic (). Conversation. 21.11.2023. https://theconversation.com/how-do-viruses-get-into-cells-their-infection-tactics-determine-whether-they-can-jump-species-or-set-off-a-pandemic-216139

3-year outcomes of discharged survivors of COVID-19 following the SARS-CoV-2 omicron (B.1.1.529) wave in 2022 in China: a longitudinal cohort study (Most long COVID symptoms at 3 years were mild to moderate, with lung function recovering to levels of matched controls. Survivors with long COVID had a higher proportion of participants with re-infection and newly occurring or worse symptoms 3 months after omicron infection than those without long COVID. Re-infection had increased symptom occurrence but not increased reduced daily activity. Although the organ function of survivors of COVID-19 recovered over time, those with severe long COVID symptoms, abnormal organ function, or limited mobility require urgent attention in future clinical practice and research.). Lancet Respiratory Medicine. 21.11.2023. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(23)00387-9/fulltext

Helsinki: Rokotusviikot päättyivät – yli 83 000 riskiryhmiin kuuluvaa rokotettiin. STT. 21.11.2023. https://www.sttinfo.fi/tiedote/70060134/rokotusviikot-paattyivat-yli-83-000-riskiryhmiin-kuuluvaa-rokotettiin?publisherId=60590302&lang=fi

November 21-30

Effectiveness of filtering or decontaminating air to reduce or prevent respiratory infections: A systematic review. University of East Anglia. 20.11.2023. https://research-portal.uea.ac.uk/en/publications/effectiveness-of-filtering-or-decontaminating-air-to-reduce-or-pr

Helena Petäistö: Rokotussekoilu ja irvokas maskilinjaus todistavat, että Suomesta on tullut vahvojen valtakunta – riskiryhmät jätetään surutta syrjään. MTV uutiset – Helena Petäistö. 19.11.2023. https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/helena-petaisto-rokotussekoilu-ja-irvokas-maskilinjaus-todistavat-etta-suomesta-on-tullut-vahvojen-valtakunta-riskiryhmat-jatetaan-surutta-syrjaan/8822392

Trend analysis of COVID-19 mis/disinformation narratives–A 3-year study (Using the transformer-based model, we identified 12 supernarratives that evolved over the three years studied. The analysis shows that there are often real events behind mis/disinformation trends, which unverified sources misrepresent or take out of context. We established a process that allows for near real-time monitoring of COVID-19 mis/disinformation.). PLOS ONE. 17.11.2023. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0291423

Tutkijat ehdottivat maskien osittaista palauttamista – Näin kommentoi HSL. Helsingin seudun liikenne (HSL) seuraa tällä hetkellä terveysviranomaisilta saatavia ohjeita. THL suosittelee edelleen maskin käyttöä oman harkinnan mukaan. Helsingin Sanomat. 16.11.2023. https://www.hs.fi/kaupunki/helsinki/art-2000009993949.html

A Historic Moment in Global Health—“Futureproofing” the World Against Pandemics (Facilitate Sharing of Research Findings and Scientific Data /  Promoting Equitable Investment in Technology and Innovation / Financing for Prevention and Response / Mechanisms to Ensure Compliance and Accountability  / Adopting a One Health Approach / If these 5 reforms succeed in the Geneva negotiations, the world would be far better prepared to detect, report, and respond to novel outbreaks. Lifesaving countermeasures would be developed more quickly and allocated more equitably. With May 2024 fast approaching and at a time of intense diplomatic negotiations, the international community must not lose sight of what drove it to transformational law reforms in the first place. Nations must meet this historic moment with bold action on scientific exchange, equity, finance, accountability, and One Health. A more secure and fairer world is at stake. ). JAMA Forum. 16.11.2023. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama-health-forum/fullarticle/2812246

Aantal jonge kinderen met longontsteking stijgt, grootste aantal in drie jaar tijd (Niet eerder in de afgelopen drie jaar kwamen in één week tijd zo veel kinderen tussen de vijf en veertien jaar oud met een longontsteking bij de huisarts als vorige week. Een verklaring voor dat grote aantal is er vooralsnog niet.), nu. 15.11.2023. https://www.nu.nl/binnenland/6289859/aantal-jonge-kinderen-met-longontsteking-stijgt-grootste-aantal-in-drie-jaar-tijd.html

Effectiveness of a fourth dose of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine in patients with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases using disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs: an emulated target trial (SARS-CoV-2 infection risk was lower among patients receiving versus not receiving a fourth dose of vaccine (HR 0·59 [95% CI 0·47–0·74]). A fourth dose reduced the risk of admission to hospital or death within –3 to +14 days of SARS-CoV-2 infection (0·35 [0·14–0·85]).). Lancet Rheumatology. 15.11.2023. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanrhe/article/PIIS2665-9913(23)00272-2/fulltext

Cardiovascular Follow-up of Patients Treated for MIS-C. Pediatrics. 15.11.2023. https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/152/6/e2023063002/195462/Cardiovascular-Follow-up-of-Patients-Treated-for?autologincheck=redirected

”Omikronien pilvi” kiusaa nyt suomalaisia. Joukko omikron-muunnoksia leviää nyt vauhdilla. Rokotteet antavat yhä vahvan suojan koronan vakavaa tautimuotoa vastaan  (Tutkijat väittelevät siitä, kuinka kauan korona voi vielä muuntua, virologi Kalle Saksela kertoo. / Suuria hyppäyksiä ei ole tapahtunut sitten omikronin kaksi vuotta sitten. Nykyiset valtamuunnokset ovat sen jälkeläisiä. / Viruksen on mutatoiduttava välttääkseen vasta-aineita. Viruksella on kuitenkin paine pysyä tietynnäköisenä.). Iltalehti. 14-11-2023.  https://www.iltalehti.fi/kotimaa/a/72cbb6b6-2808-4120-9e6d-9942b2593c68?utm_source=iltalehti.fi&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email_il_uutiskirje

He ovat koronan superlevittäjiä. Aiemmin oli jonkinlaista näyttöä siitä, että niin kutsutut superlevittäjät ovat oireettomia. Iltalehti. 14.11.2023. https://www.iltalehti.fi/flunssa/a/987ed9a2-2e40-4afb-9972-935f1f5482c5?utm_source=iltalehti.fi&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email_il_uutiskirje

Koronajohtamista arvioinut professori kritisoi kovin sanoin rokottamisjärjestelyjä: ”Hyvinvointialueiden byrokraatit päättävät asioista hallituksen sijasta?”
Tampereen yliopiston hallintotieteiden professori Jari Stenvall sanoo, ettei koronan uuden aallon olisi pitänyt tulla yllätyksenä. ”Miksi Suomi varautumisen mallimaana ei ollut varautunut?” Mediuutiset 14.11.2023. https://www.mediuutiset.fi/uutiset/koronajohtamista-arvioinut-professori-kritisoi-kovin-sanoin-rokottamisjarjestelyja-hyvinvointialueiden-byrokraatit-paattavat-asioista-hallituksen-sijasta/c86aef29-f12f-4ddc-9995-fabdc4e6850f

Cognitive decline in older adults in the UK during and after the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal analysis of PROTECT study data (Pre-pandemic data were included for 3142 participants, of whom 1696 (54·0%) were women and 1446 (46·0%) were men, with a mean age of 67·5 years (SD 9·6, range 50–96). Significant worsening of executive function and working memory was observed in the first year of the pandemic across the whole cohort (effect size 0·15 [95% CI 0·12–0·17] for executive function and 0·51 [0·49–0·53] for working memory), in people with mild cognitive impairment (0·13 [0·07–0·20] and 0·40 [0·36–0·47]), and in people with a history of COVID-19 (0·24 [0·16–0·31] and 0·46 [0·39–0·53]). Worsening of working memory was sustained across the whole cohort in the second year of the pandemic (0·47; 0·44–0·49). Regression analysis indicated that cognitive decline was significantly associated with reduced exercise (p=0·0049; executive function) and increased alcohol use (p=0·049; working memory) across the whole cohort, as well as depression (p=0·011; working memory) in those with a history of COVID-19 and loneliness (p=0·0038; working memory) in those with mild cognitive impairment. In the second year of the pandemic, reduced exercise continued to affect executive function across the whole cohort, and associations were sustained between worsening working memory and increased alcohol use (p=0·0040), loneliness (p=0·042), and depression (p=0·014) in those with mild cognitive impairment, and reduced exercise (p=0·0029), loneliness (p=0·031) and depression (p=0·036) in those with a history of COVID-19.). Lancet / Healthy Longevity. Nov. 2023. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhl/article/PIIS2666-7568(23)00187-3/fulltext

Why does COVID-19 cause brain fog? Scientists may finally have an answer. Nearly 40 percent of long COVID patients suffer from the disorienting condition. Destroyed connections between brain cells may be to blame (Another study found that spike protein—which coats the outer surface of the virus—directly eliminates synapses causing loss of memory in lab mice by causing inflammation. / Destroying too many connections between neurons, or over-pruning, may be causing brain fog in long COVID patients. “This could be one of the many reasons—probably—why we are observing a range of neurological symptoms, even after the infection is long gone,” says Samudyata, a postdoctoral researcher at Karolinska Institute who led the study and only uses one name.). National Geographic. 13.11.2023. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/premium/article/why-does-covid-19-cause-brain-fog-answer-immune-inflammation-synapse

Tämä tieto auttaa välttämään koronan (Koronavirus leviää tehokkaasti ilmassa leijuen. Virus lähtee leviämään myös puhuessa, ei vain yskiessä tai aivastellessa / Koronavirusta on nyt ainakin jonkin verran ilmassa lähes varmasti kaikkialla siellä, missä on paljon ihmisiä samassa tilassa. / Viruksen leviämiseen tepsivät edelleen vanhat keinot hyvistä maskeista tuuletukseen. / Puhuminen voi levittää virusta yhtä paljon kuin yskäisy / Uusimpien tutkimusten mukaan koronavirus tarttuu ensisijaisesti ilmavälitteisesti.) Iltalehti. 13.11.2023. https://www.iltalehti.fi/flunssa/a/09a24a11-4264-40b9-90b8-7bff3446750a

The Great Barrington Declaration and “natural herd immunity” versus public health three years later
(Over the weekend, Jeffrey Tucker, founder of the Brownstone Institute, crowed about how the Great Barrington Declaration and its recommendation of a “natural herd immunity” approach to the pandemic changed everything three years ago. Unfortunately, as the John Snow Project pointed out last week, the “natural herd immunity” approach has done what could be irreparable damage to public health science and, more importantly, the political and social will to promote public health practices not just for infectious disease but more generally.). Science-Based Medicine. 13.11.2023. https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/the-great-barrington-declaration-and-natural-herd-immunity-versus-public-health-three-years-later/

IS:n tiedot: Koronaan sairastuneiden iäkkäiden lääke­hoidossa yllätys­käänne – tästä on kyse.
Hyvinvointialueilla on ollut erilaisia ohjeistuksia Paxlovid-lääkkeen käytöstä koronaan sairastuneiden vanhusten hoidossa.ilta=sanomat. 13.11.2023. https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000009987651.html

Ei, rokotteet eivät ole syypää sairastumisiin ja kuolemiin (Jos sairastumiset ja kuolemat johtuvat koronaviruksesta, on monia asioita, joita voi ja kannattaa tehdä pienentääkseen sekä omaa että muiden riskiä: käyttää hengityssuojainta, ottaa koronarokotteita säännöllisin väliajoin ja välttää tilanteita, joissa on suuri määrä ihmisiä sisätiloissa, jos ne eivät ole välttämättömiä. / Mutta entä, jos ei oikein haluaisi tehdä mitään noista? Silloin pääsee paljon helpommalla, jos uskoo, että kuolemat johtuvat rokotteesta. Silloin ei tarvitse tehdä yhtään mitään, paitsi tietenkin kieltäytyä ottamasta rokotetta.). Uusi Suomi (Jarmo Luoma-Nirva blog) 12.11.2023.  https://puheenvuoro.uusisuomi.fi/jln/ei-rokotteet-eivat-ole-syypaa-sairastumisiin-ja-kuolemiin/

Asko Järvinen Ykkösaamussa: Tällaisia oireita korona nyt aiheuttaa. Koronatartunnat ovat lisääntyneet viime viikkoina (Vaikutelma on, että olemme viime viikkojen tartuntamäärissä hyvin lähellä aiempia epidemiahuippuja, ja saattaa olla jopa vähän yli. Tautia liikkuu paljon ja ihmiset sairastuvat. / Järvinen kertoo Ylellä, että korona ei juuri aiheuta enää vakavaa tautimuotoa, eikä korona tästä syystä tule näillä näkymin erityisesti kuormittamaan sairaanhoitoa.). Iltalehti. 11.11.2023. https://www.iltalehti.fi/kotimaa/a/c1250694-f6f0-47d0-9099-2573aa629711

Health experts recommend people wear masks, celebrate Christmas outdoors amid another COVID-19 wave.  Newshub. 11.11.2023. https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/world/2023/11/health-experts-recommend-people-wear-masks-celebrate-christmas-outdoors-amid-another-covid-19-wave.html

Professori (Matti Reinikainen, Kuopio) huolissaan: Koronapotilaiden määrä tehohoidossa jyrkässä kasvussa. Tehohoidon potilaat jakautuvat nyt hieman eri tavalla kuin koronaepidemian aiemmissa vaiheissa. Tehohoitoon joutuvat potilaat ovat myös muuttuneet koronaepidemian alkuvaiheista. Yle. 11.11.2023. https://yle.fi/a/74-20059688

November 11-20

Is Nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 Still Worth Preventing? (Nosocomial = Health Care acquired. Masking, admission testing, and visitor screening are likely the highest yield interventions. The close correlation between community respiratory viral incidence and nosocomial infection rates suggests that selectively deploying these measures during periods of heightened community transmission could abort the plurality of nosocomial transmissions.) JAMA. 10.11.2023. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2811653

Kommentti: Voiko lääkäri leikkiä jumalaa? Korona­lääkkeestä kehkeytyi outo riita. Koronavirus nostaa taas päätään – samoin riidat koronan hoidosta, kirjoittaa pääkirjoitustoimittaja Timo Paunonen (Paxlovid, Asko Järvinen, Markku Broas, Lasse Lehtonen). ilta=sanomat. 7.11.2023

ERS/ELF reaction as EU Council adopts negotiating mandate for the EU AAQD’s revision – article.  (The European Respiratory Society (ERS) and European Lung Foundation (ELF) note the EU Council’s adoption of a negotiating mandate for the EU Ambient Air Quality Directive’s revision.  The EU Council mandate has too much flexibility and delay. We are concerned that the the 2030 deadline for full alignment with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines will not be met and that even compliance with considerably less strict limit values will be postponed by up to a decade.) ERS.   9.11.2023. https://www.ersnet.org/news-and-features/news/ers-elf-reaction-as-eu-council-adopts-negotiating-mandate-for-the-eu-aaqds-revision/

Beyond the acute illness: Exploring long COVID and its impact on multiple organ systems (). Physiology International. 9.11.2023.  https://akjournals.com/view/journals/2060/aop/article-10.1556-2060.2023.00256/article-10.1556-2060.2023.00256.xml

Semen proteomics reveals alterations in fertility-related proteins post-recovery from COVID-19. Front Physiol. 9.11.2023. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2023.1212959/full

New antifungal kills without toxic side effects. If approved, synthetic compound could bolster shaky arsenal of antifungal drugs.  Science. 8.11.2023. https://www.science.org/content/article/new-antifungal-kills-without-toxic-side-effects

Tunnettu joensuulaislääkäri Olavi Vänskä siirtäisi päätäntävaltaa sote-palveluista lääkäreille ja hoitajille: ”Tässä sekasotkussa on unohdettu potilas”. Karjalainen. 7.11.2023. https://www.karjalainen.fi/maakunta/3mdjjo4ily

Child vaccination rates (All OECD countries have established vaccination programmes based on their interpretation of the risks and benefits of each vaccine. There is strong evidence that vaccines provide safe and effective protection against diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), and measles. Childhood vaccination rates reflect the percentage of children that receive the respective vaccination in the recommended timeframe. The age of complete immunisation differs across countries due to different immunisation schedules. This indicator is presented for measles and for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. It is measured as a percentage of children at around age 1.) OECD Data. 7.11.2023. https://data.oecd.org/healthcare/child-vaccination-rates.htm#indicator-chart

ASSESSMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF COVID-19 RELATED COGNITIVE DECLINE: RESULTS FROM A NATURAL EXPERIMENT (The mean age of the COVID-19 group was 56.04±6.6 years, while that of the control group was 58.1±7.3 years. Longitudinal models indicated a significant decline in cognitive throughput ((β=-0.168, P=.001) following COVID-19, after adjustment for pre-COVID-19 functioning, demographics, and medical factors. The effect sizes were large; the observed changes in throughput were equivalent to 10.6 years of normal aging and a 59.8% increase in the burden of mild cognitive impairment. Cognitive decline worsened with coronavirus disease 2019 severity and was concentrated in participants reporting post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2.). medRxiv. 6.11.2023. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.11.06.23298101v1

Koronalääke Paxlovid uhkaa loppua Suomesta – nelikymppinen riskiryhmäläinen metsästi korkeassa kuumeessa itselleen lääkettä. Seuraava normaalierä Paxlovidia saataneen Suomeen aikaisintaan vasta joulukuun puolivälissä. Ennen sitä lääkeyritys Pfizer yrittää tuoda pienen lisäerän lääkettä Ruotsista. YLE. 3.11.2023. https://yle.fi/a/74-20058398

At least 14% of Americans have long COVID, research suggests by University College London (The researchers found that nearly half (47%) of people surveyed reported having had COVID-19 at some point, while 14% of the total had had long COVID at some point, half of whom (7% of the total) still had long COVID symptoms when answering the survey. The findings suggest that one in three people who contract COVID-19 may end up with long COVID symptoms. The researchers caution that a limitation of their study is that it relies on people self-reporting symptoms, while some people surveyed may have had COVID-19 without knowing it.). MedicalXpress. 2.11.2023. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-11-americans-covid.html

Kodeissa ja sairaalassa tehty tutkimus osoittaa: ilmahygieniasta huolehtiminen kannattaa koronatartuntojen ehkäisemiseksi. HUSin, Helsingin yliopiston, Ilmatieteen laitoksen ja Työterveyslaitoksen monitieteellisissä tutkimuksissa on selvitetty SARS-CoV-2 koronaviruksen esiintymistä koti- ja sairaalaympäristössä (Perheissä, joissa ei käytetty maskeja tai hengityssuojaimia tai joissa keskityttiin vain pintojen siivoamiseen, löytyi jatkotartuntoja. ”Sen sijaan jatkotartunnat pystyttiin välttämään perheissä, joissa noudatettiin lisäksi ilmahygienian toimenpiteitä kuten asunnon tuuletusta, hengityssuojaimien ja kasvomaskien käyttöä ja sairastuneen eristäytymistä omaan huoneeseen, vaikka positiivisia näytteitä kerättiin sekä pinnoilta että ilmasta”, kertoo foniatriaan ja korva-, nenä- ja kurkkutauteihin erikoistuva tutkijalääkäri Lotta Oksanen.). HUS Mediatiedote. 1.11.2022. https://www.hus.fi/ajankohtaista/kodeissa-ja-sairaalassa-tehty-tutkimus-osoittaa-ilmahygieniasta-huolehtiminen

Kansanedustajat tekivät kirjallisen kysymyksen koronarokotteista ja Paxlovidista – ”Hallituksen kanta hyvä saada mustaa valkoisella”. (Edustajat pohtivat, onko Paxlovid-koronaviruslääkkeen panttaus syynä Suomen korkeaan ylikuolleisuuteen pandemian alkamisen jälkeen. Terhi Koulumies (kok) kysyy kirjallisessa kysymyksessään muun muassa, kuinka paljon koronarokotteita on tuhottu Suomessa käyttämättöminä tai lahjoitettu pois. ”Minulla on sellainen mielikuva, että edellinenkin hallitus oli rokote- ja lääkemyönteinen, mutta poliittinen tahto ei oikein kanavoitunut käytäntöön.”) Mediuutiset. 1.11.2023. https://www.mediuutiset.fi/uutiset/mu/0225a552-47ed-40c4-baf2-6d4dc7e7e8f8

The long-term health outcomes, pathophysiological mechanisms and multidisciplinary management of long COVID (Although COVID-19 was initially considered an acute respiratory illness, recent evidence suggests that manifestations including but not limited to those of the cardiovascular, respiratory, neuropsychiatric, gastrointestinal, reproductive, and musculoskeletal systems may persist long after the acute phase. These persistent manifestations, also referred to as long COVID, could impact all patients with COVID-19 across the full spectrum of illness severity. Herein, we comprehensively review the current literature on long COVID, highlighting its epidemiological understanding, the impact of vaccinations, organ-specific sequelae, pathophysiological mechanisms, and multidisciplinary management strategies. In addition, the impact of psychological and psychosomatic factors is also underscored.). Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy. 1.11.2023. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41392-023-01640-z

Boris Johnson suggested he thought COVID was ’nature’s way of dealing with old people’
The COVID inquiry has heard evidence about Boris Johnson’s attitude to older people when making crunch decisions over lockdown. Sir Patrick Vallance wrote in one of his notebooks in August 2020 that Mr Johnson was ”obsessed with older people accepting their fate and letting the young get on with life and the economy going. Quite bonkers set of exchanges”. Sky news. 1.11.2023. https://news.sky.com/story/boris-johnson-suggested-he-thought-covid-was-natures-way-of-dealing-with-old-people-12997032

SARS-CoV-2 infection leads to sustained testicular injury and functional impairments in K18 hACE2 mice. bioRxiv. 1.11.2023. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.10.31.565042v1

A Storm Is Gathering Around A CDC Committee For Its Controversial Infection Control Guidance (The Healthcare Infection Control Advisory Committee of the CDC is revising infection control guidelines for healthcare facilities throughout the country. They have come under considerable criticism from several national advocacy groups over their draft guidelines, which suggest they will weaken protections, particularly for respiratory protection. Members of the World Health Network looked into the HICPAC’s charter and, as a result, have filed a complaint with the Office of the Inspector General charging … ). Forbes. 1.11.2023. https://www.forbes.com/sites/judystone/2023/11/01/a-storm-is-gathering-around-a-cdc-committee/

Työikäinen ei saa koronarokotetta edes rahalla – Soitto terveyskeskukseen paljasti yllättävän syyn
Koronarokotetta ei saa, vaikka olisi valmis maksamaan siitä. Seura. 1.11.2023. https://seura.fi/kunnon-juttuja/tyoikainen-ei-saa-koronarokotetta-edes-rahalla-soitto-terveyskeskukseen-paljasti-yllattavan-syyn/

Nov. 1-10

Some common deleterious mutations are shared in SARS-CoV-2 genomes from deceased COVID-19 patients across continents. Scientific Reports. 30.10.2023. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-45517-1

Masks During Pandemics Caused by Respiratory Pathogens (audio conversation). JAMA Network Open. 31.10,2023. https://edhub.ama-assn.org/jn-learning/audio-player/18827956

Single-cell RNA-Seq reveals intracellular microbial diversity within immune cells during SARS-CoV-2 infection and recovery (• 76 bacterial species of 15 genera across healthy, COVID-19-positive, and recovered individuals / • Higher abundance of opportunistic intracellular bacteria in recovered group / • Higher microbial abundance within antigen-presenting cells of COVID-19 patients / • Differential microbial abundance in Treg, memory T, and platelets in COVID-19) iScience 27.10.2023. https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(23)02434-3

Ilmavälitteisyyden merkitys on luultua suurempi. Pandemia loi tarpeen infektioiden ilmavälitteisyyden tutkimukselle (Lotta Oksanen, Anne Seppänen. Ennen koronaa ajateltiin, että ilmavälitteinen tartunta on harvinainen ja koskee lähinnä tuberkuloosia ja tuhkarokkoa. Pandemia loi tarpeen infektioiden ilmavälitteisyyden tutkimukselle ja nyt aiheesta tiedetään enemmän. Luontainen hiukkastuotto, jota tapahtuu hengitysteissä, kun hengitämme, puhumme, nauramme tai laulamme, synnyttää ilmaan sen kokoisia hiukkasia, että on riski saada tartunta, jos hengitysteissä on infektio, Oksanen kertoo.).  Lääkärilehti. 27.10.2023. https://www.laakarilehti.fi/tieteessa/ilmavalitteisyyden-merkitys-on-luultua-suurempi/?public=10fceb88e8e3074c0e00ed113fdf709a

SARS-CoV-2 virus found to migrate within neurons and infect the brain (coronavirus phenomenon first published in Nature in 2019). MedicalXpress. 27.10.2023. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-10-sars-cov-virus-migrate-neurons-infect.html

Severe COVID-19 May Cause Long-Term Immune System Changes (In a small study (in Cell 21.8.2023) supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), severe cases of COVID-19 were shown to cause long-lasting changes to the immune system.Researchers found that severe cases of COVID-19 can change which genes are turned on or off in certain stem cells. The study focused on stem cells that produce white blood cells, a part of the immune system. The stem cells of people who recovered from severe COVID-19 produced more white blood cells — which then produced more inflammatory signals — than the cells of healthy counterparts.). NIH. 27.10.2023. https://covid19.nih.gov/news-and-stories/severe-covid-19-may-cause-long-term-immune-system-changes#:~:text=In%20a%20small%20study%20supported,off%20in%20certain%20stem%20cells.

COVID-19 vaccine-induced adaptive immunity against SARS-CoV-2 variants (…a two-dose mRNA vaccine regimen leads to consistent and high production of S-specific antibodies across all studied age groups. Vaccinated individuals exhibit the ability to neutralize the SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant, while neutralization against the Beta and Delta variants is reduced. Furthermore, a majority of vaccinated participants display the presence of SARS-CoV-2 S-specific memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, which exhibit cross-recognition of the different SARS-CoV-2 variants. S-specific antibody levels were found to decline within months following vaccination, while T cell responses remained stable for at least six months.). Turun yliopisto. 27.10.2023. https://www.utupub.fi/handle/10024/175883

Quantitative errors in the Cochrane review on ”Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses” (There are extensive studies validating scientific understanding about the behavior of larger (droplets) and smaller (aerosols) particles in disease transmission and the dosimetry of particles in the respiratory track. Similarly, modalities for respiratory protection against particles in the size range spanned by infectious particles, such as N95 respirators, are available and known to be efficacious with tested standards for harm reduction across environments including physical, chemical and biological hazards. Even though multiple studies also confirm their protective effect when adopted in healthcare and public settings for infection prevention, overall, studies of protocols of their adoption over the last several decades in both clinical trials and observational studies have not provided as clear an understanding. Here we demonstrate that these studies are strongly biased towards the null by infections resulting from transmission outside of the investigated environments and study participants. Such study limitations are frequently mis-stated as not influencing the conclusions of research on respiratory protection. The reason for the failure to properly analyze the studies is that the standard analytical equations used do not correctly represent the random variables that play a role in the study results. By correcting the mathematical representation and the equations that result from them, we demonstrate that conclusions drawn from these studies are strongly biased and much more uncertain than is acknowledged, providing almost no useful information. Even with all these limitations, we show that existing results, when outcome measures are properly analyzed, consistently point to the benefit of precautionary measures such as N95 respirators over medical masks, and masking over its absence. We also show that correcting manifest errors of widely reported meta-analyses also leads to statistically significant estimates. Our results have implications for the design of studies and analyses on the effectiveness of respiratory protection and on using existing evidence for policy guidelines for infection control.). Research Square. 26.10.2023. https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-3486610/v1

Potential impact of annual vaccination with reformulated COVID-19 vaccines: lessons from the U.S. COVID-19 Scenario Modeling Hub (preprint) (In the most pessimistic scenario (high immune escape, no vaccination recommendation), we project 2.1 million (90% PI 1,438,000-4,270,000) hospitalizations and 209,000 (90% PI 139,000-461,000) deaths, exceeding pre-pandemic mortality of influenza and pneumonia. In high immune escape scenarios, vaccination of those aged 65+ results in 230,000 (95% CI 104,000-355,000) fewer hospitalizations and 33,000 (95% CI 12,000-54,000) fewer deaths, while vaccination of all eligible individuals results in 431,000 (95% CI 264,000-598,000) fewer hospitalizations and 49,000 (95% CI 29,000-69,000) fewer deaths.). medRxiv 26.10.2023. https://pesquisa.bvsalud.org/global-literature-on-novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov/resource/ca/ppzbmed-10.1101.2023.10.26.23297581

SIDE EFFECT Children infected with Covid at risk of blood vessel damage that can trigger clots, scientists warn. (VIRTUALLY all children infected with Covid suffer from serious blood vessel damage, scientists have warned. The US study found a ”high proportion” of kids with the bug had elevated levels of a biomarker tied to this type of cardiovascular injury. And this was even the case for those who only had mild symptoms. Originally Published on 8.12.2020!) The Sun 26.10.2023. https://www.thesun.co.uk/health/24519378/blood-vessel-damage-children/

Dopaminergic systems create reward seeking despite adverse consequences (). nature. 25.10.2023. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06671-8

Koronatilanne pahenee? – Koronapotilaiden määrä ruuhkautti yhteispäivystyksen Etelä-Karjalassa (Kun viikolla 2.-8.10. todennettujen tartuntojen määrä oli samalla tasolla kuin millä se oli pysytellyt viikkoja ja kuukausia eli 175, niin seuraavalla viikolla 9.-15.10. se oli noussut lukemaan 414.). Mediuutiset. 25.10.2023. https://www.mediuutiset.fi/uutiset/koronatilanne-pahenee-koronapotilaiden-maara-ruuhkautti-yhteispaivystyksen-etela-karjalassa/508f1650-1fa1-4384-a8ec-7431b599b970

Calm urged as pneumonia cases in children increase (”Given the fast spread of mycoplasmal pneumonia cases at present, the circulation of other respiratory infectious diseases in the coming months is also expected to be serious,” she said. ”So it is important to spread awareness about these diseases and take precautions.”). China Daily. 24.10.2023. https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202310/24/WS6537234ca31090682a5ea55f.html

Japan faces flu medicine ‘shortage’ as case surge leads to closure of thousands of schools
Flu cases per medical institution in Japan exceeds warning level (“Several factors are believed to have played a role in the current spread of the flu, including a decline in immunity as (the flu) had not spread for a long time, and an increase in travel between Japan and overseas,” a health ministry official was quoted as saying by the outlet. The official advised residents to continue efforts to prevent infection as they did for Covid.). Independent. 23.10.2023. https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/japan/japan-flu-outbreak-influenza-b2434297.html

 

October 21-31

Schools cut covid-19 sick days by 20 per cent using HEPA air filters. Placing HEPA air filters into classrooms in the Bradford area of the UK reduced the number of covid-19-related absences among students by more than 20 per cent. New Scientist. 20.10.2023.  https://www.newscientist.com/article/2398713-schools-cut-covid-19-sick-days-by-20-per-cent-using-hepa-air-filters/

Rekordmange sjukmelde: – Vi er bekymra. Aldri før har så mange vorte sjukmelde på grunn av utmatting etter koronasjukdom. – Det kan sjå ut som om risikoen aukar viss ein blir smitta fleire gonger, seier assisterande helsedirektør Espen Nakstad. nrk. 19.10.2023. https://www.nrk.no/osloogviken/rekordmange-sjukmelde_-_-vi-er-bekymra-1.16580414

Tutkimus: Rakennusten jäähdytyksellä ja riittävällä ilmanvaihdolla voidaan torjua helteen terveyshaittoja ja hengitystieinfektioita (Tuoreen tutkimuksen mukaan rakennukset Suomessa ylilämpenevät merkittävästi kuuman hellekesän aikana. Tämä lisää huomattavasti ennenaikaisia kuolemia ja sairaalahoitojaksoja. Lisäksi riittämätön ilmanvaihto voi kasvattaa hengitystieinfektioriskiä ja infektioista johtuvia terveysvaikutuksia.). THL. 19.10.2023. https://thl.fi/fi/-/tutkimus-rakennusten-jaahdytyksella-ja-riittavalla-ilmanvaihdolla-voidaan-torjua-helteen-terveyshaittoja-ja-hengitystieinfektioita-

Ilmanvaihto- ja jäähdytysjärjestelmien resilienssi lämpöaaltojen ja hengitystieinfektioiden suhteen.
Uudis- ja korjausrakennusten teknisten ratkaisujen toiminta muuttuvissa olosuhteissa. Valtioneuvoston selvitys- ja tutkimustoiminnan julkaisusarja 2023:56. 19.10.2023. https://julkaisut.valtioneuvosto.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/165209/VNTEAS_2023_56.pdf

Covid-19 vaccine effectiveness against post-covid-19 condition among 589 722 individuals in Sweden: population based cohort study (Covid-19 vaccination with any number of doses before infection was associated with a reduced risk of PCC (adjusted hazard ratio 0.42, 95% confidence interval 0.38 to 0.46), with a vaccine effectiveness of 58%. Of the vaccinated individuals, 21 111 received one dose only, 205 650 received two doses, and 72 931 received three or more doses. Vaccine effectiveness against PCC for one dose, two doses, and three or more doses was 21%, 59%, and 73%, respectively.). BMJ 16.10.2023. https://www.bmj.com/content/383/bmj-2023-076990

COVID’s Damage Lingers in the Heart. Researchers increasingly find that the effects of infection by SARS-CoV-2 extend to the cardiovascular system (But COVID-19 patients are also unusually prone to a different type of heart attack called a type 2 myocardial infarction. In these cases, the problem isn’t a blockage in the arteries, but rather a mismatch between oxygen supply and oxygen demand. Fever and inflammation accelerate heart rate and increase metabolic demands on many organs, including the heart. If infected lungs are incapable of effectively exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide, then stressed hearts might suffer damage due to insufficient oxygen.). Harvard Medicine. October 2023. https://magazine.hms.harvard.edu/articles/covids-damage-lingers-heart

Possible cancer-causing capacity of COVID-19: Is SARS-CoV-2 an oncogenic agent? Biochimie. Oct 2023. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0300908423001360

Association of COVID- 19 with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections in children aged 0–5 years in the USA in 2022: a multicentre retrospective cohort study (COVID- 19 was associated with a significantly increased risk for RSV infections among children aged 0–5 years in 2022. Similar  findings were replicated for a study population of children aged 0–5 years in 2021. Our findings suggest that COVID- 19 contributed to the 2022 surge of RSV cases in young children through the large buildup of COVID- 19- infected children and the potential long- term adverse effects of COVID- 19 on the immune and respiratory system). Family Med Commun Health. 13.10.2023. https://fmch.bmj.com/content/fmch/11/4/e002456.full.pdf

Impact of COVID-19 on immunocompromised populations during the Omicron era: insights from the observational population-based INFORM study (Overall, immunocompromised individuals accounted for 3.9% of the study population, but 22% (4585/20,910) of COVID-19 hospitalisations, 28% (125/440) of COVID-19 ICU admissions, and 24% (1145/4810) of COVID-19 deaths in 2022. Restricting to those vaccinated with ≥3 doses of COVID-19 vaccine (∼84% of immunocompromised and 51% of the general population), all immunocompromised groups remained at increased risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes, with adjusted incidence rate ratios (aIRR) for hospitalisation ranging from 1.3 to 13.1. At highest risk for COVID-19 hospitalisation were individuals with: solid organ transplant (aIRR 13.1, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 11.2–15.3), moderate to severe primary immunodeficiency (aIRR 9.7, 95% CI 6.3–14.9), stem cell transplant (aIRR 11.0, 95% CI 6.8–17.6), and recent treatment for haematological malignancy (aIRR 10.6, 95% CI 9.5–11.9). Results were similar for COVID-19 ICU admissions and deaths.) Lancet Regional Health. 12.10.2023. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanepe/article/PIIS2666-7762(23)00166-7/fulltext

October 11-20

Hospital trust apologises for telling staff not to test for Covid-19.  Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust said it prioritises the wellbeing and safety of its patients and staff (A hospital trust has apologised for telling staff they ”should not be testing for Covid-19”. An email sent by Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust said testing for the virus could ”result in having to remain at home for longer than their symptoms persist”.  The communication sparked outrage online after a screenshot was posted on social media site X, formerly Twitter. It was branded a ”callous approach to staff and patient safety”, leading many to question whether it was a hoax.). BirminghamLive. 10.10.2023. https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/black-country/hospital-trust-apologises-telling-staff-27882146

Not ’little adults’: Experts say long COVID undercounted, misdiagnosed in kids (Research on long COVID in children is limited, and reported prevalences range widely, from less than 1% to 70%. And while it’s a relatively new condition in an evolving field, experts say it could be better defined and measured through well-designed longitudinal studies that take children’s unique presentations into account.) CIDRAP. 10.10.2023. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/not-little-adults-experts-say-long-covid-undercounted-misdiagnosed-kids

Miksi vain jotkut saavat pian uuden koronarokotteen? Yhdysvalloissa annetaan paikoin taas koronarokote kaikille, mutta Suomessa tehdään toisin (Tänä syksynä uusia koronarokotetehosteita annetaan vain osalle suomalaisista. Tähän ratkaisuun vaikuttaa raha. On odottavissa, että jo lähiaikoina on mahdollista ostaa Suomessa koronarokote omalla rahalla.). Iltalehti. 9.10.2023. https://www.iltalehti.fi/terveysuutiset/a/b8d9adfd-6191-4e65-b8cb-7ea8e85de82e

Trial By Error: More of the Same Old Nonsense from the “Oslo Chronic Fatigue Consortium”. Virology Blog by David Tuller. 8.10.2023. https://virology.ws/2023/10/09/trial-by-error-more-of-the-same-old-nonsense-from-the-oslo-chronic-fatigue-consortium/

New Zealand’s Covid-19 response saved 20,000 lives – research (Lead author and Otago University public health professor Michael Baker [actually the mastermind of the NZ strategy] said it was a ”strange paradox” of preventative medicine that its success could work against it in people’s minds. ”We have an expression in public health: ’A public health triumph: nothing happened’. ”If you stop a pandemic, or greatly blunt it, people may say ’well, what was all the fuss about?’). RNZ. 7.10.2023. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/499516/new-zealand-s-covid-19-response-saved-20-000-lives-research

SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the Cerebrospinal Fluid of a Patient with Long COVID (We describe a long COVID patient with SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the cerebrospinal fluid, which seems important, specifically due to recent reports of gray matter volume loss in COVID-19 patients.). Therapeutic Advances in Infectious Diseases. 7.10.2023. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/20499361211048572

People may suffer ‘long colds’ more than four weeks after infection, study shows. Results in the Lancet’s EClinicalMedicine journal found a ‘similar risk’ of long-term symptoms as those with Covid. Guardian. 6.10.2023. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/oct/06/people-may-suffer-long-colds-more-than-four-weeks-after-infection-study-shows

Long-term symptom profiles after COVID-19 vs other acute respiratory infections: an analysis of data from the COVIDENCE UK study (Participants with SARS-CoV-2 infection had increased odds of problems with taste/smell (odds ratio 19.74, 95% CI 10.53–37.00) and lightheadedness or dizziness (1.74, 1.18–2.56) compared with participants with non-COVID-19 ARIs. Separate LCA models identified three symptom severity groups for each infection type. In the most severe groups (representing 22% of participants for both SARS-CoV-2 and non-COVID-19 ARI), SARS-CoV-2 infection presented with a higher probability of problems with taste/smell (probability 0.41 vs 0.04), hair loss (0.25 vs 0.16), unusual sweating (0.38 vs 0.25), unusual racing of the heart (0.43 vs 0.33), and memory problems (0.70 vs 0.55) than non-COVID-19 ARI.). eClinicalMedicine. 6.10.2023. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.102251

Effective Health Care and Global Pandemic Preparedness. Policy paper for G20 (Well-functioning health systems are a pre-requisite for achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3) Good Health and Wellbeing. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that the global health system should become more effective and equitable. The World Health Organization (WHO) serves as a vital resource for countries to enhance their national public health systems, and as a catalyst and enabler of multilateral cooperation for addressing global health-related threats. This policy paper proposes several key recommendations that, in the view of an expert panel, could be implemented in the near term to further strengthen and empower the WHO.). IIASA. 6.10.2023. https://pure.iiasa.ac.at/id/eprint/19119/

Autoimmune and Autoinflammatory Connective Tissue Disorders Following COVID-19 (This cohort study including 354 527 individuals with COVID-19 and 6 134 940 controls identified a significant elevation in the risk of multiple incident autoimmune and autoinflammatory disorders subsequent to COVID-19. Notably, certain disease risks exhibited a positive association with the severity of COVID-19.). JAMA Network Open. 6.10.2023. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2810259

Covid-19 : l’Etat condamné à indemniser des plaignants qui dénonçaient le manque de masques
(La justice administrative a confirmé en appel la responsabilité des autorités dans la constitution d’un stock de masques insuffisant avant l’épidémie.). franceinfo. 6.10.2023. https://www.francetvinfo.fr/sante/maladie/coronavirus/masques-sanitaires/covid-19-l-etat-condamne-a-indemniser-des-plaignants-qui-denoncaient-le-manque-de-masques_6105522.html

A next-generation intranasal trivalent MMS vaccine induces durable and broad protection against SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (By expressing the six-proline-stabilized prefusion spikes from three diverse SARS-CoV-2 strains in the MeV, MuV-JL1, and MuV-JL2 vaccine strains from MMR, we generated a MMS trivalent vaccine candidate. Intranasally delivered MMS induced strong SARS-CoV-2-specific neutralizing antibody, mucosal IgA, and systemic and lung resident T cell immune responses that provide broad protection against challenge with each of these three strains. Therefore, MMS is a highly promising next-generation vaccine candidate against COVID-19. Furthermore, any of the three component vaccine viruses can be quickly modified when a new important SARS-CoV-2 variant appears.). PNAS. 5.10.2023. https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2220403120

Lääketieteen Nobelin voittaneen Katalin Karikón työ mahdollisti koronarokotteet – Ennen läpimurtoa häntä uhattiin karkoituksella Yhdysvalloista ja alennettiin rivitutkijaksi.
Mediuutiset julkaisee Kauppalehden Faktassa helmikuussa 2021 julkaistun laajan Katalin Karikón haastattelun. Karikón tutkimukset avasivat tien Modernan ja Pfizerin koronarokotteille. Mediuutiset. 3.10.2023.  https://www.mediuutiset.fi/uutiset/laaketieteen-nobelin-voittaneen-katalin-karikon-tyo-mahdollisti-koronarokotteet-ennen-lapimurtoa-hanta-uhattiin-karkoituksella-yhdysvalloista-ja-alennettiin-rivitutkijaksi/b47bd6b0-c126-463a-a257-c9f24747ed48

If you have COVID-19 we recommend you isolate for at least 5 days, even if you only have mild symptoms. Find out what else you need to do (Start your recommended 5 day isolation period / Report your test result / Get antiviral medicine [You can get free antiviral medicines if you: have COVID-19 and symptoms or you are a Household Contact and have symptoms, and became sick within the last 5 days, and meet one of the additional antiviral eligibility criteria. Eligible people include: Māori or Pacific people aged 50 or over / everyone aged 65 or over / anyone aged 50 or over, who has not completed a primary course of vaccination / anyone with a severely weakened immune system / anyone with Down syndrome / anyone with sickle cell disease / anyone who has previously been in critical high dependency hospital care from COVID-19 / anyone with a disability who is at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19 / anyone with frailty or vulnerability due to one or more severe health conditions / You are also eligible if you have 3 or more high-risk factors for severe illness from COVID-19.]/ Monitor and manage your symptoms / Finish your recommended isolation period / More information).  2.10.2023. https://covid19.govt.nz/testing-and-isolation/if-you-have-covid-19/

Medicines to treat COVID-19. COVID-19 antiviral medicines can help people who are at risk of becoming very sick with COVID-19. These medicines are free. You must start taking them within the first 5 days of becoming unwell. Unite against COVID. 2.10.2023.  https://covid19.govt.nz/testing-and-isolation/if-you-have-covid-19/medicines-to-treat-covid-19/

October 1-10

T Cell Cross-reactivity in Autoimmune-like Hepatitis Triggered by COVID-19 (In the case of a pediatric patient with SARS-CoV-2 infection, the liver biopsy showed acute submassive hepatocyte necrosis, accompanied by a significant increase in T cell infiltration. Furthermore, CD8 T-cell dominant hepatitis induced by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination has also been recently reported. Although it is known that T cell receptors (TCRs) can discriminate between self- and non-self-antigens, it is now well-accepted that TCRs exhibit cross-reactivity toward similar and even distinct antigen peptides. Thus, we hypothesized that following SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination, T cells carrying TCRs that recognize self-antigens undergo clonal expansion, which could eventually result in the onset of autoimmune-like hepatitis). hLife. 28.9.2023. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949928323000093

Long Covid Is Real. Now the Evidence Is Piling Up. A new study finds evidence of hormone imbalances and other biomarkers that can cause symptoms to linger. Bloomberg. 27.9.2023. https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2023-09-27/long-covid-is-real-now-the-evidence-is-piling-up

Vaccine Effectiveness Against Long COVID in Children: A Report from the RECOVER EHR Cohort (The vaccination rate was 56% in the cohort of 1,037,936 children. The incidence of probable long COVID was 4.5% among patients with COVID-19, while diagnosed long COVID was 0.7%. Adjusted vaccine effectiveness within 12 months was 35.4% (95 CI 24.5 – 44.5) against probable long COVID and 41.7% (15.0 – 60.0) against diagnosed long COVID. VE was higher for adolescents 50.3% [36.3 – 61.0]) than children aged 5-11 (23.8% [4.9 – 39.0]). VE was higher at 6 months (61.4% [51.0 – 69.6]) but decreased to 10.6% (–26.8 – 37.0%) at 18-months.). medRxiv. 27.9.2023. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.09.27.23296100v2

Community Mobility and Depressive Symptoms During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States (In this survey study with 192 271 respondents, individuals who lived in communities where fewer individuals left home on a daily basis during the pandemic reported greater levels of depression on average. These differences were not directly attributable to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, nor to county-level differences in COVID-19 cases or deaths, weather, or county-level economic features; the association persisted after widespread COVID-19 vaccine availability.). JAMA Network. 27.9.2023. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2809947

Has the risk of getting long covid been overestimated? Long covid, the experience of lingering symptoms after a covid-19 infection, remains a poorly understood condition, and researchers disagree on how common it is. New Scientist. 27.9.2023. https://www.newscientist.com/article/2393962-has-the-risk-of-getting-long-covid-been-overestimated/

Long COVID has affected nearly 7% of American adults, CDC survey data finds (In reports published Tuesday using data from 2022 National Health Interview Survey, the agency said 6.9% of U.S. adults reported ever having long COVID, while 3.4% said they currently had the condition at the time of interview. Based on U.S. Census data, that would mean nearly 18 million have suffered from the condition at some point since the pandemic began, and almost 9 million did at the time of the survey.). CBS News. 26.9.2023. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/long-covid-americans-new-cdc-survey-data/

Dataset / Comparisons of all-cause mortality between European countries and regions ( ASMR / All-cause mortality rates of selected European countries and regions. Breakdowns include sex and broad age group for selected countries and cities.) ONS. 25.9.2023. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/datasets/comparisonsofallcausemortalitybetweeneuropeancountriesandregions

Long Covid treatment breakthrough as study finds abnormalities in blood of patients
A new study has found that Long Covid sufferers have unusual hormone and immune systems – spotting abnormalities in patients could offer medics an early-warning sign of the condition’s presence. Mirror. 25.9.2023. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/us-news/long-covid-treatment-breakthrough-study-31023408

A blood test for long Covid is possible, a study suggests. Scientists can now show key differences in the blood of those who recover from Covid — and those who don’t. NBC News. 25.9.2023. https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/long-covid-differences-blood-test-study-finds-rcna116871

Distinguishing features of Long COVID identified through immune profiling (273 individuals with or without LC were enrolled in a cross-sectional study that included multi-dimensional immune phenotyping and unbiased machine learning methods to identify biological features associated with LC. Marked differences were noted in circulating myeloid and lymphocyte populations relative to matched controls, as well as evidence of exaggerated humoral responses directed against SARS-CoV-2 among participants with LC. Further, higher antibody responses directed against non-SARS-CoV-2 viral pathogens were observed among individuals with LC, particularly Epstein-Barr virus. Levels of soluble immune mediators and hormones varied among groups, with cortisol levels being lower among participants with LC. Integration of immune phenotyping data into unbiased machine learning models identified key features most strongly associated with LC status.). nature.25.9.2023. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06651-y

 

Multiorgan MRI findings after hospitalisation with COVID-19 in the UK (C-MORE): a prospective, multicentre, observational cohort study (Multiorgan abnormalities on MRI were more frequent in patients than in controls (157 [61%] of 259 vs 14 [27%] of 52; p<0·0001) and independently associated with COVID-19 status (odds ratio [OR] 2·9 [95% CI 1·5–5·8]; padjusted=0·0023) after adjusting for relevant confounders. Compared with controls, patients were more likely to have MRI evidence of lung abnormalities (p=0·0001; parenchymal abnormalities), brain abnormalities (p<0·0001; more white matter hyperintensities and regional brain volume reduction), and kidney abnormalities (p=0·014; lower medullary T1 and loss of corticomedullary differentiation), whereas cardiac and liver MRI abnormalities were similar between patients and controls. Patients with multiorgan abnormalities were older (difference in mean age 7 years [95% CI 4–10]; mean age of 59·8 years [SD 11·7] with multiorgan abnormalities vs mean age of 52·8 years [11·9] without multiorgan abnormalities; p<0·0001), more likely to have three or more comorbidities (OR 2·47 [1·32–4·82]; padjusted=0·0059), and more likely to have a more severe acute infection (acute CRP >5mg/L, OR 3·55 [1·23–11·88]; padjusted=0·025) than those without multiorgan abnormalities. Presence of lung MRI abnormalities was associated with a two-fold higher risk of chest tightness, and multiorgan MRI abnormalities were associated with severe and very severe persistent physical and mental health impairment (PHOSP-COVID symptom clusters) after hospitalisation.). Lancet Respiratory Medicine. 22.9.2023. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(23)00262-X/fulltext

TMPRSS2 activation of Omicron lineage Spike glycoprotein is regulated by TMPRSS2 cleavage of ACE2. bioRxiv. 22.9.2023. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.09.22.558930v2

Prion Disease After COVID-19: A Case Report. Unknown etiology, Challenging differential diagnosis, Rare disease. Am J Case Reports. 21.9.2023. https://amjcaserep.com/abstract/full/idArt/940564

September 21-30

COVID-19 is more lethal in hemodialysis chronic kidney disease patients with low physical capacity (112 patients were submitted to a physical, 31 patients contracted symptomatic COVID-19, 20 recovered and 11 died (lethality rate of 35.5%). There was a difference between survivors and non-survivors on six-minutes-walking-test (6MWT) 386.1 ± 112.8 versus 296.9 ± 103.3 meters (p = 0.04), 30 s sit-to-stand test (30CST) score 11.7 ± 3.1 versus 7.7 ± 4.1 (p = 0.006), and timed up and go test (TUG) 9.4 versus 13.6 s (p = 0.009). There was also an association between percentages of predicted 6MWT, 30CST, and TUG with COVID-19 lethality.). Therapeutic Apheresis and Dialysis. 20.9.2023.  https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1744-9987.14069

Critical care, maternal and neonatal outcomes of pregnant women with COVID-19 admitted to eight intensive care units during the wildtype, alpha and delta waves of the pandemic across the North West of England—a retrospective review (Of the women admitted to ICU antepartum, 40% were discharged while remaining pregnant and 60% had expedited delivery. Antepartum women who were discharged from ICU without giving birth may receive lower rates of mechanical ventilation than those who delivered in ICU or admitted postpartum; however, further studies are needed to confirm or refute this association). Obstetrics & Gynaecology. 20.9.2023. https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/aogs.14681

Does the risk of getting long Covid increase each time you get reinfected? (Ziyad Al-Aly, each time you are infected with Covid, you are rolling the dice on long Covid, whether it’s a first infection or second or third or so on) STAT. 20.9.2023. https://www.statnews.com/2023/09/20/do-long-covid-odds-increase-with-second-infection/

Opinion: The mistake hospitals made on Covid-19. CNN Opinnion. 19.9.2023. https://edition.cnn.com/2023/09/19/opinions/covid-19-hospital-policies-pak-jirmanus-wang/index.html

Years of life lost to COVID-19 in 49 countries: A gender- and life cycle-based analysis of the first two years of the pandemic. PLOS Global Public Health. 18.9.2023. https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0002172

Interview with Finnish pulmonologist Dr. Alexander van Assendelft on airborne transmission during the COVID-19 pandemic (I would like to say that even if it’s not possible anymore to get rid of this pandemic because of the extremely transmissible Omicron mutations, it would still make a great difference if people realized that the most dangerous part in encountering others is when they are talking. By minimizing discussions indoors, maintaining distance and wearing good masks, then it is possible to decrease your risks considerably from getting COVID. Everybody can do something to protect themselves and others. ). World Socialist Web Site. 18.9.2023.https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2023/09/19/otlo-s19.html

Cambridge Health Alliance to require masks again starting Monday. Boston Nusiness Journal (Cambridge Health Alliance will reinstate mask mandate for its patients, visitors and employees on Monday, according to a memo from CEO Dr. Assaad Savah.). 15.9.2023. https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2023/09/15/cha-reinstates-mask-mandate.html

Covid-19 ökar i Stockholms län (Ökningen i Stockholm följer samma trend som resten av landet. Samtidigt ser man även tecken på ökad smittspridning i flera länder inom Europa och i andra delar av världen, enligt statistik från Folkhälsomyndigheten. / Ökningen förväntas att fortsätta under hösten och vintern. Covid-19 är ett luftvägsvirus och de brukar spridas mer under höst och vinter. Men en annan anledning kan vara Eris, som den nya varianten som cirkulerar i landet kallas.).  SVT Nyheter. 15.9.2023. https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/stockholm/covid-19-okar-i-stockholms-lan–fw669x

Modernan päivitetty koronarokote sai vihreää valoa EMAsta. Spikevax-rokote räätälöitiin torjumaan koronan omikron XBB.1.5-varianttia vastaan, mutta sen kerrotaan tepsivän myös XBB.1.16 -alavarianttia eli Arcturusta vastaan. Mediuutiset. 15.9.2023. https://www.mediuutiset.fi/uutiset/modernan-paivitetty-koronarokote-sai-vihreaa-valoa-emasta/ab88b52f-3918-45c7-bd31-b1333bfc079c

COVID-19 vaccine-associated mortality in the Southern Hemisphere. Not peer reviewed or in print (Warning! he authors do not believe in SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19. instead assign all death increases to mRNA-vaccines, includuing deaths occurring before vaccination). Sept 2023. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/373989367_COVID-19_vaccine-associated_mortality_in_the_Southern_Hemisphere

”Tavallinen flunssa” kaataa nyt ihmisiä petiin hurjaa tahtia ympäri Suomen. Tavallinen flunssa on palannut niin kuin oli lomilta paluun jälkeen tapana ennen koronapandemiaa. Seuraukset ovat harvoin vakavia, ja käsien pesu on paras ehkäisykeino, sanoo erikoislääkäri Petja Orre Päijät-Hämeen alueelta. Helsingin Sanomat. 15.9.2023. https://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000009855784.html

Addressing Education and Health Inequity: Perspective from the North of England. A report prepared for the Child of the North All-Party Parliamentary Group. Health Equity North. Sept. 2023. https://www.healthequitynorth.co.uk/app/uploads/APPG-REPORT-SEPT-23.pdf

Long COVID in Adults: United States, 2022. NCHS Data Brief No. 480. Sept.2023. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db480.pdf

Long COVID in Chuildren: United States, 2022. NCHS Data Brief No. 479. Sept.2023. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db479.pdf

Trends in invasive bacterial diseases during the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic: analyses of prospective surveillance data from 30 countries and territories in the IRIS Consortium (COVID-19 containment measures were associated with a sustained decrease in the incidence of invasive disease caused by S pneumoniae, H influenzae, and N meningitidis during the first 2 years of the pandemic, but cases began to increase in some countries towards the end of 2021 as pandemic restrictions were lifted. These IRIS data provide a better understanding of microbial transmission, will inform vaccine development and implementation, and can contribute to health-care service planning and provision of policies.). Lancet Digital Health. Sept. 2023. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589750023001085

New Study Detects Spike Protein 6 Months After COVID-19 Vaccination. (According to CDC, mRNA from COVID-19 vaccines is “broken down within a few days after vaccination and doesn’t last long in the body”—a position it has adhered to since the pandemic’s beginning, despite research suggesting otherwise (pdf). The CDC refers to mRNA as “messenger RNA,” whereas regulatory documents and Pfizer refer to the mRNA in COVID-19 vaccines as “modified RNA.” However. 
A study in Proteomics Clinical Applications found spike protein in individuals six months after vaccination, challenging claims mRNA in COVID-19 vaccines break.) EPOCH Health. 14.9.2023. https://www.theepochtimes.com/health/new-study-detects-spike-protein-in-vaccinated-6-months-after-covid-19-vaccination-researchers-suggest-3-possible-reasons-5488364/

Covid may have permanently damaged people’s immunity (New Zealand. Several international studies – involving millions of people, mainly from before vaccines became widely available – found a Covid infection doubled the risk of developing heart disease and increased the chance of stroke 1.6 fold. It was also associated with higher rates of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. ”There are a lot of long-term sequelae to Covid that we don’t really know yet and we may not know for years,” Payinda said. ”Post polio syndromes were not identified for literally decades after polio infections. The same with the 1918 flu epidemic – people born during the 1918 Spanish flu epidemic had a two- to three-fold increased risk of later developing Parkinson’s Disease.” The latest research showed vaccination halved the risk of cardiac problems post-infection, he said.).  1 news. 13.9.2023. https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/09/13/covid-may-have-permanently-damaged-peoples-immunity/

”Absolut erschreckend” Corona-Gefahr: Ärzte schreiben Brandbrief (”16 österreichische Ärzte haben sich in einem Brandbrief an die Österreichische Ärztekammer gewandt. Ihr Anliegen: Der Schutz der Patienten vor einer Corona-Infektion. Sie schreiben: ”Wir können eine ständige, unmitigierte Durchseuchung der Bevölkerung mit einem Gefäß-schädigenden, neurotropen Virus wie SARS-CoV-2, bei dem eine frühere Infektion nicht längerfristig vor einer weiteren Infektion schützt, NICHT verantworten!” / Der Umgang mit der Pandemie und das Management dieser Gesundheitskrise sei ”absolut erschreckend”. ”Durch Infektionen und Reinfektionen sehen wir bereits jetzt, dass den Menschen gesunde Lebensjahre verloren gehen, die Übersterblichkeit anhaltend zu hoch ist, und alleine in Europa 36 Millionen Menschen als Folge einer SARS-CoV-2-Infektion chronisch krank geworden sind. COVID-19 ist kein Schnupfen. Es ist kein grippaler Infekt. Es ist eine systemische, Gefäß-schädigende Erkrankung, die sich lediglich über den respiratorischen Weg, über Aerosole, ausbreitet.” / Zur Infektionsprävention schlagen sie eine Reihe von Maßnahmen vor:

-Einsatz von Kohlendioxid-Messgeräten in Innenräumen
-Gute Ventilation mittels Lüftungsanlagen bzw. offene Fenster
-Luftreinigung mit HEPA-Filtern (im Winter oder wo Ventilation nur eingeschränkt möglich ist)
-Testungen und Isolation bei Symptomen, Testung bei Kontakt mit COVID-19-Erkrankten
-COVID-19 als meldepflichtige Erkrankung beibehalten und Einsicht ins Vigilanz-System (Überwachungssystem) ermöglichen (z. B. Abwasserdaten, Hospitalisierungen, Todesfälle)
-FFP2-Masken
-Geblockte Zeitfenster an definierten Tagen für vulnerable Personen reservieren
-Freiwillige Ärzteliste erstellen, wo präventive Maßnahmen eingehalten werden

Ein Arzt sollte Respekt vor Patienten haben. Ein Mensch kann entscheiden, ob er in eine Diskothek geht oder nicht. In eine Arztpraxis oder in ein Spital muss er gehen.”). t-online. 12.9.2023. https://www.t-online.de/gesundheit/krankheiten-symptome/coronavirus/id_100241686/corona-gefahr-aerzte-warnen-in-brandbrief-vor-folgenschweren-infektionen.html

When Did “Herd Immunity” Become a Taboo Phrase (Doctors who repeatedly predicted herd immunity in 2020 and 2021, mocking and berating those who disagreed, now treat herd immunity as a taboo phrase. Jonathan Howard, GBD, Martin Kulldorf, Jay Bhattacharya:

• Herd immunity for coronaviruses means a widescale decoupling of cases from deaths caused by the virus due to immunity.

However, most doctors who spoke ceaselessly about herd immunity in 2020 and 2021, refuse to do so today. In fact, they act as if they had never mentioned herd immunity at all. There has been scant acknowledgement that their preposterous predictions of the pandemic’s end failed to arrive. They’ve made made no effort to grapple with the real-world consequences of telling people herd immunity was around the corner, when in fact the worst was yet to come. Instead of reflecting on their previous claims of herd immunity, these doctors now encourage repeat mass infection, saying:

• Repeat infections are inevitable. More the longer you live. Nothing can be done about it. 

And thus it becomes clear, doctors who previously mocked and berated those who supposedly treated herd immunity as a taboo phrase, now treat herd immunity, as they defined it in 2021, as a taboo phrase. As cases and hospitalizations rise once again, I wonder why that is). Science Based Medicine. 12.9.2023. https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/when-did-herd-immunity-become-a-taboo-phrase/

How evasive and transmissible is the newest omicron offshoot, BA.2.86, that causes COVID-19? 4 questions answered. The Conversation. 12.9.2023. https://theconversation.com/how-evasive-and-transmissible-is-the-newest-omicron-offshoot-ba-2-86-that-causes-covid-19-4-questions-answered-212453

Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations are Now Available (On September 12, 2023, CDC recommended a COVID-19 vaccine updated for 2023-2024 for everyone aged 6 months and older to protect against serious illness. / The main reason to get vaccinated against COVID-19 is to protect yourself against severe illness, hospitalization, and even death. COVID-19 vaccines also reduce the chance of having Long COVID. This vaccine is expected to provide better protection against variants that are currently making people sick.). CDC Respiratory Viruses. 12.9.2023. https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/whats-new/covid-vaccine-recommendations-9-12-2023.html

Satoja tutkimuksia läpikäynyt raportti: Kasvomaskit ja sulut vaikuttivat kiistattomasti koronaviruksen leviämisen hallintaan. (Asiantuntijatyöryhmää johtaneen Mark Walportin mukaan tutkimustulokset ovat tärkeitä, koska jossain vaiheessa tulee taas uusi pandemia, joka voi olla jotain paljon pahempaa kuin sars-CoV-2). Mediuutiset. 11.9.2023. https://www.mediuutiset.fi/erikoistumispaikat

Is COVID back in Germany? Summer is coming to an end in Germany and the number of COVID-19 cases is starting to increase again. Is this the beginning of a new post-pandemic wave of infection? DW. 11.9.2023. https://www.dw.com/en/is-covid-back-in-germany/a-66781061

 

September 11-20

Comparative study showed that children faced a 78% higher risk of new-onset conditions after they had COVID-19 (We compared 1656 exposed and 1656 unexposed children from 1 February 2020 to 30 November 2021. the excess risk of new-onset conditions after COVID-19 was 78% higher in the exposed children when we compared them to the unexposed cohort, with an aHR of 1.7 (95% CI 1.4–2.3) (data not shown). The risk was significantly increased after COVID-19 for mental health disorders (aHR 1.8, 95% CI 1.1–3.0), neurological diseases (aHR 2.4, 95% CI 1.4–4.1), and other conditions, including skin rashes and taste and smell alterations (aHR 2.0, 95% CI 1.0–3.8)). Acta Paediatrica. 9.9.2023. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/apa.16966

SARS-CoV-2-Infektion: Das Post-COVID-Syndrom bei Kindern und Jugendlichen.
Long COVID und das Post-COVID-Syndrom (PCS) bei Kindern und Jugendlichen bestehen aus mehreren Untergruppen mit unterschiedlichem klinischem Verlauf und vermutlich unterschiedlicher Pathogenese. Welche sind die häufigsten Symptome, und wie ist diagnostisch und therapeutisch jeweils vorzugehen? Kinderärztliche Praxis. 8.9.2023. https://www.kinderaerztliche-praxis.de/a/sars-cov-infektion-das-post-covid-syndrom-bei-kindern-und-jugendlichen-2492148

SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Development of Islet Autoimmunity in Early Childhood (In this longitudinal cohort study of 885 infants with an elevated genetic risk of type 1 diabetes, the incidence rate of islet autoantibodies developing concurrently with or soon after SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were detected was 7.8 per 100 person-years and was 3.5 per 100 person-years in children without SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, a significant difference.). JAMA Network. 8.9.2023. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2809621

Covid-19 linked to elevated risk of type 1 diabetes in young children (Children between the ages of 4 months and 2 years seem more likely to have antibodies that attack insulin-producing cells, a feature of type 1 diabetes, if they have had covid-19, which may show how viral infections can lead to this type of diabetes). New Scientist. 8.9.2023. https://www.newscientist.com/article/2391359-covid-19-linked-to-elevated-risk-of-type-1-diabetes-in-young-children/

COVID patients breathe large amounts of virus early on. Northwestern investigators collect samples over the entire course of infection to determine when a person is most infectious (On day eight, exhaled levels of virus drop steeply, down to near the limit of detection — an average of two copies exhaled per minute. / Mild and moderately symptomatic patients with COVID still exhale large amounts of virus, though severely symptomatic cases exhale higher levels on average, the study reports. / Vaccinated and unvaccinated patients exhale similar levels of virus over the course of infection, the research shows. / The amount of virus being exhaled while infected was the same no matter which variant a person was infected with — people infected with Alpha exhaled just as much as those infected with Omicron, the study reports.). Northwestern Now. 8.9.2023. https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2023/09/covid-patients-exhale-up-to-1000-copies-of-virus-per-minute-during-first-eight-days-of-symptoms/

Quantity of SARS-CoV-2 RNA copies exhaled per minute during natural breathing over the course of COVID-19 infection (…numbers of exhaled SARS-CoV-2 RNA copies during COVID-19 infection do not decrease significantly until day 8 from symptom-onset. COVID-19-positive participants exhaled an average of 80 SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA copies per minute during the first 8 days of infection, with significant variability both between and within individuals, including spikes over 800 copies a minute in some patients.). medRxiv. 8.9.2023. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.09.06.23295138v1

Global Trends in Highly Cited Studies in COVID-19 Research (This cross-sectional study found that the number of highly cited studies peaked at 1292 studies at the end of 2021 and declined to 649 studies at the end of 2022. Highly cited studies from China showed a decreasing trend, while those from the US and UK showed an increasing trend. These findings suggest that as the COVID-19 pandemic evolved in the 3 years since its outbreak, there were important shifts in trends of the number and origin of high-profile COVID-19 studies.). JAMA Network Open. 8.9.2023. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2809120/

Brief von 15 Top-Ärzten: Comeback von FFP2-Masken in Ordinationen & Spitälern (Ihr Motiv erklärt Golda Schlaff im oe24-Gespräch: ”Ein Arzt sollte Respekt vor Patienten haben. Ein Mensch kann entscheiden, ob er in eine Diskothek geht oder nicht. In eine Ordination oder in ein Spital muss er gehen.” Ärzte müssten ihre Patienten schützen. / Mehr Tests und Aufklärung über Spätfolgen / 
In dem Brief fordern die Mediziner bei steigenden Infektionszahlen daher auch eine Rückkehr von FFP2-Masken für Ordinationen und Spitäler. Zudem wollen sie Hepa-Filter – diese könnten Infektionsgefahren um 80 Prozent absenken – und mehr Tests bei Symptomen.). oe24 Politik-live. 7.9.2023.  https://www.oe24.at/oesterreich/politik/politik-insider/brief-von-15-top-aerzte-comeback-von-ffp2-masken-in-ordinationen-spitaeler/568157879

Öffentlicher Brief an Ärztekammer (Downloads: [DE] Öffentlicher Brief an Ärztekammer (PDF, 306 kB) [EN] Medical Associations Letter (PDF, 147 kB) COVID is not over. 7.9.2023. https://covidisnotover.info/oeffentlicher-brief-an-aerztekammer/

Determinants of the onset and prognosis of the post-COVID-19 condition: a 2-year prospective observational cohort study (The study included 548 individuals, 341 with PCC, followed for a median of 23 months (IQR 16.5–23.5), and 207 subjects fully recovered. In the model with the best fit, subjects who were male and had tertiary studies were less likely to develop PCC, whereas a history of headache, or presence of tachycardia, fatigue, neurocognitive and neurosensitive complaints and dyspnea at COVID-19 diagnosis predicted the development of PCC. The cluster analysis revealed the presence of three symptom clusters with an additive number of symptoms. Only 26 subjects (7.6%) recovered from PCC during follow-up; almost all of them (n = 24) belonged to the less symptomatic cluster A, dominated mainly by fatigue. Recovery from PCC was more likely in subjects who were male, required ICU admission, or had cardiovascular comorbidities, hyporexia and/or smell/taste alterations during acute COVID-19. Subjects presenting with muscle pain, impaired attention, dyspnea, or tachycardia, conversely, were less likely to recover from PCC.). The Lancet Regional Health – Europe. 5.9.2023. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666776223001436

Review of adverse events associated with COVID-19 vaccines, highlighting their frequencies and reported cases (Despite their rarity, immunological and autoimmune adverse events cause concern and anxiety among the public. To maintain public trust in vaccination programs, healthcare professionals and public health agencies must actively monitor and address these adverse events, promptly disclose suspicious incidents, take measures to mitigate dangers, and inform the public with transparency and accurate information. Continuing research and surveillance are essential for understanding the underlying mechanisms of these adverse events and developing strategies to minimize their occurrence.). J Taibah Univ Med Sci. 5.9.2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10507236/

Últimas noticias sobre la COVID-19 en Cuba (— Preserve what has been gained in terms of national capacity and prepare for future events. — Integrate COVID-19 vaccination into vaccination programs throughout the life course. — Integrate surveillance of respiratory pathogens and continue reporting data to WHO. — Prepare for vaccines, diagnostics and treatments to be authorized within national regulatory frameworks to ensure long-term availability and supply. — And continue working with communities to achieve solid, resilient and inclusive programs in risk communication and community participation, as well as the management of the infodemic. ). Presidencia y Cobierno de Cuba. 5.9.2023.  https://www.presidencia.gob.cu/es/noticias/ultimas-noticias-sobre-la-covid-19-en-cuba/

Neutralization Escape by SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Subvariant BA.2.86 (The ability of BA.2.86 to evade NAbs compared with other currently circulating Omicron variants remains unknown. Our data show that NAb responses to BA.2.86 were lower than to BA.2 but were comparable or slightly higher than to the current circulating recombinant variants XBB.1.5, XBB.1.16, EG.5, EG.5.1, and FL.1.5.1). bioRxiv. 4.9.2023.  https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.09.04.556272v1.full.pdf

Bird flu is undergoing changes that could increase the risk of widespread human transmission. EurekAlert AAAS. 4.9.2023. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1000437

Fauci Touts Face Masks While Admitting to Ineffectiveness (Dr. Anthony Fauci said that face masks may not be effective on populations when looking at the “pandemic as a whole” but persists in his stance that people need to follow authorities’ recommendations and wear them.). The Epoch Times. 4.9.2023. https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/fauci-touts-face-masks-while-admitting-to-ineffectiveness-5485677/

September 1-10

Epigenetic memory of coronavirus infection in innate immune cells and their progenitors (Severe COVID-19 programs durable epigenetic changes and hyper-activation in monocytes / Circulating HSPC capture post-COVID-19 changes in hematopoiesis and stem cell programs / Post-COVID-19 HSPC convey epigenetic and transcriptional memory to mature progeny cells / IL-6 contributes to epigenetic reprogramming of mouse and human HSPC and myeloid cells). Cell. 31.8.2023. https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(23)00796-1

Scientists Sound the Alarm: COVID-19 Virus Is Rapidly Evolving in White-Tailed Deer (Genomic analysis showed that at least 30 infections in deer had been introduced by humans – a figure that surprised the research team. “We generally talk about interspecies transmission as a rare event, but this wasn’t a huge sampling, and we’re able to document 30 spillovers. It seems to be moving between people and animals quite easily,” said Andrew Bowman, associate professor of veterinary preventive medicine at The Ohio State University and co-senior author of the study. “And the evidence is growing that humans can get it from deer – which isn’t radically surprising. It’s probably not a one-way pipeline.”). SciTechDaily. 29.8.2023. https://scitechdaily.com/scientists-sound-the-alarm-covid-19-virus-is-rapidly-evolving-in-white-tailed-deer/

Opinion Everyone should know the dangers of long covid (Given these [Long Covid] findings, I am confused as to why CDC  and our local public health authorities in Montgomery County and elsewhere in Maryland are not widely sharing information about the risks of long covid, encouraging us to prevent every possible infection and mandating — or at the very least encouraging — universal masking protections in health-care settings. … High-quality masks and ventilation can help us reduce the likelihood of these serious health outcomes and are especially important in essential spaces such as health-care settings.). Washington Post. 27.8.2027. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/08/27/long-covid-dangers-awareness/

Deaths by vaccination status, England (Age-standardised mortality rates for deaths involving coronavirus (COVID-19), non-COVID-19 deaths and all deaths by vaccination status, broken down by age group.) ONS. 25.8.2023. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/datasets/deathsbyvaccinationstatusengland

Hundreds of hospital wards closed due to Covid outbreaks (At least 237 wards were closed to new admissions – typically for periods of around seven to 10 days – in a bid to prevent the virus spreading to other patients. That compares to a total of 93 ward closures up to the end of July for all other infection control incidents combined, including cases of norovirus, flu, RSV, or gastroenteritis.). The Herald/Scotland. 25.8.2023. https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/23746393.hundreds-hospital-wards-closed-due-covid-outbreaks/

As schools resume, CDC reports new rise in COVID emergency room visits from adolescents (The increase comes as schools and businesses are now weighing a return to masks and other precautions to curb the virus, amid a weeks-long rise in new COVID-19 hospitalizations nationwide that is projected to continue. Officials are also now tracking a new, highly-mutated COVID-19 variant called BA.2.86 that experts think might fuel further spread.). CBC News. 25.8.2023. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cdc-reports-new-rise-covid-er-visits-adolescents-as-schools-resume/

Public Pushes Back On CDC’s Plan To Weaken Infection Control (“This is eugenics. I’m Jewish, and I see the writing on the wall. The history of not only the Holocaust but many genocides.” They continued, “They target disabled people first, and I’m literally begging for something to be done.”). Forbes. 25.8.2023. https://www.forbes.com/sites/judystone/2023/08/25/public-pushes-back-on-cdcs-plan-to-weaken-infection-control/

Ilma elintarvikkeena (Ilmastointialan eurooppalainen kattojärjestö Eurovent on käynnistänyt Air as food -viestintäkampanjan. Idea on osuva. Terveelliseen elämään tarvitaan monipuolisen ruoan ja liikunnan lisäksi puhdasta ilmaa. / Keuhkoihin pääsevien pienhiukkasten tiedetään olevan usean sairauden takana. Sisäilman liian korkea hiilidioksidipitoisuus väsyttää ja laskee työ- sekä oppimistehoa. Haihtuvilla yhdisteillä on omat haittavaikutuksensa ja niin edelleen. Myös yleistyvät korkeat sisälämpötilat kesäisin ovat terveysriski. / Erikoistilojen ilmastoinnin ammattilaiset ovat jo pitkään tunteneet virusten ja bakteerien ilmavälitteisyyden riskit. Laajaan tietoisuuteen se on tullut tuskaisen hitaasti Covid19-pandemian jyllätessä. Jos nyt jotain myönteistä tästä pandemiasta yrittää löytää, niin se on tutkimuksen ja sen myötä tiedon lisääntyminen tartuntamekanismeista ja suojauskeinoista.). Sähkömaailma. 24.8.2023. https://www.sahkomaailma.fi/ilma-elintarvikkeena/

Small study suggests many more people have long COVID than previously believed (Of 29 PVS patients, 12 (41%) had detectable humoral or cellular immune responses consistent with previous COVID-19 infection. Of the 12, 75% had anti-nucleocapsid responses, 50% had anti-spike responses, and all had similar neurologic symptoms as neurologic long-COVID patients but weren’t clinically assessed an average 5.3 months later after symptom onset (10.7 vs 5.4 months).). CIDRAP. 24.8.2023. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/small-study-suggests-many-more-people-have-long-covid-previously-believed.

Lockdowns and face masks really did help to control covid-19.
(Non-vaccine measures such as social distancing and wearing face masks have been ”unequivocally effective” at preventing the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, according to a major report by the UK’s Royal Society). New Scientist. 24.8.2023. https://www.newscientist.com/article/2388929-lockdowns-and-face-masks-really-did-help-to-control-covid-19/

Effectiveness of social distancing measures and lockdowns for reducing transmission of COVID-19 in non-healthcare, community-based settings (Re. masks/schools: Four of the six observational studies assessed individual schools between the end of 2020 and early 2021. Three did not quantify the effect but observed minimal transmission in schools with SDMs and universal masking interventions in place despite substantial community transmission . The remaining study that examined the effect of multiple distancing measures in 36 schools in Italy (including limited capacity, distanced student desks and minimized crowding and entry and exits) observed that the overall secondary transmission rate was 3.8%, although there was no comparator without the interventions in place. Two other observational studies had similar findings. One that used data from 35 school outbreaks across 12 countries from 2020 to July 2021 suggested that distancing and masking were both associated with a lower risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in schools (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 0.30, 95% CI: 0.25, 0.37). Another ecological study examining schools in North Carolina and Wisconsin, US, from 2020 to 2021 did not observe an increase in the secondary transmission rate in schools after distancing measures were relaxed, indicating they had no effect on transmission in these schools . The remaining simulation studies found that school measures were associated with reductions in public health impacts of COVID-19, both in the schools and the community.). Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society. 24.8.2023. https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsta.2023.0132

COVID-19 boosts risks of health problems 2 years later, giant study of veterans says
SARS-CoV-2’s public health impact is worse than that of heart disease or cancer, study claims; others say the work may overestimate harm for the general population (Three-and-a-half years since SARS-CoV-2 spread around the world, scientists are still documenting the virus’ myriad effects on human health. What’s clear already is that those effects can continue long beyond the original infection. / Now, researchers have attempted to quantify this long-term harm using a massive database of U.S. veterans’ health records. They found a dramatically increased risk of dozens of conditions including heart failure and fatigue, sometimes years postinfection. Overall, the team estimates, COVID-19’s public health impact is more than 50% greater than that of cancer or heart disease. / Other researchers say the conclusions broadly reflect what physicians have seen. However, several cite drawbacks in the study’s statistical analysis that could have led it to overestimate harm to the general population. “The authors have done a good job in doing the analysis, but there are some limitations and those limitations are not small,”). Science. 23.8.2023. https://www.science.org/content/article/covid-19-boosts-risks-health-problems-2-years-later-giant-study-veterans-says

Medical News in Brief: Two New Analyses Add to Long COVID Understanding (Overall, the prevalence of post–COVID-19 condition, or long COVID (LC), has declined among US adults. In June 2023, 11% of participants with a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection reported currently having LC, compared with 19% at 12 months prior. Prevalence of LC among all US adults also decreased, from 7.5% to 6%. / The decline in prevalence plateaued by this January. Among those who reported having LC this June, 1/4 said they had a significant activity limitation (MMWR). / Another study in MMWR found that LC-like symptoms may not be unique to COVID-19. It used data from the CDC-funded Innovative Support for Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Infections Registry, or INSPIRE, multicenter cohort study. / This analysis looked at the prevalence over time of LC-like symptoms among 1296 adults who had a COVID-like illness. A substantial proportion of both those who had a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR or antigen test result and those who tested negative reported symptoms at 3 months—about 48% and 38%, respectively. Both groups also reported symptoms that emerged or reemerged over the following 9 months. /Persistent symptoms decreased over time in both groups. By month 12, the prevalence of long COVID-like symptoms was similar between the groups, reported by about 18% of people with a positive test result and about 16% of people with a negative test result.). JAMA. 23.8.2023. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2808856/

A new Covid variant (EG.5) is on the rise – how worried should we be? It is important we stay level-headed as new subvariants emerge and mutate in the coming weeks and months. Guardian. 23.8.2023. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/aug/18/new-covid-variant-worried-subvariants-mutate

Hospitals are killing patients because they don’t feel like doing infection control  (We now know COVID is fully airborne. We also know how to control airborne disease. So why are vulnerable people still dying of hospital-acquired COVID?). The Gauntlet. 23.8.2023. https://www.thegauntlet.news/p/hospitals-are-killing-patients-because

Small study suggests long COVID may affect more people than previously thought. American Academy of Neurology. 23.8.2023. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/998924

Anders Tegnell släpper bok om pandemin. Tegnell säger att han vill bidra med lärdomar inför nästa pandemi. HBL. 23.8.2023. https://www.hbl.fi/artikel/05d03ec6-d1c9-5cf7-8003-21cf59fc8c35

Variability in excess deaths across countries with different vulnerability during 2020-2023 (Ioannidis, Zonta, Lewitt: Excess deaths during 2020-2023 reflect the direct and indirect effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and of the measures taken. Data from 34 countries with detailed death registration and allowing to adjust for changes in the age structure of the population over time show two groups, each with very different excess death outcomes. The 17 more vulnerable countries (those with per capita nominal GDP<$30,000, Gini>0.35 for income inequality and/or at least 2.5% of their population living in poverty) had very high excess deaths compared with 2017-2019, while the other 17 less vulnerable countries had deaths during 2020-2023 that were comparable to 2017-2019. Continuous monitoring of excess deaths helps understand how country vulnerability shapes long-term impacts.) medRxiv. 22.8.2023 https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.04.24.23289066v2

Is the post-COVID-19 syndrome a severe impairment of acetylcholine-orchestrated neuromodulation that responds to nicotine administration (In summary, the enhancement and reduction of ACE2 will be beneficial for the prevention/treatment of chronic disease and COVID-19, respectively. Post-translational modifications of ACE2 protein in chronic diseases are different from those in COVID-19; therefore, regulation of ACE2 protein modification will help develop the prevention or treatment for COVID-19 without the induction of chronic disease risks.)? Journal of Biomedical Science. 22.8.2023. https://jbiomedsci.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12929-023-00965-9

SARS-CoV-2 can cause lasting damage to cells’ energy production (“The continued dysfunction we observed in organs other than the lungs suggests that mitochondrial dysfunction could be causing long-term damage to the internal organs of these patients”) . NIH. 22.8.2023. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/sars-cov-2-can-cause-lasting-damage-cells-energy-production

Neuro-ophthalmic complications of varicella-zoster virus (Despite varicella vaccination, the incidence of herpes zoster continues to rise, potentially leading to devastating consequences when ocular complications occur.). Current Opinion in Ophthalmology. 22.8.2023. https://journals.lww.com/co-ophthalmology/abstract/9900/neuro_ophthalmic_complications_of_varicella_zoster.116.aspx

Sosiaali- ja terveys­ministeri Juuso: Korona­rajoitusten järkevyyttä pitää selvittää.
(Sosiaali- ja terveysministeri Kaisa Juuson (ps) mukaan tulisi miettiä, pitäisikö Pohjoismaiden kesken sopia yhteisistä käytännöistä mahdollisissa tulevissa pandemiatilanteissa. ”Tutkimushankkeessa käsitellään ainakin kriisin johtamista, varautumista ja perusoikeusrajoituksia”, hallitusohjelmassa todetaan.) Helsingin Sanomat. 22.8.203. https://www.hs.fi/politiikka/art-2000009801386.html

Early Omicron infection is associated with increased reinfection risk in older adults in long-term care and retirement facilities (133 of 750 participants (17.7%) had a PCR-confirmed Omicron infection during the observation period. Increased infection risk was associated with prior Omicron infection (at 9–29 days: 47.67 [23.73–95.76]), and this was not attributed to days since fourth vaccination (1.00 [1.00–1.01]) or residence outbreaks (>6 compared to ≤6: 0.95 [0.37–2.41]). Instead, reinfected participants had lower serum neutralizing antibodies to ancestral and Omicron BA.1 SARS-CoV-2, and lower anti-RBD IgG and IgA antibodies, after their initial Omicron infection.). eClinicalMedicine. 21.8.2023. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(23)00325-5/fulltext#%20

Long COVID still worrisome 2 years after infection. Virus continues to pose risk of diabetes, lung problems, blood clots, GI issues, other conditions [sama tutkimus kuin edellinen] (Ziyad Al-Aly. …during the two-year study period, some COVID-related health risks among the nonhospitalized — the majority of people infected with the virus — declined and became insignificant. Such risks included death, hospitalization and disorders associated with the brain, heart, kidneys and mental health. For example, risks of death and hospitalization became insignificant at six and 19 months, respectively. But those hospitalized within 30 days of being infected with the virus fared worse. Two years after infection, their risk of death and hospitalization remained elevated, and their risk of adverse health conditions remained significant across all organ systems.). Washington University School of Medicine. MedicalXpress. 21.8.2023. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-08-covid-worrisome-years-infection.html

Postacute sequelae of COVID-19 at 2 years [sama tutkimus kuin edellinen] (Ziyad Al-Aly. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection can lead to postacute sequelae in multiple organ systems, but evidence is mostly limited to the first year postinfection. We built a cohort of 138,818 individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection and 5,985,227 noninfected control group from the US Department of Veterans Affairs and followed them for 2 years to estimate the risks of death and 80 prespecified postacute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) according to care setting during the acute phase of infection. The increased risk of death was not significant beyond 6 months after infection among nonhospitalized but remained significantly elevated through the 2 years in hospitalized individuals. Within the 80 prespecified sequelae, 69% and 35% of them became not significant at 2 years after infection among nonhospitalized and hospitalized individuals, respectively. Cumulatively at 2 years, PASC contributed 80.4 (95% confidence interval (CI): 71.6–89.6) and 642.8 (95% CI: 596.9–689.3) disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) per 1,000 persons among nonhospitalized and hospitalized individuals; 25.3% (18.9–31.0%) and 21.3% (18.2–24.5%) of the cumulative 2-year DALYs in nonhospitalized and hospitalized were from the second year. In sum, while risks of many sequelae declined 2 years after infection, the substantial cumulative burden of health loss due to PASC calls for attention to the care needs of people with long-term health effects due to SARS-CoV-2 infection. nature medicine- 21.8.2023. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-023-02521-2

Omicron infection following vaccination enhances a broad spectrum of immune responses dependent on infection history (We find that most individuals increase BA.1/BA.2/BA.5-specific neutralizing antibodies following infection, but confirm that the magnitude of increase and post-omicron titres are higher in the infection-naive. In contrast, significant increases in nasal responses, including neutralizing activity against BA.5 spike, are seen regardless of infection history. Spike-specific T cells increase only in infection-naive vaccinees; however, post-omicron T cell responses are significantly higher in the previously-infected, who display a maximally induced response with a highly cytotoxic CD8+ phenotype following their 3rd mRNA vaccine dose. Responses to non-spike antigens increase significantly regardless of prior infection status. These findings suggest that hybrid immunity induced by omicron breakthrough infections is characterized by significant immune enhancement that can help protect against future omicron variants.). nature communications. 21.8.2023. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-40592-4

International Pediatric COVID-19 Severity Over the Course of the Pandemic (This cohort study including 31 785 hospitalized children with SARS-CoV-2 infection suggested that while intensive care unit admission decreased over the course of the pandemic in all age groups, ventilatory and oxygen support did not decrease over time in children aged younger than 5 years.). JAMA Pediatrics. 21.8.2023. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/article-abstract/2808592

COVID-19 boosts risks of health problems 2 years later, giant study of veterans says. SARS-CoV-2’s public health impact is worse than that of heart disease or cancer, study claims; others say the work may overestimate harm for the general population (Now, researchers have attempted to quantify this long-term harm using a massive database of U.S. veterans’ health records. They found a dramatically increased risk of dozens of conditions including heart failure and fatigue, sometimes years postinfection. Overall, the team estimates, COVID-19’s public health impact is more than 50% greater than that of cancer or heart disease.). Science. 21.8.2023. https://www.science.org/content/article/covid-19-boosts-risks-health-problems-2-years-later-giant-study-veterans-says

Postacute sequelae of COVID-19 at 2 years (The increased risk of death was not significant beyond 6 months after infection among nonhospitalized but remained significantly elevated through the 2 years in hospitalized individuals. Within the 80 prespecified sequelae, 69% and 35% of them became not significant at 2 years after infection among nonhospitalized and hospitalized individuals, respectively. Cumulatively at 2 years, PASC contributed 80.4 (95% confidence interval (CI): 71.6–89.6) and 642.8 (95% CI: 596.9–689.3) disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) per 1,000 persons among nonhospitalized and hospitalized individuals; 25.3% (18.9–31.0%) and 21.3% (18.2–24.5%) of the cumulative 2-year DALYs in nonhospitalized and hospitalized were from the second year). nature medicine, 21.8.2023. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-023-02521-2

THL suosittelee iäkkäille ja tietyille riskiryhmille koronarokotteen syystalven 2023 tehosteannosta uudella varianttivalmisteella (THL suosittelee, että toukokuussa annetun ennakkoarvion mukaisesti koronarokotteen syystalven 2023 tehosteannos annetaan 65 vuotta täyttäneille, 18 vuotta täyttäneille lääketieteellisiin riskiryhmiin kuuluville sekä 12 vuotta täyttäneille voimakkaasti immuunipuutteisille. Rokotteena käytetään uutta XBB.1.5-varianttivalmistetta sitten kun se saa myyntiluvan.). THL 21.8.2023. https://thl.fi/-/thl-suosittelee-iakkaille-ja-tietyille-riskiryhmille-koronarokotteen-syystalven-2023-tehosteannosta-uudella-varianttivalmisteella

August 21-31

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome correlation with SARS-CoV-2 N genotypes (The hypothesis is consistent with the mutagenic deriving observed on the in-silico assay, which reveals that genotypes N/120 and N/152 are determinant to reduce the Immune Response of the host infecting lymphocytes, allowing the virus persists indefinitely and causing an Acquire Immune Deficiency Syndrome = AIDS). Biomedical Journal. 19.8.2023. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2319417023000872

Infection prevention and control in the context of coronavirus disease (‎COVID-19)‎: a living guideline,  10 August 2023. WHO. 19.8.2023. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-2019-nCoV-IPC-guideline-2023.2

Evidence of leaky protection following COVID-19 vaccination and SARS-CoV-2 infection in an incarcerated population (Although associations may not have been thoroughly adjusted due to dataset limitations, the findings suggest that prior infection and vaccination may be leaky, highlighting the potential benefits of pairing vaccination with non-pharmaceutical interventions in crowded settings.). nature. 19.8.2023.  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-40750-8

Epigenetic memory of coronavirus infection in innate immune cells and their progenitors (Highlights • Severe COVID-19 programs durable epigenetic changes and hyper-activation in monocytes • Circulating HSPC capture post-COVID-19 changes in hematopoiesis and stem cell programs • Post-COVID-19 HSPC convey epigenetic and transcriptional memory to mature progeny cells • IL-6 contributes to epigenetic reprogramming of mouse and human HSPC and myeloid cells). Cell. 18.8.2023. https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(23)00796-1?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS0092867423007961%3Fshowall%3Dtrue

Epigenetic memory of coronavirus infection in innate immune cells and their progenitors (•
Severe COVID-19 programs durable epigenetic changes and hyper-activation in monocytes
• Circulating HSPC capture post-COVID-19 changes in hematopoiesis and stem cell programs
• Post-COVID-19 HSPC convey epigenetic and transcriptional memory to mature progeny cells
• IL-6 contributes to epigenetic reprogramming of mouse and human HSPC and myeloid cells). Cell. 18.8.2023. https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(23)00796-1

Severe COVID-19 may lead to long-term innate immune system changes. NIH-funded research links alterations to inflammatory protein, underscores vaccine importance (These findings suggest that SARS-CoV-2 can cause changes in gene expression that ultimately boost the production of inflammatory cytokines, and one type of those cytokines perpetuates the process by inducing these changes in stem cells even after the illness is over. Additionally, the findings suggest that early-acting IL-6 is likely a major driver of long-term inflammation in people with severe COVID-19. These findings shed light on the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 infection and may provide new leads for therapies. ). NIH Media Releases. 18.8.2023. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/severe-covid-19-may-lead-long-term-innate-immune-system-changes

Risk assessment for SARS-CoV-2 variant V-23AUG-01 (or BA.2.86). Gov.uk. 18.8.2023. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/investigation-of-sars-cov-2-variants-of-concern-variant-risk-assessments/risk-assessment-for-sars-cov-2-variant-v-23aug-01-or-ba286

How Bad Is a Second (or Third or Fourth) Case of Covid? Reinfections are becoming more common. Experts are still unsure about how damaging they can be. NYTimes. 17.8.2023. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/17/well/live/covid-reinfection.html

There are a couple of simple ways to see whether herd immunity has been achieved. twitter. 17.8.2023. https://twitter.com/adamhamdy/status/1692056008389247046

Data on COVID-19 vaccination in the EU/EEA. ECDC.17.8.2023. https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/data-covid-19-vaccination-eu-eea

Risk of autoimmune diseases following COVID-19 and the potential protective effect from vaccination: a population-based cohort study (Compared with non-COVID controls, patients with COVID-19 presented an increased risk of developing pernicious anaemia [adjusted Hazard Ratio (aHR): 1.72; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.12–2.64]; spondyloarthritis [aHR: 1.32 (95% CI: 1.03–1.69)]; rheumatoid arthritis [aHR: 1.29 (95% CI: 1.09–1.54)]; other autoimmune arthritis [aHR: 1.43 (95% CI: 1.33–1.54)]; psoriasis [aHR: 1.42 (95% CI: 1.13–1.78)]; pemphigoid [aHR: 2.39 (95% CI: 1.83–3.11)]; Graves’ disease [aHR: 1.30 (95% CI: 1.10–1.54)]; anti-phospholipid antibody syndrome [aHR: 2.12 (95% CI: 1.47–3.05)]; immune mediated thrombocytopenia [aHR: 2.1 (95% CI: 1.82–2.43)]; multiple sclerosis [aHR: 2.66 (95% CI: 1.17–6.05)]; vasculitis [aHR: 1.46 (95% CI: 1.04–2.04)].). eClinicalMedicine. 16.8.2023. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(23)00331-0/fulltext

Outpatient Treatment for COVID-19. JAMA Patient Page. 16.8. 2023. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2808687?guestAccessKey=3ef6c699-3c89-4843-9008-03433769bb45&utm_source=silverchair&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=article_alert-jama&utm_content=olf&utm_term=081623&adv=000004416804

Viral emissions into the air and environment after SARS-CoV-2 human challenge: a phase 1, open label, first-in-human study (). The Lancet Microbe. 16.8.2023. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666524723001015

Why Blood Type Seems to Be Linked With COVID-19 Risk (…given the earlier SARS observations, Stowell said that most studies of the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 and blood group have found that, all other things being equal, people with type A were more likely to become infected than people with type O. Although some studies have found no relationship between blood type and COVID-19 risk, none has linked type O to a higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection.). JAMA. 16.8.2023. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2808688?guestAccessKey=010c32e6-deee-4499-a180-94aee45e5885&utm_source=silverchair&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=article_alert-jama&utm_content=olf&utm_term=081623&adv=000004416804

Communication of COVID-19 Misinformation on Social Media by Physicians in the US. JAMA Network. (The propagation of COVID-19 misinformation was attributed to 52 physicians in 28 different specialties across all regions of the country. General misinformation categories included vaccines, medication, masks, and other (ie, conspiracy theories). Forty-two physicians (80.8%) posted vaccine misinformation, 40 (76.9%) propagated information in more than 1 category, and 20 (38.5%) posted misinformation on 5 or more platforms. Major themes identified included (1) disputing vaccine safety and effectiveness, (2) promoting medical treatments lacking scientific evidence and/or US Food and Drug Administration approval, (3) disputing mask-wearing effectiveness, and (4) other (unsubstantiated claims, eg, virus origin, government lies, and other conspiracy theories).) 15.8.2023. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2808358

COVID-19-pandemian hoidosta otettava oppia seuraavaa pandemiaa varten (O Helve, M Salminen, A Järvinen). Duodecim 2023;139.  https://www.duodecimlehti.fi/xmedia/duo/duo17760.pdf

Protection against COVID-19 hospitalisation conferred by primary-series vaccination with AZD1222 in non-boosted individuals: first vaccine effectiveness results of the European COVIDRIVE study and meta-regression analysis (Primary-series AZD1222 vaccination confers protection against COVID-19 hospitalisation with enduring levels of VE through ≥6 months. AstraZeneca.) Science Direct. August 2023. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666776223000947

Changes in SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and population immunity in Finland, 2020-2022. Helsingi Yliopisto. 12.8.2023. https://helda.helsinki.fi/items/e7895157-bce5-4f6f-b151-3886d9986fa9

Group Life COVID-19 Mortality Survey Report. SOA Research Institute 11.8.2023. https://www.soa.org/49b504/globalassets/assets/files/resources/experience-studies/2022/group-life-covid-19-mortality-12-2022.pdf

More young Americans are dying – and it’s not COVID. Why aren’t we searching for answers?
Without a thorough and collaborative exploration, we can’t know what’s killing us – or how to stop it. USA Today Opinnion. 11.8.2023. https://eu.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2023/08/11/more-americans-dying-than-before-pandemic-covid-deaths/70542423007/

Bird flu researchers turn to Finland’s mink farms, tracking a virus with pandemic potential. STAT 11.8.2023. https://www.statnews.com/2023/08/11/bird-flu-researchers-finland-mink-farms/

August 11-20

Treaqtment of ME/CFS and Long COVID in Finland and from a broader perspective. The treatment of Long COVID and ME/CFS based on biopsychosocial approach in Finland has raised international criticism. There is no scientific evidence of this approach, and it does not represent the current guidelines. COMMENTARY 10.8.2023. https://slme.fi/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Commentary_Treatment_of_ME_CFS_and_Long_COVID_in_Finland_and_from_a_broader_perspective_10_Aug_2023.pdf

Opinion: Long covid has derailed my life. Make no mistake: It could yours, too. The Washington Post. 9.8.2023.  https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/08/09/madeline-miller-long-covid-post-pandemic/

Italy abandoning all COVID mitigation measures. World Socialist Web Site. 9.8.2023. https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2023/08/09/izva-a09.html

Long Covid May Affect Organs Like The Heart And Kidneys After Lungs Recover, New Research Says.
Forbes. 9.8.2023. https://www.forbes.com/sites/ariannajohnson/2023/08/09/long-covid-may-affect-organs-like-the-heart-and-kidneys-after-lungs-recover-new-research-says/?sh=128a8f975466

Sex-specific differences in myocardial injuryincidence after COVID-19 mRNA-1273booster vaccination (Among 777 participants (median age 37 years, 69.5% women), 40 participants (5.1%; 95% confidenceinterval [CI] 3.7–7.0%) had elevated hs-cTnT concentration on day 3 and mRNA-1273 vaccine-associated myocardialinjury was adjudicated in 22 participants (2.8% [95% CI1.7–4.3%]). Twenty cases occurred in women (3.7%[95% CI 2.3–5.7%]), two in men (0.8% [95% CI 0.1–3.0%]). Hs-cTnT elevations were mild and only temporary.No patient had electrocardiographic changes, and none developed major adverse cardiac events within 30 days(0% [95% CI 0–0.4%]). In the overall booster cohort, hs-cTnT concentrations (day 3; median 5, interquartilerange [IQR] 4–6 ng/L) were significantly higher compared to matched controls (n=777, median 3 [IQR 3–5]ng/L,p<0.001)). European Journal of Heart Failure. 9.8.2023. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ejhf.2978

Vaccines & Immunizations, 6 Things to Know. Information for parents and caregivers: For the best protection, CDC recommends COVID-19 vaccines for everyone 6 months and older (1. COVID-19 vaccination for children is safe. 2. Getting vaccinated helps protect children against COVID-19. 3. Children may have some side effects after COVID-19 vaccination. 4. Children receive a smaller dose of COVID-19 vaccine than teens and adults. 5. Children who have already had COVID-19 should still get vaccinated. 6. Children can safely receive other vaccines the same day they receive their COVID-19 vaccine.) CDC. 8.8.2023.https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/planning/children/6-things-to-know.html

Antiviral efficacy of the SARS-CoV-2 XBB breakthrough infection sera against Omicron subvariants including EG.5. (the NT50 of the BTI sera of XBB1.5/1.9 and XBB.1.16 against the variant infected were 8.7- and 8.3-fold lower than that against the B.1.1 variant. These results suggest that XBB BTI cannot efficiently induce antiviral humoral immunity against XBB subvariants.) bioRxiv. 8.8.2023. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.08.08.552415v1

Case Report of Leprosy in Central Florida, USA, 2022. CDC Research Letter. August 2023

Diabetes following SARS-CoV-2 infection: Incidence, persistence, and implications of COVID-19 vaccination. A cohort study of fifteen million people (In the pre-vaccination cohort, adjusted hazard rations (aHRS) for type 2 diabetes (T2DM) incidence after COVID-19 (compared to before or without diagnosis) declined from 3.01 (95% CI: 2.76,3.28) in weeks 1-4 to 1.24 (1.12,1.38) in weeks 53-102. aHRS were higher in unvaccinated than vaccinated people (4.86 (3.69,6.41)) versus 1.42 (1.24,1.62) in weeks 1-4) and for hospitalised COVID-19 (pre-vaccination cohort 21.1 (18.8,23.7) in weeks 1-4 declining to 2.04 (1.65,2.51) in weeks 52-102), than non-hospitalised COVID-19 (1.45 (1.27,1.64) in weeks 1-4, 1.10 (0.98,1.23) in weeks 52-102). T2DM persisted for 4 months after COVID-19 for ∼73% of those diagnosed. Patterns were similar for Type 1 diabetes, though excess incidence did not persist beyond a year post-COVID-19.). medRxiv. 7.8.2023. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.08.07.23293778v1

The Economic Cost of Long COVID: An Update – David Cutler (per cap. $11 189, 17% of 2019 GDP). Harvard Kennedy School. 7.8.2023. https://scholar.harvard.edu/files/cutler/files/long_covid_update_7-22.pdf

The Effects of Vaccines on the Sequelae Rates of Recurrent Infections and the Severity of Pulmonary COVID-19 Infection by Imaging. MDPI. 4.8.2023. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/11/8/1321

Notes from the Field: Safety Monitoring of Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine Among Persons Aged ≥12 Years — United States, July 13, 2022–March 13, 2023. (Although postauthorization safety data after receipt of a primary Novavax dose are limited by the low number of doses administered (0.01% of total COVID-19 vaccine doses administered) (2), available data are consistent with those from preauthorization clinical trials.§ No new safety concerns were identified. ) CDC MMWR. 3.8.2023. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7231a4.htm?s_cid=mm7231a4_w

We’re now finding out the damaging results of the mandated return to the office–and it’s worse than we thought. Fortune. 1.8.2023. https://fortune.com/2023/08/01/research-damaging-results-mandated-return-to-office-worse-than-we-thought-rto-remote-work-careers-leadership-gleb-tsipursky/

August 1-10

Covid-19: Leaked cremation data hint at true scale of China’s death rate (In the relatively wealthy and developed eastern province, where more than 99% of all deaths end in cremation, the number of cremations in the first quarter of 2023 was just under 171 000, compared with 99 000 in the first quarter of 2022 and 90 000 in the first quarter of 2021.  Extrapolated across China, this 72% rise in mortality would translate to about 1.5 million excess deaths in the first quarter of 2023, closely matching predictions of several models developed by epidemiologists). BMJ. 31.7.2023.  https://www.bmj.com/content/382/bmj.p1760

 

Three myths about COVID-19 — and the biggest challenge that lies ahead (1: It’s just a cold now so let’s get it over with, 2: Being fully immunised stops infection, 3: Variant-specific vaccines are the answer. Making COVID-19 personal). ABC Health & Wellbeing. 28.7.2023. https://www.abc.net.au/news/health/2022-07-29/covid-19-three-myths-challenge-lies-ahead/101274980

Multimodal Molecular Imaging Reveals Tissue-Based T Cell Activation and Viral RNA Persistence for Up to 2 Years Following COVID-19. medRxiv. 27.7.2023. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.07.27.23293177v1

Open data for COVID-19 policy analysis and mapping. Scientific data. 27.7.2023. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41597-023-02398-3

Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infection on multiple fur farms in the South and Central Ostrobothnia regions of Finland, July 2023 separator. Eurosurveillance. 27.7.2023. https://www.eurosurveillance.org/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2023.28.31.2300400

Research uncovers new insights into post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS) phenotypes and impact on quality of life (clinical PCS phenotypes were identified: chronic fatigue-like syndrome (CF: memory loss, fatigue, and headaches, 42%, 757 individuals); respiratory syndrome (RE: dyspnea and cough, 23%, 502 individuals); neurosensorial syndrome (NS: altered smell and taste, 11%, 197 individuals); and chronic pain syndrome (CPs: myalgia and arthralgia, 22%, 399 individuals.  The largest decrease in quality of life was observed in CPs and REs (44 and 44 versus 57 among control controls, respectively).).). News Medical. 26.7.2023. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20230726/Research-uncovers-new-insights-into-post-COVID-19-syndrome-(PCS)-phenotypes-and-impact-on-quality-of-life.aspx

Neuroinvasion and anosmia are independent phenomena upon infection with SARS-CoV-2 and its variants. nature. 26.7.2023. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-40228-7

Opinion: Accountability for Canada’s Covid-19 Response. We can learn from the covid-19 pandemic management strategy of First Nations communities in Canada. BMJ. 24.7.2023. https://www.bmj.com/content/382/bmj.p1675

Excess Death Rates for Republican and Democratic Registered Voters in Florida and Ohio During the COVID-19 Pandemic ( In this cohort study evaluating 538 159 deaths in individuals aged 25 years and older in Florida and Ohio between March 2020 and December 2021, excess mortality was significantly higher for Republican voters than Democratic voters after COVID-19 vaccines were available to all adults, but not before. These differences were concentrated in counties with lower vaccination rates, and primarily noted in voters residing in Ohio.). JAMA Network. 24.7.2023. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2807617

Number needed to vaccinate with a COVID-19 booster to prevent a COVID-19-associated hospitalization during SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 variant predominance, December 2021–February 2022, VISION Network: a retrospective cohort study (Median estimated number neede to vaccinate (NNV) to prevent one hospitalization was 205 (range 44–615) and NNV was lower across study periods for adults aged ≥65 years (110, 46, and 88, respectively) and those with underlying medical conditions (163, 69, and 131, respectively). Median estimated NNV to prevent one emergency department encounter was 156 (range 75–592).). The Lancet Regional Health – Americas. 23.7.2023. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667193X23001047?via%3Dihub

Association Between Duration of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Positivity and Long COVID (In an observational study, we analyzed 1293 healthcare workers previously infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), of which 34.1% developed postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (also known as long COVID). Using a multivariate logistic regression model, we demonstrate that the likelihood of developing long COVID in infected individuals rises with the increasing of duration of infection and that 3 doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine are protective, even during the Omicron wave.). Clinical Infectious Diseases. 22.7.2023. https://academic.oup.com/cid/advance-article/doi/10.1093/cid/ciad434/7227950?login=false

The Origins of Covid-19 — Why It Matters (and Why It Doesn’t) New England Journal of Medicine (). 22.7.2023. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2305081

Study: 1 in 6 kids have persistent COVID symptoms for 3 months after infection. CIDRAP, UoMi. 21.7.2023. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/study-1-6-kids-have-persistent-covid-symptoms-3-months-after-infection

A Systematic Review of Persistent Clinical Features After SARS-CoV-2 in the Pediatric Population (27 cohorts and 4 cross-sectional studies met the inclusion criteria and involved over 15 000 pediatric participants. A total of more than 20 persistent symptoms and clinical features were reported among children and adolescents. 16.2% (95% confidence interval 8.5% to 28.6%) of the pediatric participants experienced 1 or more persistent symptom(s) at least 3 months post COVID-19. Female gender might be associated with developing certain long COVID symptoms.). Pediatrics. 21.7.2023. https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/152/2/e2022060351/192816/A-Systematic-Review-of-Persistent-Clinical?autologincheck=redirected

The effects of COVID-19 on cognitive performance in a community-based cohort: a COVID symptom study biobank prospective cohort study (3335 individuals completed Round 1, of whom 1768 also completed Round 2. At Round 1, individuals with previous positive SARS-CoV-2 tests had lower cognitive accuracy (N = 1737, β = −0.14 standard deviations, SDs, 95% confidence intervals, CI: −0.21, −0.07) than negative controls. Deficits were largest for positive individuals with ≥12 weeks of symptoms (N = 495, β = −0.22 SDs, 95% CI: −0.35, −0.09). Effects were comparable to hospital presentation during illness (N = 281, β = −0.31 SDs, 95% CI: −0.44, −0.18), and 10 years age difference (60–70 years vs. 50–60 years, β = −0.21 SDs, 95% CI: −0.30, −0.13) in the whole study population. Stratification by self-reported recovery revealed that deficits were only detectable in SARS-CoV-2 positive individuals who did not feel recovered from COVID-19, whereas individuals who reported full recovery showed no deficits. Longitudinal analysis showed no evidence of cognitive change over time, suggesting that cognitive deficits for affected individuals persisted at almost 2 years since initial infection.). eClinicalMedicine. 21.7.2023. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(23)00263-8/fulltext

As COVID-19 cases rose, so did diabetes — no one knows why. The spike in childhood type 1 diabetes opened new avenues for researchers to explore the cause of the disease. nature. 21.7.2023. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02322-0

July 21-31

 

A low-cost molecular test for SARS-CoV-2 detection suitable for variant discrimination and community testing using saliva. medRxiv. 20.07.2023. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.07.20.23292863v1

Official Data Hinted at China’s Hidden Covid Toll. Then It Vanished. Epidemiologists say a rise in cremations in an eastern province was the latest indication that the country’s official death toll from Covid is a vast undercount. NYTimes. 19.7.2023.  https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/19/world/asia/china-covid-data-toll.html

The Challenges of Defining, Understanding, and Addressing Long COVID.  Pfizer. 18.7.2023. https://www.pfizer.com/news/articles/the_challenges_of_defining_understanding_and_addressing_long_covid

Epigenetic Age Acceleration in Surviving versus Deceased COVID-19 Patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome following Hospitalization (Our analysis revealed significant accelerated epigenetic aging but no telomere attrition acceleration in severe COVID-19 cases. … The DNAmTL  measurements revealed telomere attrition acceleration in deceased COVID19 patients between inclusion and end of follow-up as well as a significant change in dynamic telomere attrition acceleration when comparing patients who recovered vs those who died. In conclusion, EAA and telomere attrition acceleration was associated with treatment outcome in hospitalized COVID-19 Patients with ARDS.). bioRxiv. 18.7.2023. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.07.18.549478v1

Healthcare group calls for return of face mask guidance (A lobby group of healthcare workers has warned against the decision to remove face mask guidance in healthcare settings. The Scottish Healthcare Workers Coalition (SHWC) has written to ministers, claiming ”very serious flaws” in changing the guidance. The group is made up of medical professionals who worked throughout the pandemic. All members have long Covid or another chronic post-viral illness.Face mask guidance was withdrawn in May in hospitals, dentists and GP surgeries having been in place since June 2020. The decision came after the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 was no longer a global emergency.) BBC News. 17.7.2023. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-66215539

News: Covid-19: Bring back mandatory mask wearing in health settings, say Scottish workers. BMJ. 17.7.2023. https://www.bmj.com/content/382/bmj.p1648

 

Immunogenicity and efficacy of vaccine boosters against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariant BA.5 in male Syrian hamsters.  ( In a comprehensive, experimental vaccination study using male Syrian hamsters, we evaluate neutralizing antibody responses and efficacy against BA.5 challenge after primary vaccination with Ad26.COV2.S (Janssen) or BNT162b2 (Pfizer/BioNTech) followed by a homologous or heterologous booster with mRNA-1273 (Moderna) or NVX-CoV2373 (Novavax). Notably, one high or low dose of Ad26.COV2.S provides more durable immunity than two primary doses of BNT162b2, and the NVX-CoV2373 booster provides the strongest augmentation of immunity, reduction in BA.5 viral replication, and disease. ) nature communications. 17.7.2023. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-40033-2

An extended period of elevated influenza mortality risk follows the main waves of influenza pandemics (30 years following epidemics of  1847-48. 1918-19, 1968-70 / • We examine influenza mortality risk following the main waves of influenza pandemics. / • We analyse data for England & Wales from 1838 to 2000, capturing five pandemics. / • We also analyse data for eight large UK cities and the US after the 1918-19 pandemic. / • Influenza outbreak risk remains high for two decades after the main pandemic waves. / • Immunity effects and socioeconomic conditions contribute to the persistence of risk.). Social Science & Medicine. July 2023. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953623003325

COVID-19 Severity and Waning Immunity After up to 4 mRNA Vaccine Doses in 73 608 Patients With Cancer and 621 475 Matched Controls in Singapore – A Nationwide Cohort Study. (Each booster COVID-19 vaccine dose was associated with significant clinical protection in patients with cancer, lasting at least 5 months in actively treated patients with cancer and cancer survivors, underscoring the benefit of boosters.) JAMA Network. 13.7.2023. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/fullarticle/2807035

Novavax Intends to Deliver Protein-based XBB COVID Vaccine as Specified in U.S. HHS Letter to COVID Manufacturers. Novavax News&Media. 13.7.2023. https://ir.novavax.com/press-releases/Novavax-Intends-to-Deliver-Protein-based-XBB-COVID-Vaccine-as-Specified-in-U-S-HHS-Letter-to-COVID-Manufacturers

Determinants of the Onset and Prognosis of the Post-COVID-19 Condition:  2-Year Prospective Cohort Study (Preexisting medical and socioeconomic factors, as well as acute COVID-19 symptoms, predict the development of and recovery from the PCC. Recovery is extremely rare during the first 2 years, posing a major challenge to healthcare systems.). Preprint Lancet. 12.7.2023. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4505315

Long COVID prevalence and impact on quality of life 2 years after acute COVID-19 (After excluding the cases of COVID-19 reinfection, 132 individuals were included in the final analysis. Among the 132 participants, 94 (71.2%) experienced symptoms of long COVID. The most frequently reported symptoms were fatigue (34.8%), amnesia (30.3%), concentration difficulties (24.2%), insomnia (20.5%), and depression (19.7%). Notably, no significant differences were noted in the incidence of long COVID at 24 months in terms of the number of vaccinations received. Although the neuropsychiatric quality of life improved over time, it continued to affect 32.7% of participants. Symptoms of long COVID, particularly neuropsychiatric symptoms, tend to persist over time, and COVID-19 vaccination or the number of vaccinations received may not significantly affect the incidence of long COVID.). Scientific Reports. 11.7.2023. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-36995-4

Gene linked to long COVID found in analysis of thousands of patients.  The first genome-wide search for long-COVID risk factors could pave the way for larger studies. Nature 11.7.2023. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02269-2

Immunogenicity of NVX-CoV2373 heterologous boost against SARS-CoV-2 variants. NPJ Vaccines. 11.7.2023. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37433788/

The immunology of long COVID (of all those who had COVID-19 globally, at least 10% have long COVID. The disease burden spans from mild symptoms to profound disability, the scale making this a huge, new health-care challenge. Long COVID will likely be stratified into several more or less discrete entities with potentially distinct pathogenic pathways.). nature reviews, immunology- 11.7.2023. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41577-023-00904-7

July 11-20

These Schools Across the US Have Brought Back Mask Mandates. The Epoch Times. 9.7.2023. https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/these-schools-across-the-us-have-brought-back-mask-mandates-5487628/

On covid California’s supreme court just said the quiet part out loud (This case is something of a covid smoking gun, revealing what we always suspected but had never seen confirmed in so many words: the public health imperative of controlling a pandemic virus by making employers liable for some of that control is, and always must be, secondary to capitalist profit. / This ruling is also saying out loud what has been obvious to anyone paying attention for the last two years: employers don’t have a responsibility to keep your family safe from covid. You have that responsibility. And if you give a family member covid that you caught at work and they get sick or die – even if it was a result of law-breaking by your employer – that’s on you buddy.) Nate Bear 8.7.2023. https://ko-fi.com/post/On-covid-Californias-supreme-court-just-said-the-V7V6N0GIS

Equivalent Clean Airflow Rates from ASHRAE 241 Control of Infectious Aerosols (Part 2) (Ventilation rates in non-healthcare settings were not originally designed to mitigate the transmission of airborne diseases. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, organizations often upgraded their ventilation systems without adequately addressing the crucial question of ‘how much’ ventilation was needed. ASHRAE 241 has now introduced targets for equivalent clean airflow rates, which buildings were not originally designed to achieve. / To provide context, this post will compare these recommended rates with existing indoor air quality ventilation rates and other recommendations provided by various organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can refer to this post for why existing ventilation rates were not designed for controlling infectious aerosols.) Medium. 7.7.2023. https://itsairborne.com/ashrae-241-control-of-infectious-aerosols-part-2-equivalent-clean-airflow-rates-76a511769d4d

Devastating COVID-19 surge in Okinawa exposes lies that the pandemic is over (The situation is not so much a medical crisis as a collapse of the system). World Socialist Web Site. 7.7.2023. https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2023/07/08/okin-j08.html

An analysis of studies pertaining to masks in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report: Characteristics and quality of all studies from 1978 to 2023 (MMWR publications pertaining to masks drew positive conclusions about mask effectiveness over 75% of the time despite only 30% testing masks and <15% having statistically significant results. No studies were randomized, yet over half drew causal conclusions. The level of evidence generated was low and the conclusions drawn were most often unsupported by the data. Our findings raise concern about the reliability of the journal for informing health policy.). medRxiv. 7.7.2023. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.07.07.23292338v1.full

Novavax COVID-19 vaccine as a second dose generates high immune response in young people, finds study (”Of particular interest is the enhanced performance of Novavax’s protein subunit vaccine following a dose of Pfizer-BioNTech’s mRNA, compared to the standard two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA. Among participants who had not been infected with COVID-19 before, those in the Novavax group were less likely to report a breakthrough infection than those in the standard Pfizer-BioNTech group…). MedicxalXpress by UoOxford. 6.7.2023. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-07-novavax-covid-vaccine-dose-generates.html

UK doctors demand re-introduction of infectious disease controls. Earlier this week the trade union for doctors and medical students in the UK issued a warning about the number of doctors that have had to quit or reduce their hours due to long covid – the number was one in five. Nate Bear Ko-fi. 6.7.2023. https://ko-fi.com/Post/UK-doctors-demand-the-re-introduction-of-infectiou-U7U0MY54T

How to Protect Yourself & Others. CDC. 6.7.2023. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html

Long COVID, the Brain, Nerves, and Cognitive Function (This review examines the constellation and spectrum of nervous system symptoms seen in long COVID and incorporates information on the prevalence of these symptoms, contributing factors, and typical course. Although treatment options are generally lacking, potential therapeutic approaches for alleviating symptoms and improving quality of life are explored.). Neurol Int. 6.7.2023. https://www.mdpi.com/2035-8377/15/3/52

Hospital admissions linked to SARS-CoV-2 infection in children and adolescents: cohort study of 3.2 million first ascertained infections in England (Most SARS-CoV-2 associated hospital admissions in children and adolescents in England were due to SARS-CoV-2 or SARS-CoV-2 was a contributory factor. These results should inform future public health initiatives and research.). The BMJ. 5.7.2023. https://www.bmj.com/content/382/bmj-2022-073639

First major survey of doctors with Long Covid reveals debilitating impact on health, life and work (-(-Doctors reported a wide range of symptoms, including fatigue, headaches, muscular pain, nerve damage, joint pain, ongoing respiratory problems and many more.
-60% told the BMA that post-acute Covid ill health has impacted on their ability to carry out day-to-day activities on a regular basis;
-18% reported that they were now unable to work due to their post-acute Covid ill-health;
-31% said they were working full-time, compared to 57% before the onset of their illness;
-48% have experienced some form of loss of earnings as a result of post-acute Covid;
-54% acquired Covid-19 during the first wave of the pandemic in 2020, and 77% of these believed that they contracted Covid -19 in the workplace;
-A small minority had access to respiratory protective equipment (RPE) around the time that they contracted Covid-19, with only 11% having access to an FFP2 respirator and 16% an FFP3 respirator;
-65% said their post-acute Covid symptoms had not been investigated thoroughly and effectively by an NHS long Covid clinic or centre. Almost half reported not even being referred to an NHS long Covid clinic at all.). BMA. 4.7.2023. https://www.bma.org.uk/bma-media-centre/first-major-survey-of-doctors-with-long-covid-reveals-debilitating-impact-on-health-life-and-work-and-wider-implications-for-workforce-and-health-services

Rare link between coronavirus vaccines and Long Covid–like illness starts to gain acceptance
Studies probe unusual cases of neurologic complications, blood pressure swings, and other side effects. Science. 3.7.2023. https://www.science.org/content/article/rare-link-between-coronavirus-vaccines-and-long-covid-illness-starts-gain-acceptance

July 1-10

SHEDDING OF INFECTIOUS SARS-COV-2 IN TWO ASYMPTOMATIC CHILDREN. Medicina (Buenos Aires) 2023. https://www.medicinabuenosaires.com/PMID/37094186.pdf

COVID-19 cases continue to rise, straining health care system in Okinawa. The Japan Times. 30.6.2023. https://archive.is/fOo1M

Incidence of Diabetes in Children and Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (…a higher incidence rate during the first year of the pandemic compared with the prepandemic period (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 1.14; 95% CI, 1.08-1.21). There was an increased incidence of diabetes during months 13 to 24 of the pandemic compared with the prepandemic period (IRR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.18-1.37)). JAMA. 30.6.2023. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2806712?utm_source=For_The_Media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_term=063023

Covid pandemic linked to surge in child and teen diabetes (There has been an unusual rise in the number of children and teenagers around the world diagnosed with type 1 diabetes since Covid, say researchers.) BBC News. 30.6.2023. https://www.bbc.com/news/health-66054946

Immunogenicity and safety of a fourth homologous dose of NVX-CoV2373. (A fourth dose of NVX-CoV2373 enhanced immune response to SARS-CoV-2 variants. / An NVX-CoV2373 fourth dose induced robust immunogenicity in those aged 18–84 years./  Correlates of protection imply post-boost efficacy of ≥ 82% for Omicron variants.) Vaccine. 29.6.2023. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X23006126?via%3Dihub

New research finds that COVID-19 can cause cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and thyroid disfunction- World Socialist Web Site. 28.6.2023. https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2023/06/29/1e81-j29.html

Reduction of SARS-CoV-2 intra-household child-to-parent transmission associated with ventilation: results from a case–control study. BMC Public Health. 26.6.2023. https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-023-16144-2

New onset or relapsing neuromyelitis optica temporally associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccination: a systematic review. Frontiers in neurology. 22.6.2023. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2023.1099758/full

No Loss, No Gain? COVID-19 school closures and Swiss fifth-graders’ competencies and self-concept in mathematics (IRT-based math tests were used to cross-sectionally compare data from 1,299 students in Grade 5 in late spring 2020 shortly after the reopening of schools with data from a previous year’s cohort (n = 11,314) using propensity score matching. The results revealed no significant differences in math competencies and no evidence of an increase in inequality when children with not German (vs German) as their first language were studied. Second, changes in math self-concepts in the school year 2019/20, when the pandemic first hit, as well as reciprocal effects of math competencies and math self-concept were assessed longitudinally (n = 1,299) using random intercept cross-lagged panel models based on three measurement points. Results showed that higher math self-concept and positive change in math self-concept over the time of school closures were related to higher learning gains. Different development trajectories for children with German (vs not German) first language emerged. ) Zeitschrift für Pädagogische Psychologie. 21.6.2023. https://econtent.hogrefe.com/doi/10.1024/1010-0652/a000366

 

June 21-30

The Covid Inquiry is Ignoring the Biggest Lesson: COVID-19 is Airborne. In the first week of the Covid Inquiry, the importance of aerosols has been ignored, and the WHO’s disastrous initial claim Covid ‘is not airborne’ has been overlooked.(GB) Byline Times. 20.6.2023. https://bylinetimes.com/2023/06/20/the-covid-inquiry-is-ignoring-the-biggest-lesson-covid-19-is-airborne/

DOCUMENTS LINK POTENTIAL COVID PATIENT ZERO TO U.S.-FUNDED RESEARCH IN WUHAN. New reporting, attributed to U.S. government sources, identified a coronavirus researcher at the Wuhan Institute of Virology who fell ill in November 2019 (Origin of the COVID-19 Pandemic. ONE OF THE first Wuhan researchers reportedly sickened with Covid in fall 2019, Ben Hu, was getting U.S. financial support for risky gain-of-function research on coronaviruses, according to documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request by the transparency advocacy organization White Coat Waste Project. / The funding came in three grants totaling $41 million, doled out by USAID and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, or NIAID, the agency then headed by Dr. Anthony Fauci. Hu is listed as an investigator on the grants.). The Intercept. 17.6.2023. https://theintercept.com/2023/06/17/covid-origin-wuhan-patient-zero/

Study Reveals 23 Percent Lower COVID Risk in Those ‘Not Up-to-Date’ With Vaccinations. The Epoch Times. 17.6.2023. https://www.theepochtimes.com/health/study-reveals-23-percent-lower-covid-risk-in-those-not-up-to-date-with-vaccinations-5339850

Lessons From COVID-19 for Protecting Workers in the Next Pandemic (COVID-19 is an occupational disease that sickened and killed countless workers in health care and long-term care, and in meat processing, agriculture, warehousing, transportation, corrections, and other “essential” industries. Nonetheless, COVID-19 has rarely been treated or tracked as an occupational disease by public health agencies, particularly in non–health care workplaces. The lessons from the failure to protect workers during the COVID-19 pandemic can be helpful as the nation anticipates and prepares for the next public health emergency.). JAMA. 16.6.2023. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2806496

Reactogenicity, immunogenicity and breakthrough infections following heterologous or fractional second dose COVID-19 vaccination in adolescents (Com-COV3): A randomised controlled trial. (Novavax. Heterologous and fractional dose COVID-19 vaccine schedules in adolescents are safe, well-tolerated and immunogenic. NVXCoV2373 following 30µg BNT162b2 as a first dose elicited the highest humoral and peak cellular immune responses. Neutralising antibodies against Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 were higher after NVXCoV2373 than a two-dose 30µg BNT162b2 schedule. The lowest rate of SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections occurred in participants who received NVXCoV2373 as their second dose. Enhanced protection may be provided by heterologous vaccine schedules using NVXCoV2373 than the homologous BNT162b2 schedule.) J Infect. 16.6.2023. https://www.journalofinfection.com/article/S0163-4453(23)00330-4/fulltext

Why our family is covid cautious (extensive list of LC &Covid sequelae). 16.6.2023. https://sites.google.com/view/why-we-are-covid-cautious/home

Tutkimus: Yli 70 prosentilla suomalaisista on sairastetun koronan tuottamia viruksen vasta-aineita. THL. 16.6.2023. https://thl.fi/fi/-/tutkimus-yli-70-prosentilla-suomalaisista-on-sairastetun-koronan-tuottamia-viruksen-vasta-aineita

Notes from the Field: Comparison of COVID-19 Mortality Rates Among Adults Aged ≥65 Years Who Were Unvaccinated and Those Who Received a Bivalent Booster Dose Within the Preceding 6 Months — 20 U.S. Jurisdictions, September 18, 2022–April 1, 2023. CDC MMWR Weekly. 16.6. 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7224a6.htm?s_cid=mm7224a6_w

Wavelength dependence of ultraviolet light inactivation for SARS-CoV-2 omicron variants (The inactivation efficacy of 220 nm light, which is considered safe for the human body, was approximately the same as that of health hazardous 260 nm light for both BA.2 and BA.5.). Nature 15.6.2023.  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-36610-6

Maternal COVID-19 infection and the fetus: Immunological and neurological perspectives (Pregnant women with male fetuses have been reported to have decreased maternal and placental humoral responses. This suggests that in pregnancies with a male fetus, fewer antibodies may be transferred to the fetus and contribute to males’ increased susceptibility/vulnerability to infectious diseases compared to female infants.). New Microbes and New Infections. June 2023.  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2052297523000549

Immunogenicity and safety of a fourth homologous dose of NVX-CoV2373 ( Novavax. In conclusion, despite the call for variant-specific vaccines, an increase in number of vaccine booster doses with NVX-CoV2373 enhances immunogenicity for the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 strain and its variants without a notable increase in reactogenicity. Therefore, these data suggest that further boosting with the ancestral sequence used in NVX-CoV2373 should retain meaningful utility in preventing variant virus-associated illness.). Vaccine. June 2023. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X23006126

Viral emissions into the air and environment after SARS-CoV-2 human challenge: a phase 1, open label, first-in-human study (…a minority of participants were high airborne virus emitters, giving support to the notion of superspreading individuals or events. Our data implicates the nose as the most important source of emissions. Frequent self-testing coupled with isolation upon awareness of first symptoms could reduce onward transmissions.). The Lancet Microbe. 16.6.2023. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666524723001015

For Patient Safety, It Is Not Time to Take Off Masks in Health Care Settings. Annals of Internal Medicine. June 2023. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M23-1190

Long covid ja keho-mielihoidot (Juhani Knuuti: Covid-infektion laukaisemien pitkäaikaisoireiden hoito on edelleen suuri haaste. Toistaiseksi täsmähoitoa ei ole ja hoito perustuu toisaalta elinjärjestelmän vaurioiden hoitoon ja toisaalta moniammatilliseen kuntoutukseen, jossa tavoitteena on tukea oireiden kanssa pärjäämistä ja toipumista. Onneksi valtaosin potilaat toipuvat. / Perehdyttyäni huolellisesti tutkimusnäyttöön ja kuunneltuani luennon ja tutkittuani sen lähteitä, jää mieltäni edelleen askarruttamaan kysymys: Annetaanko Suomessa jo nyt covidin pitkäaikaisoireisiin muun kuntoutuksen ohessa hoitoa, josta tutkimusnäyttö kokonaan puuttuu ja jota vasta pyritään tutkimaan? Se, että ”kahden vuoden aikana [ei] ole jätetty yhtään muistutusta hoidon sisällöstä tai laadusta” ei mielestäni käy perusteeksi tutkimattoman hoidon antamiselle.).  TS Blogit. 14.5.2023. https://blogit.ts.fi/terveys-tiede/long-covid-ja-keho-mielihoidot/

Over 20 Million Americans Struggle To Regain Smell and Taste After COVID. Sci Tech Daily. 14.6.2023. https://scitechdaily.com/over-20-million-americans-struggle-to-regain-smell-and-taste-after-covid/

Choroid plexus defects in Down syndrome brain organoids enhance neurotropism of SARS-CoV-2 VUMC researchers study long term neurological impacts of COVID. NewsChannel5. 15.5.2023. https://www.newschannel5.com/news/vumc-researchers-study-long-term-neurological-impacts-of-covid

Sunday Timesin selvitys: Koronavirus karkasi wuhanilaboratoriosta, jossa kehitettiin ihmisiin herkemmin tarttuvia virusmuunnoksia. Tekniikan Maailma. 13.6.2023. https://tekniikanmaailma.fi/sunday-timesin-selvitys-koronavirus-karkasi-wuhanilaboratoriosta-jossa-kehitettiin-ihmisiin-herkemmin-tarttuvia-virusmuunnoksia/

”The idea that the pandemic is over… The virus hasn’t gotten that memo.” An interview with Arijit Chakravarty on ending of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency: Part 1.  World Socialist Web Site. 11.6.2023. https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2023/06/12/ddzg-j12.html

June 11-20

Long COVID could be caused by the virus lingering in the body. Here’s what the science says.
We know from other viruses that viral fragments can remain in different tissues for months or even years. This could be the case for long COVID. UNSW Newsroom. 9.6.2023. https://newsroom.unsw.edu.au/news/health/long-covid-could-be-caused-virus-lingering-body-here%E2%80%99s-what-science-says

Evaluation of Mask-Induced Cardiopulmonary Stress. A Randomized Crossover Trial. (… wearing the N95 mask for 14 hours significantly affected the physiological, biochemical, and perception parameters.4,5 The effect was primarily initiated by increased respiratory resistance and subsequent decreased blood oxygen and pH, which contributed to sympathoadrenal system activation and epinephrine as well as norepinephrine secretion elevation. The extra hormones elicited a compensatory increase in heart rate and blood pressure. Although healthy individuals can compensate for this cardiopulmonary overload, other populations, such as elderly individuals, children, and those with cardiopulmonary diseases, may experience compromised compensation.) JAMA. 8.6.2023. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2805809

Prusty on Herpesviruses, Messed Up Mitochondria and a Biomarker for ME/CFS and Long COVID (?). HealthRising. 9.6.2023. https://www.healthrising.org/blog/2023/06/09/prusty-on-herpesviruses-messed-up-mitochondria-and-a-biomarker-for-me-cfs-and-long-covid/

Association of COVID-19 Government-Instituted Mask Mandates With Incidence of Mask Use Among Children in Alberta, Canada (This cohort study of 939 children (age, 8-13 years) from August 2020 to June 2022 examined government masking mandates and child mask use; the odds of parents’ report of child mask use (often or always) was 18.3 times higher during the mask mandate compared with when there was no mandate, which was a significant difference. Each day without the mask mandate was associated with a 1.6% decrease in mask use). JAMA. 8.6.2023. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2805784

Long COVID. National Instiututes of Health 8.6.2023. https://covid19.nih.gov/covid-19-topics/long-covid

SARS-CoV-2 infection and viral fusogens cause neuronal and glial fusion that compromises neuronal activity (Numerous viruses use specialized surface molecules called fusogens to enter host cells. Many of these viruses, including the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), can infect the brain and are associated with severe neurological symptoms through poorly understood mechanisms. We show that SARS-CoV-2 infection induces fusion between neurons and between neurons and glia in mouse and human brain organoids. We reveal that this is caused by the viral fusogen, as it is fully mimicked by the expression of the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein or the unrelated fusogen p15 from the baboon orthoreovirus. We demonstrate that neuronal fusion is a progressive event, leads to the formation of multicellular syncytia, and causes the spread of large molecules and organelles. Last, using Ca2+ imaging, we show that fusion severely compromises neuronal activity. These results provide mechanistic insights into how SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses affect the nervous system, alter its function, and cause neuropathology.) Science Advances. 7.6.2023. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adg2248

Researchers discover that COVID-19 can cause brain cells to fuse. MedicalXpress- 7.6.2023. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-06-covid-brain-cells-fuse.html

SARS-CoV-2 infection and viral fusogens cause neuronal and glial fusion that compromises neuronal activity. Science Advances. 7.6.2023. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adg2248

Causal associations and genetic overlap between COVID-19 and intelligence. QJM: An International Journal of Medicine. 7.6.2023. https://academic.oup.com/qjmed/advance-article/doi/10.1093/qjmed/hcad122/7191821

Discontinuation of Universal Admission Testing for SARS-CoV-2 and Hospital-Onset COVID-19 Infections in England and Scotland (in England, the same mean (SD) rate increased from 0.64 (0.14) to 1.00 (0.17) to 1.39 (0.34) (Figure, B). The immediate level change was significant after admission testing ended (26% relative increase; 95% CI, 8%-45%)). JAMA. 5.6.2023. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2805585

Study finds 27% rate of long COVID in infected health workers. CIDRAP. 5.6.2023. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/study-finds-27-rate-long-covid-infected-health-workers

Risk factors for long coronavirus disease 2019 (long COVID) among healthcare personnel, Brazil, 2020–2022. (Of 7,051 HCP diagnosed with COVID-19, 1,933 (27.4%) who developed long COVID were compared to 5,118 (72.6%) who did not. The majority of those with long COVID (51.8%) had 3 or more symptoms.) Cambridge Univ Press, 5.6.2023. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/infection-control-and-hospital-epidemiology/article/abs/risk-factors-for-long-coronavirus-disease-2019-long-covid-among-healthcare-personnel-brazil-20202022/AA01F17E1C8A33C07457914E63AB3EEE

Post-COVID-19 Syndrome in Non-Hospitalized Individuals: Healthcare Situation 2 Years after SARS-CoV-2 Infection. (Of the 304 non-hospitalized participants (58.2% female, median age 53.5), 210 (69.1%) had a PCS. Among these, 18.8% had slight to moderate functional limitations. Participants with PCS showed a significantly higher utilization of healthcare and a large proportion complained about lacking information on persistent COVID-19 symptoms and problems finding competent healthcare providers) MDPI. 5.6.2023. https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/15/6/1326

US CDC announces indoor air guidance for COVID-19 after 3 years. (The announcement calls for indoor air to be completely replaced at least five times every hour and cleaned with minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV)-13 air filters.) Lancet. 5.6.2023. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(23)00229-1/fulltext?s=08

Dutch Survey Data Shows Significant Increase In Memory And Concentration Problems Among Adults Since Start Of Covid-19 Pandemic. Forbes. 4.6.2023. https://www.forbes.com/sites/joshuacohen/2023/06/04/dutch-survey-data-shows-significant-increase-in-memory-and-concentration-problems-among-adults-since-start-of-covid-19-pandemic/

Australia records 37,448 new Covid-19 cases as winter begins. A winter warning for Covid-19 is under way across Australia as tens of thousands of people contract the virus. 4.6.2023. https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/australia-records-37448-new-covid19-cases-as-winter-begins/news-story/737a2b783ba14c5a7a58a323e8f4b187

Reinfection by SARS-CoV-2 by divergent Omicron sublineages, 16 days apart (Based on our findings, we can say that the present case of reinfection is the shortest described so far.). Clinical Microbiology. 3.6.2023. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42770-023-01018-x

More than 70% of US household COVID spread started with a child, study suggests (”More than 70% of transmissions in households with adults and children were from a pediatric index case, but this percentage fluctuated weekly,” the study authors wrote. ”Once US schools reopened in fall 2020, children contributed more to inferred within-household transmission when they were in school, and less during summer and winter breaks, a pattern consistent for 2 consecutive school years.”). CIDRAP. 2.6.2023. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/more-70-us-household-covid-spread-started-child-study-suggests

Lapsilla on oltava oikeus puhtaaseen hengitysilmaan. Ilmahygienia on seuraava suuri kansanterveydellinen murros, kolme kirjoittajaa sanoo. Suomen Kuvalehti 1.6.2023. https://suomenkuvalehti.fi/mielipide/puheenvuoro-suomi-on-epaonnistunut-hengitysteitse-leviavien-tautien-ehkaisemisessa/

More than 70% of US household COVID spread started with a child, study suggests (Children aged 8 years and younger were more likely to be the source of transmission than those aged 9 to 17 (7.6% vs 5.8%). During most of the pandemic, the proportion of transmission from children was negatively correlated with new community COVID-19 cases). CIDRAP. 2.6.2023. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/more-70-us-household-covid-spread-started-child-study-suggests

Smart Thermometer–Based Participatory Surveillance to Discern the Role of Children in Household Viral Transmission During the COVID-19 Pandemic (In a cohort study of 166 170 households with adults and children using smart thermometers, among 38  787 inferred household transmissions over 3 years, 70.4% had a pediatric index case. Rates dropped during school breaks.). JAMA. 1.6.2023. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2805468

COVID-19 delirium and encephalopathy: Pathophysiology assumed in the first 3 years of the ongoing pandemic (Among COVID-19 patients, delirium and encephalopathy have been observed / Cytokine storms and CNS damage result from viral induced hyperinflammation / BBB failure and elevated microglia activation may be signs of COVID encephalopathy / COVID-19 can result in cognitive impairment, starting with delirium). Brain Disorders. June 2023.  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666459323000112

June 1-10

Recovery and symptom trajectories up to two years after SARS-CoV-2 infection: population based, longitudinal cohort study (22.9% (95% confidence interval 20.4% to 25.6%) of individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 did not fully recover by six months. The proportion of individuals who had an infection who reported not having recovered decreased to 18.5% (16.2% to 21.1%) at 12 months and 17.2% (14.0% to 20.8%) at 24 months after infection. ). BMJ. 31.5.2023. https://www.bmj.com/content/381/bmj-2022-074425

Opmerkelijke groei aantal volwassenen met geheugenproblemen na coronapandemie. NOS Nieuws. 31.5.2023.  https://nos.nl/artikel/2477146-opmerkelijke-groei-aantal-volwassenen-met-geheugenproblemen-na-coronapandemie

Why the world needs more transparency on the origins of novel pathogens. Collaboration and openness are essential to minimize the risks of future pandemics, says the World Health Organization’s scientific advisory group, SAGO. Nature. 30.5.2023. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-01722-6

Oral Fungal Alterations in Patients with COVID-19 and Recovered Patients. Advanced Science. 29.4.2023. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/advs.202205058

EMA Panel Endorses Novavax’s (NVAX) COVID Jab for Full Approval. yahoo!finance. 29.5.2023. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ema-panel-endorses-novavaxs-nvax-134800731.html

Immunologist Akiko Iwasaki: ‘We are not done with Covid, not even close’.  The Yale professor and long Covid expert on why the virus is causing ongoing illness for so many, and the challenges she faces as a woman of colour in science. The Guardian. 27.5.2023. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/may/27/immunologist-akiko-iwasaki-we-are-not-done-with-covid-not-even-close

Case report: Post-COVID new-onset neurocognitive decline with bilateral mesial-temporal hypometabolism in two previously healthy sisters. Front. Pediatr. 26.5.2023. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2023.1165072/full

1 in 10 People Get Long COVID After Omicron. Time. 26.5.2023. https://time.com/6283028/long-covid-after-omicron/

 

Estimates of Bivalent mRNA Vaccine Durability in Preventing COVID-19–Associated Hospitalization and Critical Illness Among Adults with and Without Immunocompromising Conditions — VISION Network, September 2022–April 2023. (Among adults aged ≥18 years without immunocompromising conditions, bivalent booster vaccine effectiveness (VE) against COVID-19–associated hospitalization declined from 62% at 7–59 days postvaccination to 24% at 120–179 days compared with VE among unvaccinated adults. Among immunocompromised adults, lower bivalent booster VE was observed. However, bivalent booster VE was sustained against critical COVID-19–associated outcomes, including intensive care unit admission or death.) CDC MMWR. 26.5.2023. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7221a3.htm

Disentangling the Postacute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2. E Unibus Pluram (From One, Many) (This first RECOVER adult cohort study report provides an important initial framework for defining the sequelae that manifest after acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. The research exemplifies the benefits of multidisciplinary collaboration informed by extensive input from patient representatives. These efforts will continue to be needed to determine whether this phenomenon represents one entity with a single definition or multiple phenotypes that arise after COVID-19 infection requiring separate case definitions (ie, E unibus pluram [from one, many]). Addressing this question and finalizing the definitions of these postacute sequelae should facilitate more robust research that ultimately leads to high-quality care and treatment for patients with late effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection.). JAMA Editorial. 25.5.2023. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2805541

Historiallinen käänne Suomessa: vastasyntyneen elinajanodote lyheni. Elinajanodotteemme on 50 vuotta vain pidentynyt, mutta viime vuonna se kääntyi selvään laskuun (n 1,1 v). Tutkimusprofessori Seppo Koskinen ei pidä tilastovirhettä mahdollisena. Mediuutiset. 25.5.2023. https://www.mediuutiset.fi/uutiset/historiallisen-huono-kaanne-suomessa-vastasyntyneen-elinajanodote-lyheni/5cba8c8f-4a08-4491-bcac-26f23f174cf0

Development of a Definition of Postacute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection. (In this analysis of data from 9764 participants in the RECOVER adult cohort, a prospective longitudinal cohort study, 37 symptoms across multiple pathophysiological domains were identified as present more often in SARS-CoV-2–infected participants at 6 months or more after infection compared with uninfected participants. A preliminary rule for identifying PASC was derived based on a composite symptom score.) JAMA. 25.5.2023. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2805540

‘Millions of Lives Lost’ in Pandemic Mainly From Pharma-Government Nexus, Says Critical Care Expert. The Epoch Times. 24.5.2023. https://www.theepochtimes.com/article/millions-of-lives-lost-in-pandemic-mainly-from-pharma-government-nexus-says-critical-care-expert-5280075

Nouvelle baisse de l’espérance de vie au Québec en 2022. (La surmortalité liée à la pandémie de COVID-19 est en cause. L’espérance de vie a de nouveau baissé au Québec l’année dernière, et de façon notable, selon le bilan démographique publié ce mercredi par l’Institut de la statistique du Québec. En cause : la COVID-19.) Pivot. 24.5.2023. https://pivot.quebec/2023/05/24/nouvelle-baisse-de-lesperance-de-vie-au-quebec-en-2022/

Cognitive dysfunction of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant in Shanghai, China. Translational Neurodegeneration. 24.5.2023. https://translationalneurodegeneration.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40035-023-00357-x

Estimation of Excess Mortality in Germany During 2020-2022 (In 2020, the observed number of deaths was extremely close to the expected number, but in 2021, the observed number of deaths was far above the expected number in the order of twice the empirical standard deviation, and in 2022, above the expected number even more than four times the empirical standard deviation. The analysis of the age-dependent monthly excess mortality showed that high excess mortality starting from spring 2021 is responsible for the excess mortality in 2021 and 2022.). Cureus. 23.5.2023. https://www.cureus.com/articles/149410-estimation-of-excess-mortality-in-germany-during-2020-2022#!/

COVID-19 vaccines may undergo major overhaul this fall. As Omicron persists, consensus grows for abandoning the ancestral coronavirus strain to improve immune responses. Science. 23.5.2023. https://www.science.org/content/article/covid-19-vaccines-may-undergo-major-overhaul-fall

COVID-19 hospitalisations and all-cause mortality by risk group in Finland. PLOS One. 23.5.2023.  https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0286142

Kysely­tutkimus: Suomen korona­uutisoinnissa painottui vallan­pitäjien ääni. JSN:n puheenjohtaja Eero Hyvönen huomauttaa, että vallanpitäjien näkyvyys mediassa ei välttämättä tarkoita heidän myötäilyään. Helsingin Sanomat. 23.5.2023. https://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000009604014.html?s=03

Editorials: Vaccine effectiveness against delta and omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2 (…omicron (78%) periods, along with 61% protection against admission to hospital. …the duration of protection appeared to wane after three months in the omicron period. Compared with the first 90 days, the odds of death increased by 30% during the period 91-150 days after three vaccine doses (adjusted odds ratio 1.31 (95% confidence interval 1.09-1.58)), and the odds of hospital admission increased by 16% (1.16 (1.07 to 1.25)).). BMJ. 23.5.2023. https://www.bmj.com/content/381/bmj.p1111

Sairauspoissaolot kunnissa (AMMATTIRYHMIEN VÄLISET EROT / SAIRAUSPOISSAOLOT / IKÄRYHMIEN VÄLISET EROT /SUKUPUOLTEN VÄLISET EROT / POIKKILEIKKAUS AMMATEITTAIN). Työterveyslaitos 22.5.2023. https://www.tyoelamatieto.fi/fi/aineistot/sairauspoissaolot-kunnissa

Viable SARS-CoV-2 Omicron sub-variants isolated from autopsy tissues. Front Microbiol. 22.5.2023. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1192832/full

Näin sairastettu korona kasvattaa riskiä sairastua muihin sairauksiin.
Korona eli sairastettu SARS-CoV-2-infektio lähes kaksinkertaisti tutkimuksissa riskin sairastua muistisairauteen, ja riski oli huomattavasti korkeampi naisilla kuin miehillä. Iltalehti. 22.5.2023. https://www.iltalehti.fi/terveysuutiset/a/a8929512-451f-4139-bba9-968afcc4e730

Lung aerosol particle emission increases with age at rest and during exercise (the elderly subjects emitted on average more than twice as many aerosol particles per minute and five times as much dry volume than those of subjects aged 20 to 39 y, whereas there was only a small difference between women and men.). PNAS. 22.5.2023. https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2301145120

No time for complacency on COVID-19 in Europe. Lancet. 22.5.2023. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(23)01012-7/fulltext

Prepare for disease deadlier than COVID – WHO chief. SciDevNet. 22.5.2023. https://www.scidev.net/global/news/prepare-for-disease-deadlier-than-covid-who-chief/

Sairauspoissaolot kääntyivät kunta-alalla jyrkkään nousuun – syy ei yllätä. MTV Uutiset. 22.5.2023. https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/sairauspoissaolot-kaantyivat-kunta-alalla-jyrkkaan-nousuun-syy-ei-yllata/8703496

Kunta-alan sairauspoissaolot kääntyivät jyrkkään kasvuun. (Vuonna 2022 kuntatyöntekijät olivat keskimäärin 20,7 päivää poissa töistä oman sairauden takia. Kaikkien ammattiryhmien sairauspoissaolot ovat lisääntyneet. Todennäköinen syy on koronaviruksen aiheuttamat poissaolot.) Työterveyslaitos. 22.5.2023. https://www.sttinfo.fi/tiedote/kunta-alan-sairauspoissaolot-kaantyivat-jyrkkaan-kasvuun?publisherId=69819005&releaseId=69979473

May 21-31

Urgent action needed to tackle stalled progress on health-related Sustainable Development Goals. WHO. 19.5.2023. https://www.who.int/news/item/19-05-2023-urgent-action-needed-to-tackle-stalled-progress-on-health-related-sustainable-development-goals

COVID-19 and neurological disorders: what might connect Parkinson’s disease to SARS-CoV-2 infection (The link between SARS-CoV-2 and PD is multi facet. Whether the higher prevalence and incidence of PD in patients who experienced COVID-19 are controverse, the hypothesis that COVID-19 may increase the risk of PD is actually unlikely. On the other hand, patients with PD showed a worsening of motor and non-motor symptoms during COVID-19 outbreak due to both infection and/or social restriction. Also, due to the nature of neurodegenerative disease, older age and comorbidities, PD patients are vulnerable during the COVID-19 outbreak since they reported higher mortality and morbidity compared to healthy population. Many are the clinical and pathogenetic shared features between SARS-CoV-2 infection and PD although much remains to be clarified about this complex and bidirectional relationship. Although cases of acute parkinsonism following SARS-CoV-2 infection are reported, the possibility of higher risk of occurrence of idiopathic PD following SARS-CoV-2 infection is still controverse. Current data suggesting the development of idiopathic PD associated with SARS-CoV-2infection is currently only a hypothesis. Of course, due to the short interval period from SARS-CoV-2 outbreak we cannot have reliable data about the incidence of idiopathic PD among infected people and therefore we cannot estimate the risk to develop PD after COVID-19. Longer longitudinal studies are needed to better clarify the relationship between COVID-19 and the development of idiopathic PD. Looking at the several shared featured between SARS-CoV-2 infection and idiopathic PD pathogenesis, we believe that prospective evaluation of patients with permanent hyposmia and gastrointestinal symptoms after COVID-19 might help to better clarify the relationship between COVID-19 and idiopathic PD incidence.) Frontiers in Neurology. 18.5.2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10232873/

Wuhan lab experienced a ’serious biocontainment’ incident in 2019 and first COVID death in China was two months EARLIER than first thought: New Senate report shares more evidence on leak theory and Beijing’s cover-up. ’Reports from the WIV spanning more than a three-year period yielded a picture of a struggling institution: underfunded, underregulated, and understaffed’
The report admits that it does not contain any one ”smoking gun’ – which matters most when assessing the origin question’  Mail Online. 18.5.2023. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12094249/MORE-evidence-Wuhan-leak-revealed-Senate-report.html

New study shows masks and air cleaners were associated with stopping COVID-19 in two Swiss schools (”Although our study has several limitations, including the observational nature of our study and that detecting SARS-CoV-2 in the air or aerosols does not necessarily mean transmission, we found that mask mandates reduced transmission in classrooms, and both masks and air cleaners reduced aerosol concentrations.”). MedivalXpress. 18.5.2023. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-05-masks-air-cleaners-covid-swiss.html

SARS-CoV-2 transmission with and without mask wearing or air cleaners in schools in Switzerland: A modeling study of epidemiological, environmental, and molecular data (Molecular detection of airborne and human SARS-CoV-2 indicated sustained transmission in schools. Mask mandates were associated with greater reductions in aerosol concentrations than air cleaners and with lower transmission. ) . PLOS Medicine. 18.5.2023. https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.1004226

Pivotal points in the COVID-19 pandemic – 5 essential reads (1. A whole new vocabulary, 2. Comparisons to the 1918 flu ran rife, 3. How and when pandemics end, 4. The midway point, 5. How omicron altered the course of the pandemic). The Conversation. 17.5.2023. https://theconversation.com/pivotal-points-in-the-covid-19-pandemic-5-essential-reads-205722

Why is COVID life-threatening for some people? Genetics study offers clues. Immune genes could play a part in the risk of needing intensive care when infected with SARS-CoV-2. () nature news. 17.5.2023. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-01655-0

Heart Transplants From Active COVID Donors Linked With Higher Mortality.
— Outcomes from donors with recently resolved COVID similar to those without SARS-CoV-2, however. Medpage Today 17.5.2023. https://www.medpagetoday.com/cardiology/hearttransplantation/104555

Record numbers not working due to ill health. (More than two and a half million are not working due to health problems, the Office for National Statistics said. … Since the start of the Covid pandemic, there were ”well over 400,000 more people outside of the labour market due to ill health,” Darren Morgan, director of economic statistics at the ONS, told the BBC’s Today Programme.) BBC News. 16.5.2023. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-65596283

Efficacy of mRNA-1273 and Novavax ancestral or BA.1 spike booster vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 BA.5 infection in non-human primates. Science Immunology 16.5.2023. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciimmunol.adg7015

VUMC researchers study long term neurological impacts of COVID. NewsChannel5. 15.5.2023. https://www.newschannel5.com/news/vumc-researchers-study-long-term-neurological-impacts-of-covid

Narcolepsy risk loci outline role of T cell autoimmunity and infectious triggers in narcolepsy. nature communications.15.5.2023. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-36120-z

Post–COVID Conditions Among Adult COVID-19 Survivors Aged 18–64 and ≥65 Years — United States, March 2020–November 2021. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2022;71:713–717. 14.5.2023. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7121e1

Are repeat COVID infections dangerous? What the science says. Researchers disagree over how bad it is to be reinfected, and whether COVID-19 can cause lasting changes to the immune system. nature. 11.5.2023. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-01371-9

Parents Don’t Understand How Far Behind Their Kids Are in School. New York Times. 11.5.2023. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/05/11/opinion/pandemic-learning-losses-steep-but-not-permanent.html

Covid-19 Patients Flung Out Hospital Windows As Public Emergency Ends. the ONION. 11.3.2023. https://www.theonion.com/covid-19-patients-flung-out-hospital-windows-as-public-1850419502

As Emergency Ends, a Look at Covid’s U.S. Death Toll. NYTimes. 11.5.2023. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/05/11/us/covid-deaths-us.html

May 11-20

Association of SARS-CoV-2 infection and persistence with long COVID (The longest bout of SARS-CoV-2 infection recorded to date was a patient in the UK who tested positive for COVID-19 for 505 days until her death.1 5 years after the end of the Ebola virus outbreak in 2016, the virus re-emerged in people who previously had Ebola virus disease in 2021.2 Similarly, people who previously had West Nile virus infection with chronic symptoms still had positive urine RT-PCR tests 1·6–6·7 years after recovery from acute illness. Whether SARS-CoV-2 can also reactivate and retransmit after several years of dormancy is not yet known.). Lancet Respiratory Medicine. 10.5.2023. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(23)00142-X/fulltext

COVID-19 infection may promote aortic aneurysms and new treatment may slow its growth (). News Medical. 10.5.2023. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20230510/COVID-19-infection-may-promote-aortic-aneurysms-and-new-treatment-may-slow-its-growth.aspx

Diabetes symptoms as deaths caused by the disease triple across the UK
Deaths related to diabetes have increased throughout the UK as check up appointments have been missed or delayed amid a crippling NHS backlog. Daily Record. 10.5,2023. https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/diabetes-symptoms-deaths-caused-disease-29944903

Novavax Announces Positive Flu/COVID-19 Vaccine Data. The combination shot showed a ‘robust’ immune response in the company’s phase two trial. USNews. 9.5.2023. https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2023-05-09/novavax-announces-positive-flu-covid-19-vaccine-data

Long-term symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 infection in a cohort of hospital employees: duration and predictive factor (About half of the HEs suffered from long lasting symptoms over 90 days after almost entirely mild acute COVID-19.). BMC Infectious Diseases. 8.5.2023. https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-2812977/v1

The plasma metabolome of long COVID-19 patients two years after infection. Scientific Reports. 05.03.2023. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.05.03.23289456v1

COVID’s future: mini-waves rather than seasonal surges. Three years after the start of the pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 shows no signs of settling into a seasonal pattern of spread, like influenza has. nature news. 4.5.2023. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-01437-8

Lack of association between vaccination rates and excess mortality in Cyprus during the COVID-19 pandemic (No relationship was found between vaccination rates and all-cause mortality, demonstrating the excellent safety profile of COVID-19 vaccines.). Vaccine. 2.5.2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10066729/

Intrinsic factors behind long-COVID: I. Prevalence of the extracellular vesicles (Is long-COVID caused by the continued presence of the virus or one/several of its components in the recovering individual body for long periods of time, which urges the body to respond in a way that leads to long-COVID development? Or are there some latent and limited reasons related to the recovering patients themselves? Or is it a sum of both?). J Cell Biochem. 1.5.2023. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37126363/

Study of Novavax COVID vaccine estimates 100% efficacy against hospitalizations (A post hoc analysis of a phase 3 randomized, controlled trial estimates that two doses of the Novavax (NVX-CoV2373) COVID-19 vaccine were 100% effective against hospitalization by 95 days during a period dominated by the SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant.) CIDRAP. 1.5.2023. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/study-novavax-covid-vaccine-estimates-100-efficacy-against-hospitalizations

May 1-10

Mild Covid can lead to long-term impact on cardiovascular health, study claims. Scientists compared pre- and post-Covid infection levels of arterial stiffness, which can indicate cardiovascular health. Independenty Premium. 28.4.2023. https://www.independent.co.uk/independentpremium/uk-news/scientists-university-of-portsmouth-b2327081.html

Comparing Physician and Artificial Intelligence Chatbot Responses to Patient Questions Posted to a Public Social Media Forum (In this cross-sectional study of 195 randomly drawn patient questions from a social media forum, a team of licensed health care professionals compared physician’s and chatbot’s responses to patient’s questions asked publicly on a public social media forum. The chatbot responses were preferred over physician responses and rated significantly higher for both quality and empathy.). JAMA. 28.4.2023. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/2804309

Female reproductive health impacts of Long COVID and associated illnesses including ME/CFS, POTS, and connective tissue disorders: a literature review (LC may be associated with disruptions to the menstrual cycle, gonadal function, ovarian insufficiency, premature menopause, and fertility problems. RH conditions connected to associated illnesses (e.g., ME/CFS, POTS, EDS) include dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, oligomenorrhea, dyspareunia, endometriosis, infertility, vulvodynia, intermenstrual bleeding, ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids and bleeding, pelvic congestion syndrome, and adverse pregnancy complications, such as maternal mortality, preeclampsia, and premature birth.). Frontiers Rehab Sci. 28.4.2023. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fresc.2023.1122673/full

Characterising subgroups of people with severe COVID anxiety by latent profile analysis (People living with severe COVID anxiety are a heterogenous group. This analysis adds to evidence that certain health behaviours and demographic factors are inextricably linked to poor mental health in people with COVID anxiety, and that targeting health behaviours with specific intervention might be beneficial.). medRxiv. 28.4.2023. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.04.28.23289248v1

Novavax COVID-19 vaccine 80% effective among US teens (The vaccine effectiveness (VE) of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine was 79.5% among US adolescents before the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant emerged, but the monoclonal antibody combo tixagevimab and cilgavimab showed little benefit for nonhospitalized COVID patients, according to two randomized, controlled trials published today in JAMA Network Open.) CIDRAP 26.4.2023. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/novavax-covid-19-vaccine-80-effective-among-us-teens

Doctors are more extroverted and neurotic than their patients, researchers find. BMJ. 24.4.2023. https://www.bmj.com/content/381/bmj.p927

Why long COVID could be a ticking time bomb for public health. Long COVID isn’t novel: other viruses in history have had similar “long” arcs — with devastating repercussions. Salon. 24.4.2023. https://www.salon.com/2023/04/24/long-parkinsons/

Explanation proposed for long-COVID symptoms in the CNS. Neurology Reviews. 24.4.2023. https://www.mdedge.com/neurology/article/262566/long-covid/explanation-proposed-long-covid-symptoms-cns?icd=login_success_email_match_norm

Foibekartanossa on maskipakko – Näin sitä perustellaan vuosi yleisen maskisuosituksen poistumisen jälkeen. (ikäihmisten asuinkeskus Foibekartano pitää kiinni maskipakosta, vaikka yleinen maskisuositus poistui jo vuosi sitten huhtikuussa.) Iltalehti. 23.4.2023. https://www.iltalehti.fi/kotimaa/a/78d2efd4-83f4-45e3-9c1c-c629b3195202

Kuolleisuus kasvoi historiallisesti Suomessa vuonna 2022, kuolleiden määrä korkein sitten sotavuosien. Turun Sanomat. 22.4.2023.  https://www.ts.fi/uutiset/5972790

Flera covidpatienter blir inte friska – oron (Överläkare i Stockholm märker att vissa postcovidpatienter inte tillfrisknar – trots att det gått flera år. Det rapporterar Sveriges radio. Efter tre år hade man hoppats att många fler skulle vara långt mer återställda, säger överläkare Christer Lidman.). Expressen. 22.4.22023. https://www.expressen.se/nyheter/flera-covidpatienter–blir-inte-friska-oron-/

Elinajan­odotteiden lasku oli vuonna 2022 suurinta 50 vuoteen. Syntyvyys oli mittaushistorian matalin. ilta=sanomat. 21.4.2023. https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000009533904.html

 

April 21-30

Covid-Welle in China: Daten deuten auf gewaltige Über­sterblichkeit hin. Hochrechnungen gehen von bis zu 2,4 Millionen Covid-Toten in China aus. Was die Daten aber auch zeigen: Die chinesische Impfung schützt wohl besser als erwartet. Felix Straumann. 20.4.2023. https://www.bazonline.ch/daten-deuten-auf-gewaltige-uebersterblichkeit-hin-131669464296

Widespread household transmission of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.529 (Omicron) variant from Children, South Korea, 2022. Yonsei Med J. 20.4.2023. https://eymj.org/DOIx.php?id=10.3349/ymj.2022.0608

Persistence of immune responses after heterologous and homologous third COVID-19 vaccine dose schedules in the UK: eight-month analyses of the COV-BOOST trial. (Heterologous third doses with viral vector vaccines [e.g., Novavax] following two doses of mRNA achieve more durable humoral responses compared with three doses of mRNA vaccines. Lower doses of mRNA vaccines could be considered for future booster campaigns.) J Infect. 19.4.2023. https://www.journalofinfection.com/article/S0163-4453(23)00247-5/fulltext

Long COVID Is Being Erased—Again. What was once outright denial has morphed into a subtler dismissal. (). The Atlantic. 19.4.2023. https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2023/04/long-covid-symptoms-invisible-disability-chronic-illness/673773/

Increased sick leave over a long period after covid-19 infection. A survey from Statens Serum Institut showed that people who were infected with SARS-CoV-2 early on during the pandemic took substantially more sick leave over a long period of time compared to those who were not infected. Statens Serum Institut. 19.4.2023. https://en.ssi.dk/news/news/2023/increased-sick-leave-over-a-long-period-after-covid-19-infection

Effectiveness of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Bivalent Vaccine. Oxford Academic (The estimated vaccine effectiveness was 29% (95% confidence interval, 21%–37%), 20% (6%–31%), and 4% (−12% to 18%), during the BA.4/5-, BQ-, and XBB-dominant phases, respectively). 19.4.2023. https://academic.oup.com/ofid/article/10/6/ofad209/7131292

Ajantasaista tietoa aiheina Long COVID, ME/CFS ja niiden liitännäissairaudetKatsaus kliinisiin Long Covid -tutkimuksiin OSA 1. Toipuminen tauolla. 19.4.2023. https://melc.fi/2023/04/19/katsaus-kliinisiin-long-covid-tutkimuksiin-osa1/

Cognitive impairment in young adults with post COVID-19 syndrome (Patients’ processing speed, attention, executive functions and various language modalities were examined online using a comprehensive task protocol designed for this research. Alteration in some of the tasks was observed in 85% of the participants, being the attention and executive functions tests the ones that show the highest percentage of patients with severe impairment. Positive correlations were observed between the age of the participants in almost all the tasks assessed, implying better performance and milder impairment with increasing age. In the comparisons of patients according to age, the oldest patients were found to maintain their cognitive functions relatively preserved, with only a mild impairment in attention and speed processing, while the youngest showed the most marked and heterogeneous cognitive impairment.). Scientific Reports. 19.4.2023. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-32939-0

Memory loss in patients with long COVID can be due to reduced hippocampal neurogenesis (Therefore, the reduced neurogenesis, which was shown in the COVID-19 group, could be due to microglial activation and the subsequent production of inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β, causing neuroinflammation and the resultant impaired neurogenesis. This eventually results in cognitive decline due to the destruction of spatial memory and learning. These implications on the hippocampus, especially the loss of hippocampal neurogenesis in the brains of COVID-19 patients, elucidate learning, memory, and executive impairments in COVID-19 patients compared with uninfected healthy controls). European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience. 18.4.2023. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00406-023-01610-0

Completeness and Spin of medRxiv Preprint and Associated Published Abstracts of COVID-19 Randomized Clinical Trials (Preprints are increasingly important in medical research communication. In rapidly evolving areas such as COVID-19, preprints, which by definition have not been peer reviewed, can influence practice and potentially cause harm. We examined publication timelines, completeness, and spin in the abstracts of all randomized clinical trials (RCTs) related to COVID-19 posted to medRxiv during the first 2 years of the pandemic and compared the latter 2 with their published counterparts.). JAMA. 18.4.2023.

Long COVID is hurting business (“I would like the government to do anything more than the bare minimum that they’re doing right now and I think ‘bare minimum’ is generous. I think we are witnessing the complete abandonment of the disability community at an alarming and inexcusable rate from all levels of government and elected leadership.”).  New Orleans City Business. 17.4.2023.  https://neworleanscitybusiness.com/blog/2023/04/17/long-covid-is-hurting-business/

Saliva and Plasma Antibody Levels in Children and Adolescents After Primary Infection With Omicron Variants of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Germany (). JAMA Pediatrics. 17.4.2023. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2804012

Suomalaiset ovat luopuneet koronavarotoimista – kasvomaskeja ei käytä enää juuri kukaan.
Tuoreen kansalaiskyselyn mukaan suomalaiset ovat jo lähes kokonaan hylänneet maskit ja turvavälit. THL on viimeksi maaliskuussa päivittänyt ohjeitaan siitä, miten koronainfektioon pitää suhtautua. YLE- uutiset. 17.4.2023. https://yle.fi/a/74-20025560

Effectiveness of Molnupiravir and Nirmatrelvir–Ritonavir in Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19. A Target Trial Emulation Study. Annals of Internal Medicine. April 2023.  https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M22-3057

SARS-CoV-2 infection of thymus induces loss of function that correlates with disease severity (We showed that patients with COVID-19 had reduced thymic function that was inversely associated with the severity of the disease.).  J Allergy Clin Immunol. April 2023. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0091674923001471

Epidemiological Analysis of Nitric Oxide Nasal Spray (VirX) Use in Students Exposed to COVID-19 Infected Individuals (Of the 203 students who used VirX™, 190 tested negative for
SARS-CoV-2 on all test days, and 13 tested positive on at least one test day. Of the 422 students who did not use VirX™, 314 students tested negative on all test days and 108 tested positive on at least one test day. These results demonstrated a statistically significant difference at the p<0.0001 level in infection rate of 6.40% (13/203) in the VirX™ group versus 25.59% (108/422) in the group that did not use VirX™.). Respiratory Therapy (pp 40-42). Spring 2023. https://www.respiratorytherapy.ca/pdf/RT-18-2-Spring-2023-R17-web.pdf

Age-Standardised Cumulative Excess p/100k VS 2012-19 trends (O.S.) Tableau Public. 14.4.2023. https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/os8749/viz/Age-StandardisedCumulativeExcessp100kVS2012-19trendsSELECTARANGEOFDATES/Dashboard1

SARS-CoV-2 Reinfection and Severity of the Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. MDPI. 14.4.2023. https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/15/4/967

SARS-CoV-2 and type 1 diabetes in children in Finland: an observational study (The children diagnosed during the COVID-19 pandemic had more often diabetic ketoacidosis (p<0·001), had a higher HbA1c (p<0·001), and tested more frequently positive for glutamic acid debarboxylase antibodies at diagnosis (p<0·001) than those diagnosed before the pandemic. There were no significant differences in the distribution of HLA genotypes between the two periods. Only five of those diagnosed during the pandemic (0·9%) of 583 tested positive for infection-induced SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.). Lancet Diabetes & Endochrinology. April 2023. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587(23)00041-4/fulltext

Suomalaiset ovat luopuneet koronavarotoimista – kasvomaskeja ei käytä enää juuri kukaan. Tuoreen kansalaiskyselyn mukaan suomalaiset ovat jo lähes kokonaan hylänneet maskit ja turvavälit. THL on viimeksi maaliskuussa päivittänyt ohjeitaan siitä, miten koronainfektioon pitää suhtautua. YLE Uutiset 14.4.2023. https://yle.fi/a/74-20025560

High risk of autoimmune diseases after COVID-19 (Two studies that use large cohorts now highlight that SARS-CoV-2 infection is linked to a substantially increased risk of developing a diverse spectrum of new-onset autoimmune diseases.). Nature Reviews Rheumatology. 12.4.2023. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41584-023-00964-y

Editorial: Lack of Benefit of Renin-Angiotensin System Inhibitors in COVID-19 (Neither the ACTIV-4 trials nor REMAP-CAP lend any support to the hypothesis that SARS-CoV-2 infection results in harmful unopposed angiotensin II activity that might be mitigated by RAS inhibition. The totality of evidence shows that ACE inhibitors and ARBs should not be initiated as a treatment for COVID-19, especially in patients who are critically ill. Conversely, the evidence from the randomized withdrawal trials suggests that existing treatment with an RAS inhibitor does not need to be stopped in non–critically ill patients with COVID-19 if prescribed for an important indication (eg, heart failure).). JAMA. 11.4.2023. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2803540

SARS-CoV-2 Infection of Human Neurons Is TMPRSS2 Independent, Requires Endosomal Cell Entry, and Can Be Blocked by Inhibitors of Host Phosphoinositol-5 Kinase.Virology. 11.4.2023.   https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jvi.00144-23

Spheromers reveal robust T cell responses to the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine and attenuated peripheral CD8+ T cell responses post SARS-CoV-2 infection (T cells are a critical component of the response to SARS-CoV-2, but their kinetics after infection and vaccination are insufficiently understood. Using “spheromer” peptide-MHC multimer reagents, we analyzed healthy subjects receiving two doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech BNT162b2 vaccine. Vaccination resulted in robust spike-specific T cell responses for the dominant CD4+ (HLA-DRB1∗15:01/S191) and CD8+ (HLA-A∗02/S691) T cell epitopes. Antigen-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses were asynchronous, with the peak CD4+ T cell responses occurring 1 week post the second vaccination (boost), whereas CD8+ T cells peaked 2 weeks later. These peripheral T cell responses were elevated compared with COVID-19 patients. We also found that previous SARS-CoV-2 infection resulted in decreased CD8+ T cell activation and expansion, suggesting that previous infection can influence the T cell response to vaccination.). Immunity. 11.4.2023. https://www.cell.com/immunity/fulltext/S1074-7613(23)00125-5

April 11-20

Switzerland Stops Recommending COVID-19 Vaccination (). The Epoch Times. 8.4.2023. https://www.theepochtimes.com/article/switzerland-stops-recommending-covid-19-vaccination-5180835

AP FACT CHECK. No, Pfizer doc doesn’t say graphene oxide is vaccine ingredient. AP. 7.4.2023. https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-fda-pfizer-document-vaccine-graphene-oxide-988165173107

Risk factors and vectors for SARS-CoV-2 household transmission: a prospective, longitudinal cohort study (Dermal contact surface contamination transmission From Aug 1, 2020, until March 31, 2021, 620 contacts of PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2-infected primary cases were recruited. 414 household contacts (from 279 households) with available serial URT PCR results were analysed in the full household contacts’ cohort, and of those, 134 contacts with available longitudinal serology data and not vaccinated pre-enrolment were analysed in the serology subcohort. Household infection rate was 28·4% (95% CI 20·8–37·5) for pre-alpha-exposed contacts and 51·8% (42·5–61·0) for alpha-exposed contacts (p=0·0047). Primary cases’ URT RNA viral load did not correlate with transmission, but was associated with detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on their hands (p=0·031). SARS-CoV-2 detected on primary cases’ hands, in turn, predicted contacts’ risk of infection (adjusted relative risk [aRR]=1·70 [95% CI 1·24–2·31]), as did SARS-CoV-2 RNA presence on household surfaces (aRR=1·66 [1·09–2·55]) and contacts’ hands (aRR=2·06 [1·57–2·69]). In six contacts with an initial negative URT PCR result, hand-swab (n=3) and household surface-swab (n=3) PCR positivity preceded URT PCR positivity. WGS corroborated household transmission). Lancet Microbe. 6.4.2023. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(23)00069-1/fulltext

The Cold Truth: Frequent Common Colds Linked to Alzheimer’s Risk (Suffering from frequent colds and flu may impact brain aging, accelerate cognitive decline, and could increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. In mice, intermittent experiences of moderate inflammation, such as that caused by the flu or common cold, caused impaired cognition and disrupted neural communication.) Neuroscience News. 6.4.2023. https://neurosciencenews.com/colds-dementia-22949/

Risk of Death in Patients Hospitalized for COVID-19 vs Seasonal Influenza in Fall-Winter 2022-2023 (The death rate at 30 days was 5.97% for COVID-19 and 3.75% for influenza, with an excess death rate of 2.23% (95% CI, 1.32%-3.13%). Compared with hospitalization for influenza, hospitalization for COVID-19 was associated with a higher risk of death (hazard ratio, 1.61 [95% CI, 1.29-2.02]). The risk of death decreased with the number of COVID-19 vaccinations (P = .009 for interaction between unvaccinated and vaccinated; P < .001 for interaction between unvaccinated and boosted)).  JAMA. 6.4.2023. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2803749

New study shows COVID-19 infections in 2 pregnant women caused brain damage in newborns. Contemporary Pediatrics. 6.4.2023. https://www.contemporarypediatrics.com/view/new-study-shows-covid-19-infections-in-2-pregnant-women-caused-brain-damage-in-newborns

Study sheds new light on the spread of COVID-19 in households (The research sheds new light on the spread of COVID-19 in households, where most transmission of SARS-CoV-2 occurs, and it is the first to link the presence of SARS-CoV-2 on people’s hands and frequently touched household surfaces to the risk of infection among contacts. The findings support the use of interventions at home when someone has an infection, in particular frequent handwashing, regular surface disinfection, and physical distancing as well as the use of masks to curb the spread of COVID-19.). News Medical. 6.4.2023.  https://www.news-medical.net/news/20230406/Study-sheds-new-light-on-the-spread-of-COVID-19-in-households.aspx

Post-COVID less common after Omicron infection. (Because Omicron is more infectious than Delta, it caused more people to become ill overall. As a result, the total number of people with long-term symptoms after an Omicron infection may be higher, despite the milder course of illness.) RIVM. 6.4.2023. https://www.rivm.nl/en/news/post-covid-less-common-after-omicron-infection

Why the WHO took two years to say COVID is airborne. Early in the pandemic, the World Health Organization stated that SARS-CoV-2 was not transmitted through the air. That mistake and the prolonged process of correcting it sowed confusion and raises questions about what will happen in the next pandemic.nature. 6.4.2023. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-00925-7

WHO says COVID-19 health emergency is over as mortality rates reach all-time low. Medical News Today. 5.5.2023. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/who-declares-end-to-covid-health-emergency-downgrade-pandemic

COVID-origins data from Wuhan market published: what scientists think. First peer-reviewed analysis of the Chinese swabs confirms animal DNA was present in samples that tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. nature news. 5.4.2023. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-00998-y?

Breath analysis by ultra-sensitive broadband laser spectroscopy detects SARS-CoV-2 infection. J Breath Research 5.4.2023. https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1752-7163/acc6e4

Physio-metabolic and clinical consequences of wearing face masks—Systematic review with meta-analysis and comprehensive evaluation. Frontiers in Public Health, 05 April 2023
Sec. Environmental health and Exposome. 5.4.2023. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1125150/full

COVID-19 Infection Accelerates the Progression of Dementia (“Increasing epidemiological evidence of the association of COVID-19 and AD is the heightened risk of AD with COVID-19, and of increased COVID-19 in patients with AD points to shared pathogenesis. Dubey et al further clarify this connection in demonstrating COVID-19 fundamentally alters the course of dementia no matter the cause,” remarked George Perry, PhD, Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease). Neuroscience. 4.4.2023. https://neurosciencenews.com/covid-19-dementia-22938/

Wuhan market samples fail to shed further light on COVID origins. New analysis of genomic data from market swabs highlights their limitations. nature. 4.5.2023. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-01483-2

Disentangling the rhythms of human activity in the built environment for airborne transmission risk: An analysis of large-scale mobility data (We find the proportion of indoor to outdoor activity during a baseline year is seasonal, peaking in winter months. The measure displays a latitudinal gradient with stronger seasonality at northern latitudes and an additional summer peak in southern latitudes. We statistically fit this baseline indoor-outdoor activity measure to inform the incorporation of this complex empirical pattern into infectious disease dynamic models. However, we find that the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic caused these patterns to shift significantly from baseline and the empirical patterns are necessary to predict spatiotemporal heterogeneity in disease dynamics.). eLife. 4.4.2023.  https://elifesciences.org/articles/80466

Danish study finds sharp rise in extended sick leave after COVID infection (Danish researchers today reported a threefold increase in extended sick leave, defined as lasting longer than 30 days, in people who had recovered from COVID, compared to workers who weren’t infected.). CIDRAP /UoMinnesota. 3.4.2023.  https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/danish-study-finds-sharp-rise-extended-sick-leave-after-covid-infection

IgG4 Antibodies Induced by Repeated Vaccination May Generate Immune Tolerance to the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein.  MDPI. 2.4.2023. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/11/5/991

Miten Suomi voi voittaa koronan (Miksi tilannetta ei ole korjattu? hallitus, joka teki päätöksen purkaa suojatoimet ennenaikaisesti / oppositio, joka syytti hallitusta hidastelusta suojatoimien purkamisessa / johtavat terveysviranomaiset, jotka vakuuttivat, että suojatoimille ei ole enää tarvetta / useat median edustajat, jotka tietoisesti vähensivät tiedottamista koronasta ja alkoivat sen sijaan keskittyä ”koronapelon” hälventämiseen joko vähättelemällä tai vaikenemalla nopeasti kasvavista koronakuolemien määrästä ja sen aiheuttamista merkittävistä terveysriskeistä). Uusi Suomi. 1.4.2023. https://puheenvuoro.uusisuomi.fi/jln/miten-suomi-voi-voittaa-koronan/

April 1-10

Long COVID exercise trials proposed by NIH raise alarm. Advocates ask the US biomedical agency to rethink the design of its RECOVER initiative, citing possible harm and funding waste. nature news. 31.3.2023. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-00900-w

Increased neurovirulence of omicron BA.5 over BA.1 in human brain organoids and K18-hACE2 mice. Research Square. 31.3.2023. https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-2702556/v1

CARDIOVASCULAR COMPLICATIONS OF COVID-19. •Cardiovascular complications are a common manifestation of acute and post-acute COVID-19 infection.
•Complications include cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, heart failure, and deep venous thrombosis.
•Pathophysiology remains poorly defined and complex.
•No single study has proven a distinct treatment for post COVID-19 associated cardiovascular disease; therefore, it is recommended to follow established guidelines for treating specific cardiovascular conditions.
•Cardiac rehabilitation program is advised for individuals who meet the established criteria for cardiac rehabilitation.  Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 31.3.2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10063539/

Protect yourself and others. COVID-19 is in the community. To slow the spread and continue to protect yourself, your whānau, and your community, it is important to keep up the healthy habits we know. (Stay up to date with your vaccinations. Stay home if you are sick. Limit time in crowded places. Wear a face mask. Keep your distance from others when indoors. Improve ventilation. Cough or sneeze into your elbow. Keep your hands clean. Clean surfaces. Keep track of where you have been.) Unite against COVID-19. 31.3.2023. https://covid19.govt.nz/prepare-and-stay-safe/protect-yourself-and-others-from-covid-19/

Study identifies SARS-CoV-2 variants with antiviral resistance mutations (”We are optimistic that ongoing studies will develop additional compounds to avoid cross-resistance and help combat the current COVID-19 pandemic and future coronavirus outbreaks,”). CIDRAP / UoMinnesota. 30.3.2023.  https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/antimicrobial-stewardship/study-identifies-sars-cov-2-variants-antiviral-resistance-mutations

’Excess’ Deaths Surging, but Why? (Probably the most straightforward analysis uses past data from the country of interest. You look at annual deaths over some historical period of time and compare those numbers with the rates today. Two issues need to be accounted for here: (1) population growth — a larger population will have more deaths, so you need to adjust the historical population with current levels; (2) demographic shifts — an older or more male population will have more deaths, so you need to adjust for that as well.) Medscape. 29.3.2023. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/989530

Risk of death following COVID-19 vaccination or positive SARS-CoV-2 test in young people in England (Whilst COVID-19 vaccination has been linked to an increased risk of myocarditis and other cardiac events in young people, we found no evidence of substantially increased mortality risk, either due to cardiac events or overall, from mRNA vaccines, which suggest that cases of myocarditis or myopericarditis due to mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are unlikely to be fatal. We do, however, find evidence of an increased risk of cardiac death after a first dose of a non mRNA vaccine among females. It should also be noted that non mRNA vaccines are no longer used in the UK vaccination programme28. This provides reassurance that mRNA vaccines pose minimal risk of increased mortality in the first twelve weeks post-vaccination in young individuals. However, it is important to continue to monitor mortality after vaccination as more deaths are being registered, and extend the surveillance to other age groups and deaths from other causes.). nature communications. 27.3.2023. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-36494-0

Nye avsløringer om hemmelig seminar: (13.10.2022 Oslo / Mind Body Lab / Lightning Process (LP) / DNRS?.  Det var en gang et hemmelig seminar for psykosomatiske forskere. Så hemmelig at ingen måtte få vite når det var, hvem som deltok eller hva programmet inneholdt. 5 måneder senere ble alt avslørt. / Dette er en oppsummering av bakgrunn, drama og avsløringer i kronologisk rekkefølge.). 26.3.2023. https://lifewithmebysissel.wordpress.com/2023/03/26/nye-avsloringer-om-hemmelig-seminar/

Assessing and Reassessing the Association of Comorbidities and Coinfections in COVID-19 Patients (There was a statistically significant difference in the prevalent comorbidities observed in patients
coinfected with Staphylococcus aureus and COVID-19 and a statistically non-significant difference in the prevalent comorbidities in patients coinfected with Mycoplasma pneumoniae and COVID-19 as compared to similar infections in non-COVID-19 coinfection. We report a significant difference in the prevalent comorbidities recorded in COVID-19 patients with varying coinfections and varying geographic study regions.). Cureus. 25.3.2023. https://assets.cureus.com/uploads/review_article/pdf/139826/20230425-4907-11t3unt.pdf

Groundbreaking new nasal spray protects against all SARS-CoV-2 variants (TriSb92 was confirmed to offer effective protection against coronavirus infection by identifying a region in the spike protein of the coronavirus that is common to all current variants of the virus and inhibiting its functioning. The molecule is effective in preventing infection when administered nasally, even after a few hours of exposure, unlike face masks.). Brighter Side of News. 25.3.2023. https://www.thebrighterside.news/post/groundbreaking-new-nasal-spray-protects-against-all-sars-cov-2-variants

Intranasal trimeric sherpabody inhibits SARS-CoV-2 including recent immunoevasive Omicron subvariants (The potency and robust biochemical properties of TriSb92 together with its resistance against viral sequence evolution suggest that TriSb92 could be useful as a nasal spray for protecting susceptible individuals from SARS-CoV-2 infection.). nature communications. 24.3.2023.  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-37290-6

Three years on, there is a new generation of lockdown sceptics – and they’re rewriting history. Guardian. 23.3.2023. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/mar/23/lockdown-sceptics-history-academics-left-covid?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Covid-19 Surveillance Testing and Resident Outcomes in Nursing Homes (Greater surveillance testing of staff members at skilled nursing facilities was associated with clinically meaningful reductions in Covid-19 cases and deaths among residents, particularly before vaccine availability.). NEJM. 23.3.2023. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2210063

SARS‐CoV‐2 infection during pregnancy linked to higher risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in male infants (”The neurodevelopmental risk associated with maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection was disproportionately high in male infants, consistent with the known increased vulnerability of males in the face of prenatal adverse exposures”). Medical Xpress. 23.3.2023. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-03-sarscov2-infection-pregnancy-linked-higher.html

Sex-Specific Neurodevelopmental Outcomes Among Offspring of Mothers With SARS-CoV-2 Infection During Pregnancy (Question: Is in utero exposure to maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection associated with greater rates of neurodevelopmental disorder diagnoses in male or female offspring, compared with controls with no such exposure? Findings This cohort study of 18 355 infants delivered after February 2020 found that male but not female offspring born to mothers with a positive SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction test result during pregnancy were more likely to receive a neurodevelopmental diagnosis in the first 12 months after delivery, even after accounting for preterm delivery.). JAMA. 23.3.2023. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2802745

Assessing COVID-19 pandemic policies and behaviours and their economic and educational trade-offs across US states from Jan 1, 2020, to July 31, 2022: an observational analysis (COVID-19 magnified the polarisation and persistent social, economic, and racial inequities that already existed across US society, but the next pandemic threat need not do the same. US states that mitigated those structural inequalities, deployed science-based interventions such as vaccination and targeted vaccine mandates, and promoted their adoption across society were able to match the best-performing nations in minimising COVID-19 death rates. These findings could contribute to the design and targeting of clinical and policy interventions to facilitate better health outcomes in future crises.). Lancet. 23.3.2023. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(23)00461-0/fulltext?utm_campaign=trials23&utm_content=242521453&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&hss_channel=tw-27013292&s=08

SARS-CoV-2 restructures host chromatin architecture (In conclusion, we provide much needed additional evidence for the presence of replicating SARS-CoV-2 virions in bioaerosols . Our results highlight the possibility to recover replicative virus particles in air samples after freezing at -80°C in VTM and storage for several months. Our results are important as they provide rationale for retrospective evaluation of the presence of infectious SARS-CoV-2 in samples collected during the different waves since 2020). nature microbiology. 23.3.2023. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41564-023-01344-8

Koronavirus ei todennäköisesti aiheuta tyypin 1 diabetesta. Tutkijat selvittivät asiaa, koska ilmaantuvuus kasvoi koronapandemian aikana (Tavallista useampi lapsi ja nuori sairastui tyypin 1 diabetekseen Suomessa ja maailmalla koronapandemian ensimmäisten 18 kuukauden aikana. Tuoreen Suomea koskevan tutkimuksen mukaan syynä ei kuitenkaan ollut koronavirus vaan muuttuneet ympäristötekijät (Knip M ym. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 22.3.2023). Asiaa selvitti Helsingin yliopiston PEDIA-tutkimusryhmä.). Lääkärilehti. 22.3.2023. https://www.laakarilehti.fi/tieteessa/koronavirus-ei-todennakoisesti-aiheuta-tyypin-1-diabetesta/?public=e2dae4ba7eaf4b7fab92890a8ef62048

Työikäisten aivoinfarktit lisääntyvät, ja yksi syy on liika istuminen – 37-vuotiaana sairastunut Krista Leppänen ei toipunut ennalleen. Alle 50-vuotiaiden aivoverenkierron häiriöt ovat lisääntyneet. Valtaosa kuntoutuu fyysisistä haitoista hyvin, mutta kognitiivisia vaikeuksia jää edelleen monelle. Alle puolet palaa töihin. YLE-Uutiset. 22.3.2023.  https://yle.fi/a/74-20022554

Detection of viable SARS-CoV-2 in retrospective analysis of aerosol samples collected from hospital rooms of patients with COVID-19 (). CMI Clinical Microbiology and Infection. 22.3.2023.  https://www.clinicalmicrobiologyandinfection.com/article/S1198-743X(23)00135-0/fulltext

Diabetes Risk After COVID-19 Infection Still a Concern (…the rates of new-onset diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and benchmark diagnoses were higher in the 90 days after versus before a COVID-19 infection. Post-infection, the highest odds were seen for diabetes, hypertension, benchmark diagnoses, and hyperlipidemia.). Forum Extended Care Services. 21.3.2023. https://www.forumpharmacy.com/education-resources/diabetes-risk-after-covid-19-infection-still-a-concern/

COVID-19: Study Suggests Long-term Damage to Immune System (NIH News Release: ”…findings suggest that SARS-CoV-2 infection damages the CD8+ T cell response, an effect akin to that observed in earlier studies showing long-term damage to the immune system after infection with viruses such as hepatitis C or HIV.”).  Infection Control Today. 21.3.2023. https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/covid-19-study-suggests-long-term-damage-immune-system

Researchers say newly posted analysis supports natural origin for Covid-19 pandemic (Swabs collected from stalls and equipment at the Huanan Market in Wuhan, China, that tested positive for traces of the virus that causes Covid-19 also, in some cases, contained traces of DNA from animals known to be susceptible to infection, according to a new analysis by an international team of researchers.). CNN Health. 21.3.2023. https://edition.cnn.com/2023/03/21/health/coronavirus-origin-market-animals-preprint/index.html

HUSin Long Covid -symposiumissa mielipiteet ohittivat tieteen (Symposiumissa ei esitetty Long Covidin hoitoon lainkaan sellaisia hoitomenetelmiä, jotka pohjautuvat kattavaan tutkimustietoon Long Covidin biologisista mekanismeista. Pääviestinä oli, että potilaita tulee ohjata ajattelemaan, että heidän oireensa johtuvat heidän omista haitallisista ajatus- ja käyttäytymismalleistaan. Näitä malleja muokkaamalla potilaat voivat luennoitsijoiden mukaan (A. Nathia lukuunottamatta) parantua täysin. Hoitoa käsittelevissä luennoissa luennoitsijoiden henkilökohtaiset mielipiteet ja asenteet ohittivat täysin tieteellisen konsensuksen ja aiheesta tehdyt tuhannet tutkimukset ja hoitosuositukset. ). Toipuminen tauolla. 21.3.2023. https://melc.fi/2023/03/21/husin-long-covid-symposiumissa-mielipiteet-ohittivat-tieteen/

SARS-CoV-2 infection induces dopaminergic neuronal loss in midbrain organoids during short and prolonged cultures. BioRxiv.21.3.2023. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.03.20.533485v1

March 21-31

Fast-tracking progress to End TB: high-level opportunities for investment and action (). Lancet. 20.3.2023. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(23)00460-9/fulltext

SARS-CoV-2 infection weakens immune-cell response to vaccination. NIH-funded study suggests need to boost CD8+ T cell response after infection (The magnitude and quality of a key immune cell’s response to vaccination with two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine were considerably lower in people with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to people without prior infection, a study has found. In addition, the level of this key immune cell that targets the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein was substantially lower in unvaccinated people with COVID-19 than in vaccinated people who had never been infected. ). NIH News Releases. 20.3.2023. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/sars-cov-2-infection-weakens-immune-cell-response-vaccination

SARS-CoV-2 variant-related abnormalities detected by prenatal MRI: a prospective case–control study (…the first study showing reduced fetal lung volume in otherwise healthy pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection. This reduction was dependent on the timepoint of infection, indicating that the most significant results occurred in the third trimester, thereby overlapping with the saccular stage of lung development dedicated to the expansion of (future) air spaces). Lancet. 20.3.2023. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanepe/article/PIIS2666-7762(23)00005-4/fulltext#secsectitle0065

W.H.O. Accuses China of Hiding Data That May Link Covid’s Origins to Animals
Genetic research from China suggests to some experts that the coronavirus may have sprung from a seafood market in Wuhan. Now the data are missing from a scientific database. NYTimes. 17.3.2023. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/17/health/covid-origins-who.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

COVID-19-tautiin liittyvien kuolemien tilastointi. THL. 17.3.2023. https://thl.fi/fi/web/infektiotaudit-ja-rokotukset/ajankohtaista/ajankohtaista-koronaviruksesta-covid-19/tilannekatsaus-koronaviruksesta/covid-19-tautiin-liittyvien-kuolemien-tilastointi

Addressing the Long-term Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Children and Families.
A Report From the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (”My mom lost her business…we were trying to maintain everything but the bills just kept piling up. Food prices went up, rent, everything went up.…We didn’t know if we were gonna get food the next day, if we were even going to have our place.…It got to the point where I wasn’t able to sleep properly anymore or eat properly anymore, and I did gain a lot of anxiety and depression.” / This is just one of many stories from children and youth who experienced the worst pandemic in US history. Although the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency is set to end on May 11, 2023, it is clear it has, and will continue to have, deleterious effects on the children and youth who experienced the pandemic during sensitive periods of their development.). JAMA Viewpoint. 16.3.2023. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2802732

Effects of SARS-CoV-2 on prenatal lung growth assessed by fetal MRI (). Lancet Respiratory Medicine. 16.3.2023. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(22)00060-1/fulltext

Researchers Are Getting Closer to Learning How to Treat and Prevent Long COVID (The latest hopeful news relates to metformin, an accessible and affordable drug that’s been U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved to treat Type 2 diabetes since the 1990s. Metformin, which belongs to a class of drugs called biguanides, is taken as a liquid or pill and works by controlling the amount of sugar in the blood. It also decreases inflammation in the body.). TIME- 16.3.2023. https://time.com/6263356/long-covid-treatment-prevention/

New T Cell Antibody Treatment Improves Outcomes For Covid Patients (). Forbes. 16.3.2023. https://www.forbes.com/sites/williamhaseltine/2023/03/16/new-t-cell-antibody-treatment-improves-outcomes-for-covid-patients/?sh=27d9d696670f

Spheromers reveal robust T cell responses to the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine and attenuated peripheral CD8+ T cell responses post SARS-CoV-2 infection (Vaccination resulted in robust spike-specific T cell responses for the dominant CD4+ (HLA-DRB1∗15:01/S191) and CD8+ (HLA-A∗02/S691) T cell epitopes. Antigen-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses were asynchronous, with the peak CD4+ T cell responses occurring 1 week post the second vaccination (boost), whereas CD8+ T cells peaked 2 weeks later. These peripheral T cell responses were elevated compared with COVID-19 patients. We also found that previous SARS-CoV-2 infection resulted in decreased CD8+ T cell activation and expansion, suggesting that previous infection can influence the T cell response to vaccination.). Immunity. 15.3.2023. https://www.cell.com/immunity/fulltext/S1074-7613(23)00125-5?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS1074761323001255%3Fshowall%3Dtrue

Mortality and life expectancy statistics. EUROSTAT. March 2023. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Mortality_and_life_expectancy_statistics

”Erittäin haitallinen potilaille”: Husin long covid -linja mitätöi potilaita, kriitikot sanovat – Yhdestä asiasta on yksimielisyys (Hus järjestää tällä viikolla pitkittyneestä koronasta, long covidista, koulutustilaisuuden, jonka näkökulma on saanut ristiriitaisen vastaanoton.  Näkökulma on biopsykososiaalinen. Sen mukaan sairaudella on biologinen perusta, mutta oireita ylläpitävät psykososiaaliset mekanismit. Esimerkiksi Suomen long covid -asiantuntijaryhmän puheenjohtaja, neurologian professori Risto O. Roine pitää valittua näkökulmaa erikoisena. Hänen mukaansa symposiumin puhujien ajatussuunnassa lähdetään siitä, että long covid -potilaiden oireita ylläpitää kielteinen ajattelu. Tälle näkökulmalle ei hänen mukaansa ole tieteellistä pohjaa.
– Tällainen lähestymistapa on potilaita syyllistävä. Sosiaalisessa mediassa symposiumin puhujalistaa ovat arvostelleet myös potilaat.). Helsingin Uutiset. 15.3.2023.  https://www.helsinginuutiset.fi/paikalliset/5790973

Insändare. ”Sveriges coronahantering är en skamfläck i vår historia” (Den tidigare statsepidemiologen på Folkhälsomyndigheten Anders Tegnell efter en presskonferens den 4 mars 2020. Siffror på överdödligheten kan inte dölja att den svenska pandemihanteringen var ett stort misslyckande, anser insändarskribenten.). Dagens Nyheter. 15.3.2023. https://www.dn.se/insandare/sveriges-coronahantering-ar-en-skamflack-i-var-historia/

Efectos económicos de un posible deterioro duradero en la salud general de la población española (El último barómetro sanitario del Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas (CIS) pone de manifiesto
que, en los últimos trimestres, se ha producido un aumento sustancial en la demanda de servicios
sanitarios en España. Así, por ejemplo, entre el promedio de 2018-2019 y noviembre de 2022, el
porcentaje de la población que había acudido al médico de cabecera, al especialista o a urgencias
en los doce últimos meses aumentó en 12,1 puntos porcentuales (pp), 21,5 pp y 14,8 pp,
respectivamente (véase cuadro 1). Estos incrementos han sido especialmente acusados entre los
grupos de población más joven.). Bancode España. 15.3.2023. https://www.bde.es/f/webbde/SES/Secciones/Publicaciones/InformesBoletinesRevistas/BoletinEconomico/23/T1/Fich/be2301-art20.pdf

Dopamine Transmission Imbalance in Neuroinflammation: Perspectives on Long-Term COVID-19. MDPI. 15.3.2023. https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/6/5618

Silent Silenced Doctors (Jonathan Howard). The healthcare workers who died from COVID have been silenced (). Science-Based Medicine. 14.3.2023. https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/silenced-doctors/

FDA authorizes Pfizer’s Covid omicron booster as fourth shot for kids under 5. CNBC. 14.3.2023. https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/14/fda-authorizes-pfizers-covid-omicron-booster-as-fourth-shot-for-kids-under-5.html

Rekord-Krankenstand belastet die deutsche Wirtschaft (Grippe, Corona, Bronchitis: Der höchste Krankenstand seit der Wiedervereinigung durch Atemwegs- und Erkältungskrankheiten kommt die deutsche Wirtschaft einer Studie zufolge teuer zu stehen. Er dürfte im vergangenen Jahr rund 27 bis 42 Milliarden Euro gekostet haben, wie aus einer am Dienstag veröffentlichten Untersuchung des Kieler Instituts für Volkswirtschaft (IfW) hervorgeht. Das Bruttoinlandsprodukt (BIP) hätte damit statt um 1,8 Prozent zwischen 2,5 und 2,9 Prozent zulegen können. Demnach stieg der Krankenstand von gut 68 Stunden je Arbeitnehmer im Jahr 2021 sprunghaft auf gut 91 Stunden. ”Seit der Wiedervereinigung ist dies der mit Abstand stärkste Anstieg des Krankenstands binnen eines Jahres und auch das höchste Krankheitsniveau”, hieß es dazu. Ursache waren in erster Linie Atemwegsinfekte und Erkältungskrankheiten.).  Deutsche Wirtschaftsnachrichten. 14.3.2023.  https://deutsche-wirtschafts-nachrichten.de/702659/Rekord-Krankenstand-belastet-die-deutsche-Wirtschaft

Number of Britons off work due to long-term sickness hits record high – figures (The number of Britons off work due to long-term sickness has reached record levels the latest official figures show, ramping up pressure on the Chancellor ahead of his “back-to-work Budget” on Wednesday. Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed that there were 2.52 million people off work due to long-term sickness in the three months to January – up 2.6% quarter-on-quarter and 7.9% year-on-year and the highest since record began in 1993.). Evening Standard. 14.3.2023. https://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/number-of-britons-off-work-due-to-longterm-sickness-hits-record-high-figures-b1067158.html

Researchers model possible COVID-19 trajectories for 2023 (Notably, increasing mask usage was associated with substantial reductions in infections and mortality rates, whereas [social distancing] mandate reimposition mildly/moderately reduced future COVID-19 burden. Combining these two interventions led to an even more significant impact than individually. Above all, the analysis showed that simple interventions, including masking and social distancing mandates, could be critical tools against COVID-19.). News Medical. 14.3.2023. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20230314/Researchers-model-possible-COVID-19-trajectories-for-2023.aspx

More than 14,000 people in England and Wales died with Covid after catching the viru s in hospital (According to official NHS data in England and Wales, 14,047 Brits died in hospital after they caught the virus following admission, whilst at least 69,337 people caught the virus only after having been admitted.). Mirror. 13.3.2023. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/we-need-better-over-14000-28046576

Health system characteristics and COVID-19 performance in high-income countries (We find that the COVID-19 excess mortality and case fatality rates [in 43 OECD and selected non-member coutries] were systematically associated with healthcare system financing and organizational structures, as well as performance regarding other health outcomes besides COVID-19 health outcomes. NOTE! This is a study by Finnish authors. According to its results Finland fared among the very best. The data, however, ends in September 2021, 18 months before publication. In the beginning of those 18 months Finland quit all COVID restriction and most recommendations, restricted vaccinations, and, consequently both COVID and excess mortality in Finland raised to the 3 highest within the EU and within the OECD coutries. 89% of all COVID deaths in Finland have occurred since September 2021 when the data collection for this stúdy ended!). BMC Health Services Research. 13.3.2023. https://bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12913-023-09206-z

Statement on ’Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses’ review (Many commentators have claimed that a recently-updated Cochrane Review shows that ’masks don’t work’, which is an inaccurate and misleading interpretation. / It would be accurate to say that the review examined whether interventions to promote mask wearing help to slow the spread of respiratory viruses, and that the results were inconclusive. Given the limitations in the primary evidence, the review is not able to address the question of whether mask-wearing itself reduces people’s risk of contracting or spreading respiratory viruses. / The review authors are clear on the limitations in the abstract: ’The high risk of bias in the trials, variation in outcome measurement, and relatively low adherence with the interventions during the studies hampers drawing firm conclusions.’ Adherence in this context refers to the number of people who actually wore the provided masks when encouraged to do so as part of the intervention. For example, in the most heavily-weighted trial of interventions to promote community mask wearing, 42.3% of people in the intervention arm wore masks compared to 13.3% of those in the control arm. / The original Plain Language Summary for this review stated that ’We are uncertain whether wearing masks or N95/P2 respirators helps to slow the spread of respiratory viruses based on the studies we assessed.’ This wording was open to misinterpretation, for which we apologize. While scientific evidence is never immune to misinterpretation, we take responsibility for not making the wording clearer from the outset. We are engaging with the review authors with the aim of updating the Plain Language Summary and abstract to make clear that the review looked at whether interventions to promote mask wearing help to slow the spread of respiratory viruses.). Cochrane. 11.3.2023. https://www.cochrane.org/news/statement-physical-interventions-interrupt-or-reduce-spread-respiratory-viruses-review

Long COVID: 3 years in (The acute months of the COVID-19 pandemic motivated an unprecedented response from governments, international organisations, pharmaceutical companies, and civil society. Long COVID has not received anywhere near the same level of attention or resources: the result has been widespread harm to health, societies, and economies. 3 years in, more is needed to recognise, treat, and support patients with long COVID.). Lancet. 11.3.2023.

If We Knew Then What We Know Now About Covid, What Would We Have Done Differently?
In March 2020, the virus held many mysteries. Some early assumptions didn’t hold up, while other key findings wouldn’t come until much later. If we could do it all over again… Wall Street Journal. 11.3.2023. https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-lessons-learned-9dd5566f

March 11-20

The treatment of Long Covid and ME/CFS as FNDs in Finland and the HUS biopsychosocial Long Covid symposium have raised international criticism. Ajantasaista tietoa aiheina Long COVID, ME/CFS ja niiden liitännäissairaudet. Toipuminen tauolla. 10.3.2023. https://melc.fi/2023/03/10/me-and-long-covid-treatment-finland/comment-page-1/#comments

Opinions overtook science at HUS Long Covid symposium. Ajantasaista tietoa aiheina Long COVID, ME/CFS ja niiden liitännäissairaudet. Toipuminen tauolla. 10.3.2023. https://melc.fi/2023/03/23/opinions-overtook-science/

Here’s Why the Science Is Clear That Masks Work. NYTimes.10.3.2023. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/10/opinion/masks-work-cochrane-study.html

New report warns long COVID could be ”mass disabling event”. It could have long-term impacts on Canada’s economy (…10-20% of people with COVID-19 develop long COVID or post-COVID condition (PCC), with symptoms including high blood pressure, an irregular heartbeat, chronic fatigue, brain fog, muscle pain, and blurred vision. “Some patients have not recovered two to three years after the initial infection and it is uncertain whether a proportion may ever fully recover,”). Insurance News. 10.3.2023. https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/ca/news/breaking-news/new-report-warns-long-covid-could-be-mass-disabling-event-439109.aspx

Report says long COVID could impact economy and be ‘mass disabling event’ in Canada. A report released Thursday by Canada’s chief science adviser says she considers COVID-19 the “head” of the pandemic but long COVID its “tail” as the illness inflicts significant harm on individuals, their families and potentially the country’s economy. Toronto Star- 9.3.2023. https://www.thestar.com/life/health-wellness/report-says-long-covid-could-impact-economy-and-be-mass-disabling-event-in-canada/article_c31acd7e-1925-548d-b91e-dc75c4bf7c9f.html

Läkare: Vi kan inte bota postcovid, men vi kan lindra (Resultaten från postcovidmottagning på Karolinska universitessjukhuset i Huddinge är dystra. De flesta som drabbats av postcovid blir inte helt äterställda. Varje dag strömmar nya remisser in från både Stockholm och resten av landet. Vi har ingen bot, men vi kan lindra och mildra symptom, säger Chister Lidman, som är överläkare pä postcovidsmottagning). Dagens Nyheter. 8.3.2023. https://www.dn.se/insidan/lakare-vi-kan-inte-bota-postcovid-men-vi-kan-lindra/

New study finds COVID-19 didn’t have a big impact on the mental health of most people (). The Globe and Mail. 8.3.2023. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-new-study-finds-covid-19-didnt-have-a-big-impact-on-the-mental-health/?utm_medium=Referrer:+Social+Network+/+Media&utm_campaign=Shared+Web+Article+Links

“Ridding the Race of His Defective Blood” — Eugenics in the Journal [NEJM], 1906–1948 (From the first decade of the 20th century until well after World War II, the “new science” of eugenics was a constant topic in the Journal, as it was in medical journals all over the United States.3 This new way of looking at heredity promised that managing human reproduction would rid the world of social problems and improve future generations. The Journal published hundreds of articles, reports of meetings, book reviews, and editorials that amplified attention to eugenics and provided important support among medical professionals to the burgeoning eugenics movement in the United States. / The Journal had highlighted fears about a deterioration in population quality4 for years before Francis Galton coined the term “eugenics” in 1883. The word did not become generally recognized in U.S. medical circles until 1904, when Galton endowed a university chair of eugenics in London. The new term first appeared in the Journal in 1906, in a brief discussion of new research related to heredity.5 Three years later, Journal editors celebrated Galton’s 88th birthday, praising his “weighty and beneficent” influence on science for half a century. Readers were reminded that Galton’s “views on heredity” became the “foundation of the science of ‘eugenics.’”) New England Journal of Medicine. 7.3.2024. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2307346

Early childhood lower respiratory tract infection and premature adult death from respiratory disease in Great Britain: a national birth cohort study (In this prospective, life-spanning, nationally representative cohort study, LRTI during early childhood was associated with almost a two times increased risk of premature adult death from respiratory disease, and accounted for one-fifth of these deaths.). Lancet. 7.3.2023. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(23)00131-9/fulltext

Previous COVID infection linked to lower brain oxygen levels, cognitive problems: study (In a new Canadian study, researchers found that not only did participants who previously had COVID-19 perform worse on two specific cognitive tasks, but brain imaging showed that during these tasks, there was a lack of oxygen reaching the sections of the brain that would normally be fully engaged.). CTV News. 7.3.2023. https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/previous-covid-infection-linked-to-lower-brain-oxygen-levels-cognitive-problems-study-1.6302197

Estimating vaccine-preventable COVID-19 deaths under counterfactual vaccination scenarios in the United States (Nationally, we found that had 100% of the population became fully vaccinated during the period examined, 318,979 deaths, or approximately 50% of actual COVID-19 deaths, might have been prevented; had 85% been so, 28% might have been prevented. Across states, we found substantial variation in the proportion of avoidable COVID-19 deaths that might have been avoided at the state level, from 25% in Massachusetts to 74% in Alaska. Our findings are sobering when considering the painful deaths, the survivors’ anguish, and the diversion of scarce and expensive healthcare resources that might have been averted had peak vaccination administration efforts been maintained.). Research Square. 6.3.2023. https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-2618112/v1

Outpatient Treatment of COVID-19 and the Development of Long COVID Over 10 Months: A Multi-Center, Quadruple-Blind, Parallel Group Randomized Phase 3 Trial (A 42% relative decrease and 4.3% absolute decrease in the Long COVID incidence occurred in participants who received early outpatient COVID-19 treatment with metformin compared to exact-matching placebo. No effect with either ivermectin or fluvoxamine). Lancet. 6.3.2023. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4375620

YLIKUOLLEISUUS JA VAUVAKATO SUOMESSA VUONNA 2022. (Hyvä kvantitatiivinen analyysi, mutta johtopäätös rokotusten syyllisyydestä ei kestä aikasarja-analyysiä) Järjen Ääni ry. 5.3.2023. https://jarjenaani.fi/ylikuolleisuus-ja-vauvakato-suomessa-vuonna-2022/

The plasma metabolome of long COVID-19 patients two years after infection. Scientific Reports. 05.03.2023. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.05.03.23289456v1

Tens of thousands of elderly people have died without getting the care they need, charity says (Age UK cited NHS Digital figures for England which show there were 28,890 support requests for people aged 65 and over in 2021/22 where the person died without any of those services being provided. The charity said that equates to more than 500 deaths a week – more than 70 a day). Sky News. 4.3.2023. https://news.sky.com/story/tens-of-thousands-of-elderly-people-have-died-without-getting-the-care-they-need-charity-says-12825107

Cardiovascular Risks in Patients With Post–COVID-19 Condition (Entering year 4 of the COVID-19 pandemic, growing evidence calls for research, public health, and medical attention to PCC in addition to acute COVID-19 illness. DeVries and colleagues5 cast light on enduring cardiovascular risks with PCC, supporting enhanced monitoring of patients after SARS-CoV-2 infections to support early detection and intervention. More broadly, rigorous programs are needed to minimize future infections, which have consequences beyond acute COVID-19 illness, and to advance scientific and medical understanding of the pathophysiology of PCC, as well as its prevention and management.). JAMA Editorial. 3.3.2023. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama-health-forum/fullarticle/2802097?utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=content-shareicons&utm_content=article_engagement&utm_medium=social&utm_term=030523#.ZATB2PfuhtQ.twitter

Covid-19: Leaked messages reveal casual policy making—and love for Whitty (The messages show that England’s chief medical officer, Chris Whitty, told Hancock on 14 April 2020 that there should be “testing of all [people] going into care homes” and “segregation whilst awaiting result.” This was a day before the government published its action plan on managing covid-19 in adult social care settings. Hancock initially said the advice “is obviously a good positive step and we must put it into the doc.” However, a message later that day to one of his special advisers said, “I do not think the community commitment adds anything and it muddies the waters.” Testing was made mandatory for people entering care homes from hospital but not for those coming from the community. Guidance stating that tests should be carried out for everyone entering care homes was not introduced until 14 August 2020. Hancock has previously claimed he put a “protective ring around care homes,” but between April and August thousands of people in care homes in England died from covid-19.).  BMJ News. 3.3.2023. https://www.bmj.com/content/380/bmj.p522

Young People Are More Likely to Die of Heart Attacks Post-COVID, Study Finds. But Why?  Cedars Sinai. 3.3.2023. https://www.cedars-sinai.org/newsroom/today-young-people-are-more-likely-to-die-of-heart-attacks-post-covid-study-finds-but-why/

Heart attacks and strokes late after Covid. The body of evidence expands (…based upon nearly 154,000 patients with Covid (median age 60, 90% male) from the US Department of Veteran Affairs with 2 control groups each with over 5 million people. Importantly, these were events after 30 days from infection. There was a 1.7-fold risk of heart attack and 1.6-fold increased risk of stroke, among the other adverse outcomes, as shown below, for people with Covid versus controls.). Cround Truths. 3.3.2023. https://erictopol.substack.com/p/heart-attacks-and-strokes-late-after

One-Year Adverse Outcomes Among US Adults With Post–COVID-19 Condition vs Those Without COVID-19 in a Large Commercial Insurance Database (In this cohort study of 13 435 US adults with post–COVID-19 condition (PCC) and 26 870 matched adults without COVID-19, the adults with PCC experienced increased risks for a number of cardiovascular outcomes, such as ischemic stroke. During the 12-month follow-up period, 2.8% of the individuals with PCC vs 1.2% of the individuals without COVID-19 died, implying an excess death rate of 16.4 per 1000 individuals – note, 12 mo IFR = 1,6%.). JAMA Health Forum. 3.3.2023. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama-health-forum/fullarticle/2802095

Bivalent booster effectiveness against severe COVID-19 outcomes in Finland, September 2022 – March 2023. (Among elderly aged 65–110 years, bivalent vaccination reduced the risk of hospitalisation and death due to COVID-19 in September–December 2022; the hazard ratios comparing exposed and unexposed ranged from 0.37 to 0.45 during the first 31–60 days since bivalent vaccination. However, in January–March 2023 the effect disappeared possibly indicating immune evasion of new SARS-CoV-2 variants, waning of vaccine effectiveness and increased presence of hybrid immunity. Among the chronically ill aged 18–64 years bivalent vaccination did not reduce the risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes) medRxiv. 2.3.2023. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.03.02.23286561v3

Brainstem volume changes in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and long COVID patients (In ME/CFS, we detected positive correlations between the pons and whole brainstem volumes with “pain” and negative correlations between the midbrain and whole brainstem volumes with “breathing difficulty.” In long COVID patients a strong negative relationship was detected between midbrain volume and “breathing difficulty.” Our study demonstrated an abnormal brainstem volume in both ME/CFS and long COVID consistent with the overlapping symptoms.). Frontiers in Neuroscience. 2.3.2023.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2023.1125208/full

Long COVID Now Looks like a Neurological Disease, Helping Doctors to Focus Treatments
The causes of long COVID, which disables millions, may come together in the brain and nervous system. Scientific American. 1.3.2023. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/long-covid-now-looks-like-a-neurological-disease-helping-doctors-to-focus-treatments/

THL arvioi: Koronarokotusten tehosteannoskierrokselle ei ole tarvetta keväällä – rokotusten suoja vakavaa tautia vastaan on väestössä hyvä. THL. 1.3.2023. https://thl.fi/fi/-/thl-arvioi-koronarokotusten-tehosteannoskierrokselle-ei-ole-tarvetta-kevaalla-rokotusten-suoja-vakavaa-tautia-vastaan-on-vaestossa-hyva?redirect=%2Ffi%2F

Long COVID Now Looks like a Neurological Disease, Helping Doctors to Focus Treatments. The causes of long COVID, which disables millions, may come together in the brain and nervous system () Scientific American. 1.3.2023. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/long-covid-now-looks-like-a-neurological-disease-helping-doctors-to-focus-treatments1/

Does COVID-19 damage the brain? Ask the doctor (Even if people escape brain damage during the initial attack of COVID-19, they remain at considerably greater risk of various brain conditions, including strokes, depression, anxiety, and psychosis for the next several years. / People who were initially severely ill with COVID are at much greater risk for cognitive decline after they recover. Even people who were less severely ill remain at a somewhat greater risk. A large study of MRI scans taken before and then again after people got COVID showed that COVID can actually shrink the brain somewhat. / Finally, the lingering symptoms of fatigue, pain, and difficulty thinking that can last for several years after COVID — called long COVID or post-acute COVID syndrome — may well be caused by ongoing low-grade brain inflammation caused by the virus.).  Harvard Health Publishing. 1.3.2023. https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/does-covid-19-damage-the-brain

China reports human case of H5N1 bird flu. BNO News. 1.3.2023. https://bnonews.com/index.php/2023/03/china-reports-human-case-h5n1-bird-flu/

March 1-10

Air quality in Europe 2022. (Air pollution is the largest environmental health risk in Europe and significantly impacts the health of the European population, particularly in urban areas. While emissions of key air pollutants and their concentrations in ambient air have fallen significantly over the past two decades in Europe, air quality remains poor in many areas. /  In 2020 in the EU, 96% of the urban population was exposed to levels of fine particulate matter above the health-based guideline level set by the WHO.  / In 2020, exposure to concentrations of fine particulate matter above the 2021 WHO guideline level resulted in 238,000 premature deaths in the EU-27. Air pollution also causes morbidity, whereby people live with disease — entailing both personal suffering and significant health care costs) EEA. last modified 28.2.2023. https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/air-quality-in-europe-2022/air-quality-in-europe-2022

Of those with long COVID at 4 months, 84% of hospital COVID patients in Sweden still had symptoms at 2 years (Linkoping University researchers in Sweden interviewed COVID-19 patients about 37 symptoms 2 years after release from the hospital from Mar 1 to May 31, 2020. The group’s initial 2021 study found that 185 of 433 hospital patients (42.7%) had lingering symptoms and activity limitations 4 months after discharge. So 32% (139 of 433) of the original group had long COVID at 2-year follow-up.). CIDRAP. 27.2.2023. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/those-long-covid-4-months-84-hospital-covid-patients-sweden-still-had-symptoms-2-years

US Energy Department assesses Covid-19 likely resulted from lab leak, furthering US intel divide over virus origin (Two sources said that the Department of Energy assessed in the intelligence report that it had “low confidence” the Covid-19 virus accidentally escaped from a lab in Wuhan.). CNN Politics. 27.2.2023. https://edition.cnn.com/2023/02/26/politics/covid-lab-leak-wuhan-china-intelligence/index.html?

Structural brain changes in patients with post-COVID fatigue: a prospective observational study. eClinicaMedicine. 27.2.2023. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(23)00051-2/fulltext

SARS-CoV-2 ORF3c suppresses immune activation by inhibiting innate sensing (SARS-CoV-2 delta and kappa variants harbor premature stop codons in ORF3c demonstrating that this reading frame is not essential for efficient viral replication in vivo. In agreement with this, disruption of ORF3c did not significantly affect SARS-CoV-2 replication in CaCo-2 or CaLu-3 cells. In summary, we here identify ORF3c as an immune evasion factor that suppresses IFN-β induction, but is dispensable for efficient replication of SARS-CoV-2.). bioRxiv. 27.2.2023. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.02.27.530232v1

Multiomic characterisation of the long-term sequelae of SARS survivors: a clinical observational study (Fatigue was the most common symptom in SARS survivors 18 years after discharge, with osteoporosis and necrosis of the femoral head being the main sequelae. The respiratory function and hip function scores of the SARS survivors were significantly lower than those of the controls. Physical and social functioning at 18 years was improved compared to that after 12 years but still worse than the controls. Emotional and mental health were fully recovered. Lung lesions on CT scans remained consistent at 18 years, especially in the right upper lobe and left lower lobe lesions. Plasma multiomics analysis indicated an abnormal metabolism of amino acids and lipids, promoted host defense immune responses to bacteria and external stimuli, B-cell activation, and enhanced cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells but impaired antigen presentation capacity of CD4+ T cells.). eClinicalMedicine. 27.2.2023.  https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(23)00061-5/fulltext

Tutkimus: Yli puolella suomalaisista on sekä rokotuksen että sairastetun taudin tuottamia koronaviruksen vasta-aineita. THL. 27.2.2023. https://thl.fi/fi/-/tutkimus-yli-puolella-suomalaisista-on-seka-rokotuksen-etta-sairastetun-taudin-tuottamia-koronaviruksen-vasta-aineita

Se kummallinen PEM/PESE-oire ja energiantuoton ongelmat. PEM/PESE-oire esiintyy kaikilla ME/CFS:aa sairastavilla, eikä ilman sitä voida asettaa ME/CFS-diagnoosia. Long COVIDia sairastavista PEM/PESE-oire esiintyy noin 50–70 prosentilla. 26.2.2023. https://kehonaarella.com/2023/02/26/se-kummallinen-pem-pese-oire-ja-energiantuoton-ongelmat/

The gray swan: model-based assessment of the risk of sudden failure of hybrid immunity to SARS-CoV-2 (…large jumps in viral evolution may cause failure of population immunity resulting in sudden increases in mortality. As a rise in mortality will only become apparent in the weeks following a wave of disease, reactive public health strategies will not be able to provide meaningful risk mitigation. Learning to live with the virus could thus lead to large death tolls with very little warning. Our work points to the importance of proactive management strategies for the ongoing pandemic, and to the need for multifactorial approaches to COVID-19 disease control.). medRxiv. 26.2.2023. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.02.26.23286471v2

Largest Study To Date Suggests Vaccine Lowers Post-COVID Heart Attack And Stroke Risk (Cases of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) were observed in 12,733 patients who were unvaccinated, 160 patients who were partially vaccinated, and 1,055 patients who were fully vaccinated. Fully vaccinated patients had a 59% decreased risk of experiencing MACEs following infection than those who were unvaccinated, according to a press release on the study (per Mount Sinai Health System). After infection, patients who were partially vaccinated also appeared to have a reduced risk of MACEs. / ”[We] found that, particularly among those with comorbidities, such as previous MACE, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, liver disease, and obesity, there is an association with a lower risk of complications,”). msn. 25.2.2023. https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/health-news/largest-study-to-date-suggests-vaccine-lowers-post-covid-heart-attack-and-stroke-risk/ar-AA17VZlX

Pathways to altered virulence of SARS-CoV-2 (… it is likely that viral evolution is subject to evolutionary drift, and it cannot be assumed that the virus will necessarily evolve to be lessvirulent,or that prior immunity will offer durable protection against severe disease. This has strong implications for public health strategies to confront the ongoing challenges presented by SARS-CoV-2and implies that there are significant risks to a strategy based on the assumption of waning virulence.).  Preprints. 24.2.2023. https://osf.io/k4hb3/

Do You Have Coronaphobiaphobia? Ask Your Doctor if Notmybizumab is Right for You (Jonathan Howard). Science-Based Medicine. 24.2.2023. https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/coronaphobiaphobia/

Bacterial Co-Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance in Patients Hospitalized with Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19 Pneumonia in Kazakhstan (Patients with a bacterial co-infection had a higher proportion of severe disease than those without a co-infection. The results reinforce the importance of using appropriate targeted antibiotics and effective infection control practices to prevent the spread of resistant nosocomial infections.). MDPI. 23.2.2023. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/12/3/370

COMMENTARY: Wear a respirator, not a cloth or surgical mask, to protect against respiratory viruses. CIDRAP UoMinnesota. 23.2.2023.  https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/commentary-wear-respirator-not-cloth-or-surgical-mask-protect-against-respiratory-viruses

SARS-CoV-2 infection results in upregulation of Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 and Neuroserpin in the lungs, and an increase in fibrinolysis inhibitors associated with disease severity. ejHaem. 23.2.2023. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jha2.654

Changes in SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and population immunity in Finland, 2020–2022. medRxiv. 23.2.2023. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.02.17.23286042v1

Direct and indirect mortality impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, March 1, 2020 to January 1, 2022. (…the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on excess mortality in the US up to January 2022. The authors separate direct impacts of the pandemic from indirect impacts (disruptions), finding that most excess deaths (84%) are due to direct impacts. Moreover, in individuals under 44 years of age, indirect effects predominate in mortality from external causes and all-cause mortality.). eLife. 22.2.2023. https://elifesciences.org/articles/77562

The new scientific review on masks and Covid isn’t what you think.
A meta-analysis seeks to be the last word on the effectiveness of masks, but finding answers in science isn’t that easy. Vox. 22.2.2023. https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2023/2/22/23609499/masks-covid-coronavirus-cochrane-review-pandemic-science-studies-infection

More Than Half Of Long Covid Patients Suffer From Organ Damage Up To One Year After Covid Infection. Forbes. 22.2.2023. https://www.forbes.com/sites/anuradhavaranasi/2023/02/22/more-than-half-of-long-covid-patients-suffer-from-organ-damage-up-to-one-year-after-covid-infection/?sh=3f22d7a41cdf

Profs. Jason Abaluck and Mushfiq Mobarak Honored for Landmark Mask Study. Abaluck and Mobarak won the Top Ten Clinical Research Achievement Award from the Clinical Research Forum for their research on the impact of community masking in preventing COVID-19 [Jason Abaluck, and Ahmed Mushfiq Mobarak are among the winners of the 2023 Top Ten Clinical Research Achievement Award for their study “Impact of community masking on COVID-19: A cluster-randomized trial in Bangladesh”]. Yale School of Management. 21.2.2023. https://som.yale.edu/story/2023/profs-jason-abaluck-and-mushfiq-mobarak-honored-landmark-mask-study

Inps, certificati di malattia da record nel 2022: +30% nel secondo semestre (Mediamente le giornate di malattia per certificato sono state 4,4 nel settore privato (contro le 5,4 del quarto trimestre 2021) e 4,2 nel settore pubblico (contro le 4,7 del 2021). Le giornate medie di malattia per ciascun lavoratore con almeno un giorno di malattia passano da 10 nel terzo trimestre 2021 a 9,5 nel terzo trimestre 2022 per il settore privato e da 10,7 a 10,1 per il settore pubblico. Per quanto riguarda invece il quarto trimestre, le giornate totali di malattia nel 2022 sono state circa 32,3 milioni nel settore privato e 10,2 milioni nel pubblico, con un incremento rispettivamente del 1% e del 7,4% rispetto all’analogo valore del 2021.). L’Economia. 21.2.2023.  https://www.corriere.it/economia/lavoro/23_febbraio_21/inps-certificati-malattia-record-2022-30percento-secondo-semestre-246e4522-b1ce-11ed-8c7f-0f02d700e67e.shtml 21.2.2023.

February 21-28

Effect of Higher-Dose Ivermectin for 6 Days vs Placebo on Time to Sustained Recovery in Outpatients With COVID-19 (In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled platform trial including 1206 US adults with COVID-19 during February 2022 to July 2022, the median time to sustained recovery was 11 days in the ivermectin group and 11 days in the placebo group. In this largely vaccinated (84%) population, the posterior probability that ivermectin reduced symptom duration by more than 1 day was less than 0.1%.). A Randomized Clinical Trial.  JAMA Network. 20.2.2023. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2801827

SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein induces TLR4-mediated long-term cognitive dysfunction recapitulating post-COVID-19 syndrome in mice (...in a cohort of 86 patients who recovered from mild COVID-19, the genotype GG TLR4-2604G>A (rs10759931) is associated with poor cognitive outcome. These results identify TLR4 as a key target to investigate the long-term cognitive dysfunction after COVID-19 infection in humans and rodents.). Cell Rep. 17.2.2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9935273/

Airborne transmission: a new paradigm with major implications for infection control and public health (In the longer term, the Government needs to lead with building codes in residential and commercial sectors that treat clean air provision with as much importance as earthquake safety.
The removal of non-pharmaceutical public health interventions (such as mask wearing
requirements in public spaces) makes the use of engineering controls to minimise exposure to contaminated air even more important. Improving indoor air quality will not only reduce COVID-related illness, but all morbidity related to poor air quality. With this in mind, it’s understandable that reliably maintaining high indoor air quality standards has been described as the new “sanitation). New Zealand Medical Journal. 17.2.2023. https://assets-global.website-files.com/5e332a62c703f653182faf47/63ed951a7a423147f614e18e_6028.pdf

Mass Formation (What is mass formation actually? It’s a specific kind of group formation that makes people radically blind to everything that goes against what the group believes in. In this way, they take the most absurd beliefs for granted. To give one example, during the Iran revolution in 1979, a mass formation emerged and people started to believe that the portrait of their leader—Ayatollah Khomeini—was visible on the surface of the moon). P2PF Wiki. 17.2.2023.  https://wiki.p2pfoundation.net/Mass_Formation

A unique cytotoxic CD4+ T cells signature defines critical COVID-19. medRxiv. 17.2.2023. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.02.17.23286059v1

Comparative Effectiveness of BNT162b2 and NVX-CoV2373 Vaccines in Korean Adults. (Estimated risk of severe infection was 0.001 events per 1000 persons (95% CI, 0 to 0.003) for the NVX-CoV2373 (Novavax) vaccine and 0.002 events per 1000 persons (95% CI, 0.001 to 0.006) for BNT162b2 (Pfizer Biontech) vaccine). medRxiv. 16.2.2023. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.02.18.23286136v1

[Vital  Statistics Reporting] Guidance for Certifying Deaths Due to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Expanded in February 2023 to Include Guidance for Certifying Deaths Due to Post-acute Sequelae of COVID-19. CDC. February 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvss/vsrg/vsrg03-508.pdf

How Deadly Was China’s Covid Wave?Two months after China ended “zero Covid,” rough estimates suggest that between 1 and 1.5 million people died — far more than the official count. NYTimes. 15.2.2023. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/02/15/world/asia/china-covid-death-estimates.html

Aerosol experts provide an account of the rejection of aerosol science by the WHO. Medical News. 15.2.2023. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20230215/Aerosol-experts-provide-an-account-of-the-rejection-of-aerosol-science-by-the-WHO.aspx

Hospital Outcomes of Community-Acquired SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant Infection Compared With Influenza Infection in Switzerland (In this cohort study of 5212 patients hospitalized with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant or influenza A or B in Switzerland, the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant was associated with an approximately 1.5-fold higher risk of in-hospital all-cause mortality up to day 30 compared with influenza.). JAMA. 15.2.2023. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2801464?utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=content-shareicons&utm_content=article_engagement&utm_medium=social&utm_term=030423#.ZAOA9Rw4eMk.twitter

Mass testing to end the COVID-19 public health threat ( We here point out that mass testing (regular asymptomatic screening of the general population) is an alternative approach that can dramatically reduce cases and quickly restore economic and social activity.). Lancet Regional Health Europe. Feb. 2023. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666776222002708

Minimising school disruption under high incidence conditions due to the Omicron variant in France, Switzerland, Italy, in January 2022 (When incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infections is high, school protocols based on reactive screening lead to a substantial and unplanned demand for testing resources, while little infection prevention is achieved. With the same resources, proactive weekly screening considerably reduces the peak of infections, limiting schooldays lost. Reactive class closure leads to large disruption with successive closures.). Eurosurveillance. February. 2023. https://www.eurosurveillance.org/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2023.28.5.2200192

Covid-19: WHO treaty hopes to overcome “catastrophic failures” of pandemic response. BMJ. 14.2.2023. https://www.bmj.com/content/380/bmj.p357?

WHO abandons plans for crucial second phase of COVID-origins investigation. Sensitive studies in China were intended to pinpoint the source of the pandemic virus. Nature.14.2.2023. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-00283-y?

Verified: COVID-19 Infection Increases Diabetes Risk. (Results Also Suggest the Diabetes Risk Persists Across COVID-19 Variants, and That Upfront Vaccination May Help to Reduce Risk of Post-Infection Diabetes). Cedaes Sinai. 14.2.2023. https://www.cedars-sinai.org/newsroom/verified-covid-19-infection-increases-diabetes-risk/

Association of COVID-19 Vaccination With Risk for Incident Diabetes After COVID-19 Infection (The highest odds postinfection were for diabetes (2.35; 95% CI, 1.94-2.89; P < .001), followed by hypertension (1.54; 95% CI, 1.35-1.76; P < .001), benchmark diagnoses (1.42; 95% CI, 1.25-1.61; P < .001), and hyperlipidemia (1.22; 95% CI, 1.03-1.47; P = .03). ). JAMA. 14.2.2023. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2801415?utm_source=For_The_Media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_term=021423

Why we need a deeper understanding of the pathophysiology of long COVID (The most recent estimate of people living with post-COVID-19 condition (also known as long COVID) globally has surpassed 65 million1 and, without clear diagnostic or treatment options available, this number is steadily increasing. There are more than 200 reported symptoms associated with long COVID,1 affecting virtually every organ system.). Lancet Infectious Diseases. 14.2.2023. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(23)00053-1/fulltext

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/diabetes-symptoms-deaths-caused-disease-29944903

The Effects of SARS-CoV-2 Infection on the Cognitive Functioning of Patients with Pre-Existing Dementia (The rapid progression of dementia, the addition of further impairments/deterioration of cognitive abilities, and the increase or new appearance of white matter lesion burden suggest that previously compromised brains have little defense to withstand a new insult (i.e., ‘second hit’ like infection/dysregulated immune response, and inflammation). ‘Brain fog’ is an ambiguous terminology without specific attribution to the spectrum of post-COVID-19 cognitive sequelae. We propose a new codename, i.e. ‘FADE-IN MEMORY’ (i.e., Fatigue, decreased Fluency, Attention deficit, Depression, Executive dysfunction, slowed INformation processing speed, and subcortical MEMORY impairment).). Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease Reports. 14.2.2023. https://content.iospress.com/articles/journal-of-alzheimers-disease-reports/adr220090

Why we need a deeper understanding of the pathophysiology of long COVID. Lancet Infectious Diseases. 14.2.2023. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(23)00053-1/fulltext

Long COVID Now Looks like a Neurological Disease, Helping Doctors to Focus Treatments. [The causes of long COVID, which disables millions, may come together in the brain and nervous system ”I now think of COVID as a neurological disease as much as I think of it as a pulmonary disease, and that’s definitely true in long COVID”]. Scientific American. 14.2.2923.  https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/long-covid-now-looks-like-a-neurological-disease-helping-doctors-to-focus-treatments/

Ylilääkäri: ”Suomessa kuolee nyt koko ajan enemmän väkeä” – Tämä tiedetään suomalaisten koronakuolemista ja ylikuolleisuudesta.
Tilastotietojen mukaan vuosina 2021 ja 2022 Suomessa kuoli tuhansia ihmisiä enemmän kuin edeltävinä vuosina. Mitä suomalaisten koronakuolemista nyt tiedetään? Mediuutiset. 13.2.2023. https://www.mediuutiset.fi/uutiset/mu/b7949648-9070-4e51-bd51-a648dfe3a194?ref=twitter:f632

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 viral proteins and genomic sequences in human brainstem nuclei. npj Parkinson’s Disease. 13.2.2023. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41531-023-00467-3

Booster Shots May Trigger Stroke Incidents, According to CDC and FDA
An Overview of Risk and Prevention. Epoch Health. 11.2.2023. https://www.theepochtimes.com/health/booster-shots-may-trigger-stroke-incidents-according-to-cdc-and-fda_5021604.html?

February 11-20

How do we measure expected and excess deaths? National Statistical
News and insight from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). 10.2.2023. https://blog.ons.gov.uk/2023/02/10/how-do-we-measure-expected-and-excess-deaths/

Immmunisation Schedules. CDC. 10.2.2023. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/index.html

Koronavirus COVID-19 tilanne Suomessa. Lähde THL. Tiedot päivitetty: tartunnat ja kuolemat 9.2.2023, sairaanhoito 7.2.2023. Jätevesi päivitetty 10.2.2023. https://www.koronatilastot.fi/fi/sairaala/

Long COVID manifests with T cell dysregulation, inflammation, and an uncoordinated adaptive immune response to SARS-CoV-2 (…proper crosstalk between the humoral and cellular arms of adaptive immunity has broken down in LC, and that this, perhaps in the context of persistent virus, leads to the immune dysregulation, inflammation, and clinical symptoms associated with this debilitating condition.). bioRxiv. 9.2.2023. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36798286/

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey technical article: Cumulative incidence of the percentage of people who have been infected with COVID-19 by variant and age, England: 9 February 2023. Analysis of the percentage of people in England who have tested positive for COVID-19 using the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey. This survey is being delivered in partnership with the University of Oxford, the University of Manchester, the UK Health Security Agency and the Wellcome Trust. ONS. 9.2.2023. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditionsanddiseases/articles/coronaviruscovid19infectionsurveytechnicalarticlecumulativeincidenceofthenumberofpeoplewhohavebeeninfectedwithcovid19byvariantandageengland/9february2023#data-sources-and-quality

Tutkijalääkäri ei jaa Cochranen tuoreen maskikatsauksen päätelmiä: ”Taustatutkimuksissa on monia metodologisia haasteita”. ”Maskikeskustelu ei ole koskaan kovin neutraalia. Siinä sekoittuvat fysiikka, politiikka, oletukset ja näkemykset”, Lotta Oksanen toteaa. Mediuutiset. 9.2.2023. https://www.mediuutiset.fi/uutiset/mu/769215d9-5cc3-4890-96f1-fc27b5116604

‘No one really wants to talk about COVID anymore,’ the WHO’s pandemic lead laments. But the ‘worst case’ possibility of a new coronavirus exists (There exists a popular belief that Omicron is a weakened version of the original COVID. But its generally more mild presentation is likely due, at least in part, to widespread T-cell immunity in many areas of the world. While T cells can’t stop disease, they blunt its impact, often making it appear more mild than it might in a population with virtually no immunity—like China before the lifting of “zero COVID” measures. “Omicron can cause severe disease,” Agrawal said. “It is not nature’s vaccine. ). Fortune Well. 8.2.2023. https://fortune.com/well/2023/02/08/new-coronavirus-covid-recombinant-possible-who-world-health-organization-admits-viral-evolution-covid-pandemic-omicron-zoonotic-transmission-animal-reservoir/

Young people are more likely to die of heart attacks post-COVID, study finds. But why? A recent study found that heart attacks in people ages 25 to 44 increased by 30% compared to the expected number over the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Today. 8.2.2023. https://www.today.com/health/covid-heart-attack-young-people-rcna69903

Incidence and presentation of new-onset type 1 diabetes in children and adolescents from Germany during the COVID-19 pandemic 2020 and 2021: Current data from the DPV Registry (An increase in the incidences of T1D and DKA, but not of autoantibody-negative diabetes was observed during both pandemic years. Further monitoring and efforts for DKA prevention at onset are necessary.). Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 8.2.2023. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36758641/

Usvan peitossa. Aivosumu on yleinen koronan jälkioire, mutta monet kärsivät ajattelun tahmeudesta jo ennen pandemiaa. Mistä aivosumuksi kutsutussa olotilassa on kyse? [Long COVID, Cognitive, Brain fog]. HS. 8.2.2023. https://www.hs.fi/hyvinvointi/art-2000009351625.html

Hidden harms of indoor air pollution — five steps to expose them
Dirty outdoor air might grab the headlines, but learning how pollutants inside buildings form, accumulate and affect our health is equally crucial. Nature. 8.2.2023. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-00287-8?

STM vastaa oikeuskanslerin ratkaisuun tartuntatautiasetuksesta: ”Hieman yllätti, mutta tervetullutta pohdintaa”. Oikeuskanslerin mukaan STM:n on muutettava viipymättä tartuntatautiasetusta koronan osalta. Asiasta tehtiin kaksi kantelua. Mediuutiset. 7.2.2023. https://www.mediuutiset.fi/uutiset/mu/eeedac9d-f6e3-420e-8604-21dbb14292d9?

Excess Mortality Among US Physicians During the COVID-19 Pandemic. [There were 43 (95% CI, 33-53) excess deaths per 100 000 person-years.] JAMA. 6.2.2023.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2800889?

Yes, masks reduce the risk of spreading COVID, despite a review saying they don’t. Conversation. 6.2.2023. https://theconversation.com/yes-masks-reduce-the-risk-of-spreading-covid-despite-a-review-saying-they-dont-198992

Neurological infection and complications of SARS-CoV-2: A review (Many recent reports suggested that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infections can also affect the central nervous system as well as peripheral nervous system that lead to the several neurological complications. The virus can break the blood brain barrier and enters the brain via haematological route or directly by the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptors present on endothelial cells of many cerebral tissues. The neurological complications are manifested by headache, dizziness, encephalopathy, encephalitis, cerebrovascular disease, anosmia, hypogeusia, muscle damage, etc. ). Medicine. 3.2.2023. https://journals.lww.com/md-journal/fulltext/2023/02030/neurological_infection_and_complications_of.19.aspx

Autonomic dysfunction and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome in post-acute COVID-19 syndrome. (The post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 present major problems for many patients, their physicians and the health-care system. They are unrelated to the severity of the initial infection, are often highly symptomatic and can occur after vaccination. Many sequelae involve cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction, with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome in 30% of individuals. Prognosis is unknown, and treatment is still unsatisfactory). Nature reviews cardiology. 2.2.2023.  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41569-023-00842-w

Prevalence of ongoing symptoms following coronavirus (COVID-19) infection in the UK: 2 February 2023. Estimates of the prevalence of self-reported long COVID and associated activity limitation, using UK Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey data. Experimental Statistics. ONS. 2.2.2023. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditionsanddiseases/bulletins/prevalenceofongoingsymptomsfollowingcoronaviruscovid19infectionintheuk/2february2023

February 1-10

COVID Impacts: Immune Dysfunction. Detailed information and resources on the long-term health consequences of COVID-19 infection and the broad social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Memorial Sloan Kettering Library. 31.1.2023. https://libguides.mskcc.org/CovidImpacts/Immune

Prevalence of Positive COVID-19 Test Results Collected by Digital Self-report in the US and Germany. JAMA. 31.1.2023. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen /fullarticle/2800848?

A pan-sarbecovirus vaccine based on RBD of SARS-CoV-2 original strain elicits potent neutralizing antibodies against XBB in non-human primates (Taken collectively, our data support that the “nonchangeable against changeable” strategy is feasible for the development of pan-sarbecovirus vaccines against sarbecoviruses, including the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants, BQ.1.1 and XBB. Considering that boost immunization plays an important role in producing bnAb responses, we suggest that the adjuvant in the first-generation subunit COVID-19 vaccines be replaced with CF501 and using it for boost immunization, which may significantly enhance the immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 and its current and future variants.). PNAS. 30.1.2023. https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2221713120

COVID-19 is a leading cause of death in children and young people in the US. Univ of Oxford. 30.1.2023. https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2023-01-31-covid-19-leading-cause-death-children-and-young-people-us

Assessment of COVID-19 as the Underlying Cause of Death Among Children and Young People Aged 0 to 19 Years in the US. JAMA. 30.1.2023. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2800816.

These benefits will disappear when Biden ends the Covid national and public health emergencies in May. CNN Politics. 31.1.2023. https://edition.cnn.com/2023/01/30/politics/may-11-end-of-covid-and-public-health-emergencies/index.html?

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews: Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses. Cochrane Library. 30.1.2023.  https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD006207.pub6/full

High number of SARS-CoV-2 persistent infections uncovered through genetic analysis of samples from a large community-based surveillance study. medRxiv. 30.1.2023. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.01.29.23285160v1

Assessment of COVID-19 as the Underlying Cause of Death Among Children and Young People Aged 0 to 19 Years in the US. [aged 0 to 19 years in the US, COVID-19 ranked eighth among all causes of deaths, fifth in disease-related causes of deaths (excluding unintentional injuries, assault, and suicide), and first in deaths caused by infectious or respiratory diseases. COVID-19 deaths constituted 2% of all causes of death] JAMA. 30.1.2023. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2800816

Research to spread light on long COVID uncertainties. Long COVID is a growing social problem in Sweden and the rest of the world. We still know very little about why some are affected, and how it can be cured. ”We really need more research and an investment in this,” says Anne-Marie Fors Connolly, docent of microbiology at Umeå University and physician who studies the long-term effects of COVID-19.Umeå University. 30.1.2023. https://www.umu.se/en/news/research-to-spread-light-on-long-covid-uncertainties_11713455/

Long COVID Syndrome and Cardiovascular Manifestations: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (Altogether, seven studies with a total of 8,126,462 (cases: 1,321,305; controls: 6,805,157) participants were included in the meta-analysis. Pooled odds ratios of cardiovascular outcomes were significantly higher in post-COVID cases (OR > 1, p < 0.05) than in controls. However, the mortality (OR: 4.76, p = 0.13), and heart rate variability (SMD: −0.06, p = 0.91) between cases and controls were not statistically significant; (4) Conclusions: Significant cardiovascular sequelae in long COVID syndrome highlight the importance of careful cardiac monitoring of COVID-19 patients in the post-COVID phase to address cardiovascular complications as soon as possible; larger-scale prospective studies are required for accurate estimation.) MPDI. 29.1.2023. https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/13/3/491

Absence from work at record high as Americans feel strain from Covid (1.5 million Americans missed work because of sickness in December. Each month, more than a million people have called out sick for the past three years. In June 2022, about 7% of adult Americans had long Covid, which can affect productivity and ability to work, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The last time the absentee number dipped below a million Americans was in November 2019. Last year, the trend accelerated rather than returning to normal. In 2022, workers had the most sickness-related absences of the pandemic, and the highest number since record-keeping began in 1976. In 2022, the average was 1.58 million per month, for a total of 19 million absences for the year. The largest spike was in January 2022, when 3.6 million people were absent due to illness, about triple the pre-pandemic number for that month.). Guardian. 29.1.2023. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/29/covid-absence-workforce-health-long-covid

Miksi kuolleisuus lähti nousuun syksyllä 2021? Koronablogi [sisältää erityisesti linkkejä THL:n ja median harhaanjohtavaan tiedottamiseen]. 28.1.2023. https://koronablogi.fi/articles/miksi_kuolleisuus_lahti_nousuun_syksylla_2021.html

Comparison of Preprint Postings of Randomized Clinical Trials on COVID-19 and Corresponding Published Journal Articles. A Systematic Review. JAMA. 27.1.2023. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2800857

We are all playing Covid roulette. Without clean air, the next infection could permanently disable you (As rich people plough money into ventilation to protect themselves, those with long Covid are treated as an embarrassment). Guardian. 26.1.2023. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jan/26/covid-roulette-clean-air-ventilation-long-covid

Kuolleisuuden nousu poikkeuksellista – elinajanodote laskee vuonna 2022 eniten 60 vuoteen. (Kuolleiden määrä ja kuolleisuus kasvoivat vuonna 2022. Ennakkotietojen mukaan kuolleita oli yli 5 200 enemmän kuin vuotta aiemmin. Kuolleiden ennakollinen kokonaismäärä oli 62 886 eli suurin vuoden 1944 jälkeen. / ”Lopullisessa tilastossa kuolleiden määrä noussee yli 63 000:een”, Tilastokeskuksen yliaktuaari Markus Rapo sanoo.) Tilastokeskus. 26.1.2023. https://www.stat.fi/uutinen/kuolleisuuden-nousu-poikkeuksellista-elinajanodote-laskee-vuonna-2022-eniten-60-vuoteen

The impact of vaccination frequency on COVID-19 public health outcomes: A model-based
analysis. medRxiv. 26.1.2023. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.01.26.23285076v1.full.pdf

COVID Virus Ventures Beyond the Lungs, Often Lodging in the Brain (The conclusion is chilling: “ … SARS-CoV-2 is capable of infecting and replicating within … many … tissues, including brain.”). DNA Science. 26.1.2023. https://dnascience.plos.org/2023/01/26/covid-virus-ventures-beyond-the-lungs-often-lodging-in-the-brain/

Incident autoimmune diseases in association with a SARS-CoV-2 infection: A matched cohort study. medRxiv. 26.1.2023. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.01.25.23285014v1

Household Transmission of Influenza A Viruses in 2021-2022 [ a significantly increased risk of household transmission of influenza A(H3N2) in 2021-2022 compared with prior seasons]. JAMA. 26.1.2023. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2800976

THL:n Hanna Nohynek: ”Päättäjien toimesta tapahtuu maalittamista”. Vihapuheen ja maalittamisen kohteeksi joutunut Hanna Nohynek on tehnyt koronapandemian aikana viisi rikosilmoitusta. Iltalehti. 25.1.2024. https://www.iltalehti.fi/terveysuutiset/a/8b74c817-2bce-4ee6-a52c-2104250b534d

Covid-19 Infection During Pregnancy Can Damage The Placenta And The Fetus (A new study published in The Lancet Europe has found that SARS-CoV-2 infections during pregnancy are associated with placental lesions from vascular malperfusion, which can result in increased rates of fetal growth restriction, pre-labor membrane rupture, and miscarriage. Vascular damage was also observed in the organs of the fetuses via fetal MRIs.) Forbes. 25.1.2023. https://www.forbes.com/sites/williamhaseltine/2023/01/25/covid-19-infection-during-pregnancy-can-damage-the-placenta-and-the-fetus/

Antibody escape, the risk of serotype formation, and rapid immune waning: modeling the implications of SARS-CoV-2 immune evasion (In the long-term, invading variants that induce weak cross-immunity against pre-existing strains may co-circulate with those pre-existing strains. This would result in the formation of serotypes that increase disease burden, complicate SARS-CoV-2 control and raise the potential for increases in viral virulence. Less durable immunity does not drive positive selection as a trait, but such strains may transmit at high levels if they establish. Overall, our results draw attention to the importance of inter-strain cross-immunity as a driver of transmission trends and the importance of early immune evasion data to predict the trajectory of the pandemic.). medRxiv. 25.1.2023. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.01.25.23285031v1

Is science really getting less disruptive — and does it matter if it is?
A study suggesting papers and patents that change the course of science are becoming less dominant is prompting soul-searching — and lively debate about why, and what to do about it.. nature. 25.1.2023. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-00183-1?

SKANDIA: SVERIGE FÖRLORADE 71 MDR PÅ LÅNGTIDSSJUKSKRIVNINGAR 2022
Långtidssjukskrivningar i Sverige kostade samhället 71 miljarder kronor under förra året, enligt en ny rapport från Skandia. Rapporten visar dessutom att andelen sjukskrivningar till följd av psykisk ohälsa har ökat efter pandemin; under förra året uppgick kostnaden till 32,6 miljarder kronor. 2022 uppskattas andelen sjukskrivningar på grund av psykisk ohälsa ha varit 46 procent, jämfört med 45 procent 2021 och 41 procent 2020. År 2015 berodde 30 procent av långtidssjukskrivningarna på psykisk ohälsa.. Sak och Liv. 25.1.2023. https://sakochliv.se/2023/01/25/skandia-sverige-forlorade-71-mdr-pa-langtidssjukskrivningar-2022/

Suomalaisten kuolemissa uusi synkkä ennätys – tästä yli­kuolleisuus johtuu. Koronavuosien aikana suomalaisia on kuollut historiallisen paljon. Pelkkä kuolleiden määrä ei kuitenkaan kerro koko totuutta paljon puhutusta ylikuolleisuudesta. Ilta=sanomat. 21.1.2023. https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000009330947.html

January 21-31

COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis (A total of 11 studies comprising 756,098 pregnant mothers were included. The rate of neonates with 5-min Apgar score ≤ 7 (log RR -0.08 (95% CI: -0.15 to -0.00), (P = 0.03)) and pregnant mothers with preterm birth (log RR -0.11 (95% CI: -0.21 to -0.01), (P = 0.02)) was significantly lower among vaccinated group. No significant difference was observed in adverse neonatal outcomes (log RR -0.07 (95% CI: -0.17 to 0.03)), small for gestational age (log RR -0.06 (95% CI: -0.14 to 0.02)), caesarean delivery (log RR 0.05 (95% CI: -0.05 to 0.15)), postpartum hemorrhage (log RR -0.05 (95% CI: -0.13 to 0.02)), stillbirth (log RR -0.05 (95% CI: -0.54 to 0.45)).). BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 20.1.2023. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36670389/
.

SARS-CoV-2 variant-related abnormalities detected by prenatal MRI: a prospective case–control study (Of the 38 included cases after SARS-CoV-2 infection, 20/38 (52.6%) were infected with pre-Omicron variants and 18/38 (47.4%) with Omicron. Prenatal MRIs were performed on an average of 83 days (±42.9, median 80) days after the first positive PCR test. Both pre-Omicron (P = .008) and Omicron (P = .016) groups showed abnormalities in form of a globular placenta compared to control cases. In addition, placentas in the pre-Omicron group were significantly thickened (6.35, 95% CI .02–12.65, P = .048), and showed significantly more frequent lobules (P = .046), and hemorrhages (P = .002). Fetal growth restriction (FGR) was observed in 25% (n = 5/20, P = .017) in the pre-Omicron group.). Lancet Regional Health Europe. 20.1.2023. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanepe/article/PIIS2666-7762(23)00005-4/fulltext#secsectitle0115

Rokote Laboratories Finland Oy kehittää nenään annettavaa koronarokotetta tiettävästi ainoana Euroopassa – antotavalla taudin torjumisessa merkittäviä hyötyjä (Koronavirus aloittaa infektion tyypillisesti ylähengitysteissä eli nenänielun limakalvoilla. Nenään annosteltavan rokotteen tarkoituksena on muodostaa vahva immuunipuolustus näille limakalvoille, jolloin viruksen lisääntyminen estetään ja infektio estyy. Jos ihminen ei infektoidu, hän ei myöskään levitä virusta,). University of Eastermn Finland. 20.1.2023. https://www.uef.fi/fi/artikkeli/rokote-laboratories-finland-oy-kehittaa-nenaan-annettavaa-koronarokotetta-tiettavasti-ainoana

Omicron Mutation Linked to Neurological Complication in Kids. healthnews.20.1.2023. https://healthnews.com/health-conditions/covid-19/omicron-subvariant-mutation-may-cause-neurological-complications-in-children/

What doctors wish patients knew about COVID-19 reinfection. AMA. 20.1.2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230121033709/https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/what-doctors-wish-patients-knew-about-covid-19-reinfection

Virus exposure and neurodegenerative disease risk across national biobanks (The largest effect association was between viral encephalitis exposure and Alzheimer’s disease. Influenza with pneumonia was significantly associated with five of the six neurodegenerative diseases studied. We also replicated the Epstein-Barr/multiple sclerosis association. Some of these exposures were associated with an increased risk of neurodegeneration up to 15 years after infection. As vaccines are currently available for some of the associated viruses, vaccination may be a way to reduce some risk of neurodegenerative disease.) Neuron 19.1.2023. https://www.cell.com/neuron/fulltext/S0896-6273(22)01147-3#%20

MRI evidence of olfactory system alterations in patients with COVID-19 and neurological symptoms (Brain). Journal of Neurology. 19.1.2023. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00415-023-11561-0

Comparative effectiveness of the bivalent BA.4-5 and BA.1 mRNA-booster vaccines in the Nordic countries. medRxiv. 19.1.2023. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.01.19.23284764v1

Persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients seemingly recovered from COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2 infection can persist significantly longer than suggested by PCR-negative tests on nasopharyngeal swabs or bronchoalveolar lavage fluids. Whether the persisting infected cells have a pathogenic role in explaining the sequelae of infection in long COVID remains an outstanding question, which deserves further investigation.). Journal od Pathology. 18.1.2023. https://pathsocjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/path.6035

Is the post-COVID-19 syndrome a severe impairment of acetylcholine-orchestrated neuromodulation that responds to nicotine administration? (Treating several individuals suffering from post-COVID-19 syndrome with a nicotine patch application, we witnessed improvements ranging from immediate and substantial to complete remission in a matter of days.) Bioelectronic Medicine. 18.1.2023. https://bioelecmed.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s42234-023-00104-7

Protective effectiveness of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection and hybrid immunity against the omicron variant and severe disease: a systematic review and meta-regression. Lancet Infectious Diseases. 18.1.2023. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(22)00801-5/fulltext

Persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients seemingly recovered from COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2 infection can persist significantly longer than suggested by standard PCR-negative tests, with specific infection of specific cell types in the lung. Whether these persistently infected cells also play a pathogenic role in long COVID remains to be addressed.). J Pathol. 18.1.2023. https://pathsocjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/path.6035

How your first brush with COVID warps your immunity. The immune system responds more strongly to the strain of a virus that it first met, weakening response to other strains. Can this ‘imprinting’ be overcome? Nature. 18.1.2023. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-00086-1

Cortical Grey matter volume depletion links to neurological sequelae in post COVID-19 “long haulers”. (Brain) BMC Neurology. 17.1.2023. https://bmcneurol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12883-023-03049-1

Excess mortality dropped to 6.7% in November 2022. EuroStat. 17.1.2023. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/en/web/products-eurostat-news/w/Ddn-20230117-1

Guidance [to participants] on Health Measures (The Forum strongly recommends that participants are vaccinated with the latest available vaccines and take a COVID-19 test before travelling to Davos. / 
Participants are required to get tested in one of the Forum testing centres after arriving in Davos and picking up their badge. Conducting a test will keep the badge active and grant the access to the Annual Meeting’s venues. Failing to conduct an onsite test or a positive test result will lead to the
badge being deactivated. / Masks and disinfectants will be available throughout the Annual Meeting 2023 at all meeting venues. Additionally, COVID-19 self-tests will be at participants’ disposal at the Forum testing centres and Registration Centre) Davos: World Economic Forum Annual Meeting. 16–20.1.2023. https://www3.weforum.org/docs/AM23_Health_and_Safety_Measures.pdf

Tartuntojen torjunta ja unohtunut ennakointi. (This post outlines two key points missing from Finnish public discussion in 2023. It was originally published on January 16, and has been audited for its continuing relevance on August 31. The main scientific points are made here (non-pharmaceutical interventions like masks work, particularly when they’re combined with other measures; see text for explanation of non-linear compounding), here (mass testing can end the pandemic), here (international consensus we should not let the pandemic run amok), here (long covid is a biological disease) and here (novel pathogens call for a swift and prudent elimination approach).).  COMPLEX SYSTEMS, HEALTH AND WELL-BEING WITH UNCERTAINTY Matti TJ Heino blog. 16.1.2023. https://mattiheino.com/2023/01/16/tartuntojen-torjunta/

Two-year follow-up of brain structural changes in patients who recovered from COVID-19: A prospective study (Brain, Cognitive). Psychiatry Research. Jan 2023. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165178122005601

Why health-care services are in chaos everywhere. Now is an especially bad time to suffer a heart attack. Economist. 15.1.2023. https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2023/01/15/why-health-care-services-are-in-chaos-everywhere

COVID-19 and other pandemics require a coherent response strategy (The high-level strategic choices for managing any infectious disease with pandemic and PHEIC potential are illustrated in the figure. Elimination has the goal of reducing disease transmission to zero for a defined geographical area and time period. In practice, elimination definitions could use less stringent disease-specific criteria in some instances, such as with measles.  Elimination strategies are widely used for a range of diseases, including poliomyelitis, measles, rubella, filariasis, and dracunculiasis. As COVID-19 has shown, an elimination strategy can also be highly effective against a pandemic disease. Global eradication, however, is a much more demanding goal, but this has been achieved for smallpox and rinderpest.). Lancet. 13.1.2023. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22)02489-8/fulltext

Immune escape of Omicron lineages BA.1, BA.2, BA.5.1, BQ.1, XBB.1.5, EG.5.1 and JN.1.1 after vaccination, infection and hybrid immunity (We showed a gradually increasing immune escape after vaccination and hybrid immunity in from B.1 to BA.1/BA.2 to BA.5.1 to BQ.1 to XBB.1.5 to EG.5.1, but remarkably, no more enhanced immune escape of JN.1.1 compared to EG.5.1, with the latter two showing almost identical neutralization titers in individuals with hybrid immunity due to one or more infections. In vaccinated but never infected individuals, neutralization was markedly reduced or completely lost for XBB.1.5., EG.5.1 and JN.1.1, while in those with hybrid immunity, titers were reduced but almost all sera still showed some degree of neutralization. After a single infection without vaccination, reduced or complete loss of neutralization occurred for BQ.1, XBB.1.5, EG.5.1 and JN.1.1 compared to BA.1/BA.2). bioRxiv. 14.2.2024. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.02.14.579654v1

Unwanted Indoor Air Quality Effects from Using Ultraviolet C Lamps for Disinfection. Environ Sci Technol. 13.1.2023. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.estlett.2c00807#

Long COVID: major findings, mechanisms and recommendations (Long COVID is a multisystemic illness encompassing ME/CFS, dysautonomia, impacts on multiple organ systems, and vascular and clotting abnormalities. It has already debilitated millions of individuals worldwide, and that number is continuing to grow. On the basis of more than 2 years of research on long COVID and decades of research on conditions such as ME/CFS, a significant proportion of individuals with long COVID may have lifelong disabilities if no action is taken.). nature reviews microbiology. 13.1.2023. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41579-022-00846-2

Rokotusten järjestäminen hyvinvointialueella.

• Kansallisen rokotusohjelman ja pandemiarokotusten toteuttamista säädellään lainsäädännöllä
• Rokotusohjelman rokotusten toteuttaminen muualla kuin hyvinvointialueella
• Rokotusohjelman rokotteiden ja pandemiarokotteiden tilaaminen, jakelu, sekä kulutuksen ja hävikin seuranta ja raportointi
• Rokotusohjelman ulkopuolisten rokotusten järjestäminen
• Lainsäädäntö

THL. 13.1.2023. https://thl.fi/fi/web/infektiotaudit-ja-rokotukset/tietoa-rokotuksista/rokotustoiminnan-suunnittelu-ja-jarjestaminen/rokotusten-jarjestaminen-hyvinvointialueella

Maternal mRNA covid-19 vaccination during pregnancy and delta or omicron infection or hospital admission in infants: test negative design study [maternal vaccination prottected the child for up to 6 mo.]. 12.1.2023. BMJ. https://www.bmj.com/content/380/bmj-2022-074035

Long covid outcomes at one year after mild SARS-CoV-2 infection: nationwide cohort study (This nationwide study suggests that patients with mild covid-19 are at risk for a small number of health outcomes, most of which are resolved within a year from diagnosis.). BMJ. 11.1.2023.

In sickness and in “health”: Canada’s labour market (For some sectors, the added paid sick leave is putting significant extra pressure on wage costs. This is particularly the case for some in-person industries such as mining, oil and gas, utilities, and education where wage costs are about 1.5% higher due to paid time off for employees absent all week due to illness or family matters. However, it can also impact some industries where telework is prominent, such as public administration, which has seen its wage bill increase by as much as 1% for the same reason). CIBC Economic Insights. 11.1.2023. https://economics.cibccm.com/cds?id=c2a46e48-a5b0-4f1f-8958-234031e653e7&flag=E

January 11-20

Group aiming to sabotage Whitmer’s Covid policies funded by dark money.
Non-profit affiliated with utility DTE Energy funded effort to repeal Michigan governor’s emergency order powers. The Guardian. 10.1.2023. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jan/10/gretchen-whitmer-michigan-covid-policies-dark-money

China now publishes more high-quality science than any other nation – should the US be worried? Conversation.10.1.2023. https://theconversation.com/china-now-publishes-more-high-quality-science-than-any-other-nation-should-the-us-be-worried-192080

The safer you feel, the less safely you might behave – but research suggests ways to counteract this tendency. Conversation. 10.1.2023. https://theconversation.com/the-safer-you-feel-the-less-safely-you-might-behave-but-research-suggests-ways-to-counteract-this-tendency-190527

WHO expert: China’s COVID-19 surge could lead to deadly mutation
Dr. Dorit Nitzan: “We have to be ready and alert.” Jerusalem Post. 10.1.2022. https://www.jpost.com/conferences/article-728098

Risk of autoimmune diseases in patients with COVID-19: A retrospective cohort study. eClinicalMedicine. 10.1.2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9830133/

Rokottaa vaiko eikö rokottaa – siinä pulma. Lasse Lehtosen kolumni. Uusi Suomi. 8.1.2023.  https://puheenvuoro.uusisuomi.fi/lasselehtonen/rokottaa-vaiko-eiko-rokottaa-siina-pulma/

How serious is the threat of new Covid-19 variants? A surge in cases after China lifted restrictions has sparked concerns that a dangerous new strain could emerge. FT. 5.1.2023. https://www.ft.com/content/7623c671-6fc7-34e95-a177-594467a5d65e

SARS-CoV-2 Reinfection is Preceded by Unique Biomarkers and Related to Initial Infection Timing and Severity: an N3C RECOVER EHR-Based Cohort Study. medRxiv. 5.1.2023. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36656776/

COVID-19 inhibits spermatogenesis in the testes by inducing cellular senescence. Frontiers in Genetics. 5.1.2023. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgene.2022.981471/full

‘Disruptive’ science has declined — and no one knows why. The proportion of publications that send a field in a new direction has plummeted over the past half-century. Nature. 4.1.2023. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-04577-5

Virukset tarttuvat lentokoneessa. Maskia kannattaa käyttää koko lentomatkan ajan, kentällä ja koneessa. HS. 2.1.2023.  https://www.hs.fi/mielipide/art-2000009298876.html

Koronarokotukset vuonna 2023. Lausunto ja näyttöpohja. Työpaperi 11/2023. THL. https://www.julkari.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/146281/URN_ISBN_978-952-408-055-2.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

January 1-10

Most-read 2022: Why is Canada euthanising the poor? (There is an endlessly repeated witticism by the poet Anatole France that ‘the law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread.’ What France certainly did not foresee is that an entire country – and an ostentatiously progressive one at that – has decided to take his sarcasm at face value and to its natural conclusion.) Spectator. 31.12.2022. https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/most-read-2022-why-is-canada-euthanising-the-poor/

Covid-19: What is XXB.1.5 variant, accounts for over 40% cases in US?. Mint. 31.12.2022. https://www.livemint.com/news/world/covid19-what-is-xxb-1-5-variant-accounts-for-over-40-cases-in-us-11672466290618.html

Laskelmat Suomen ”huikeasta” yli­kuolleisuudesta eivät kestä tarkastelua. Kun väestö vanhenee kiihtyvää vauhtia, myös kuolemia tulee väistämättä enemmän. Tätä ei monissa kansainvälisissä vertailuissa huomioida, kirjoittaa HS:n tiedetoimittaja Annikka Mutanen. HS. 31.12.2022. https://www.hs.fi/paivanlehti/31122022/art-2000009298179.html

Hoitajamitoitus ratkeaa ulkomaalaisella työvoimalla, sanoo Mehiläisen toimitusjohtaja: Suomeen olisi tuhansia tulijoita. Terveysyritys Mehiläinen aikoo tuoda Suomeen ensi vuonna tuhat ulkomaista hoiva-avustajaa. Halukkaita olisi moninkertaisesti, mutta julkinen sektori ei ole halunnut palkata heitä. Suomen Kuvalehti. 30.12.2022. https://suomenkuvalehti.fi/kotimaa/hoitajamitoitus-ratkeaa-ulkomaalaisella-tyovoimalla-sanoo-mehilaisen-toimitusjohtaja-suomeen-olisi-tuhansia-tulijoita/

Intranasal inhibitor broadly blocks SARS-CoV-2 including recent highly immunoevasive Omicron subvariants (VirX). bioRxiv. 29.12.2022. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.12.28.474326v2

Suomalaisia kuolee ennätysmääriä, mutta kiinnostaako ketään? Juha Itkonen, Taloustaito. 29.12.2022. https://www.taloustaito.fi/blogit/juha-itkonen/suomalaisia-kuolee-ennatysmaaria-mutta-kiinnostaako-ketaan/#d01014ee

Kiinaa uhkaa valtava terveyskatastrofi. Syyllinen Kiinan koronalinjan epäonnistumiseen on maan kommunistinen puolue, mutta syyllisyyttään se ei tule koskaan tunnustamaan. Helsingin Sanomat. 28.12.2022. https://www.hs.fi/paivanlehti/28122022/art-2000009291484.html

Pääkirjoitus: Tuhansia suomalaisia on kuollut liikaa – riippumaton selvitys tarvitaan. Riippumaton selvitys ylikuolleisuudesta tarvitaan, vaikka se voikin olla poliittisesti kiusallista, kirjoittaa Juha Ristamäki. Iltalehti 27.12.2022. https://www.iltalehti.fi/paakirjoitus/a/464f2586-7cb9-4453-beef-4090a02aed0a

Mid- and Long-Term Atrio-Ventricular Functional Changes in Children after Recovery from COVID-19. J Clinical Medicine. 26.12.2022. https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/12/1/186

China estimates 250mn people have caught Covid in 20 days
Figures presented at closed-door meeting are in stark contrast to low official case count. Financial Times. 25.12.2022. https://www.ft.com/content/1fb6044a-3050-44d8-b715-80c18ca5c9ab

Tutkijat osoittivat simppelin, mutta tehokkaan tavan välttyä sairaalalta koronatartunnassa – Suomalaiskeuhkolääkäri komppaa. Nenän huuhteleminen pian koronatartunnan jälkeen laski sairaalaan päätymisen todennäköisyyttä merkittävästi, tutkijat huomasivat.Mediuutiset. 23.12.2022. https://www.mediuutiset.fi/uutiset/mu/cde291ce-2c63-4d43-adbe-457b512250d7?

On the role of different age groups in propagating Omicron epidemics in France. [children transmit COVID] medRxiv. 23.12.2022. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.12.22.22283867v1

UK cements 10-year-partnership with Moderna in major boost for vaccines and research. Moderna to invest in mRNA research and development (R&D) in the UK, and build a state-of-the-art vaccine manufacturing centre with the ability to produce up to 250 million vaccines a year. Gov.UK Press release. 22.12.2022. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-cements-10-year-partnership-with-moderna-in-major-boost-for-vaccines-and-research

What is going on with our immune cells after COVID-19 infection? Dr. Jeff Gilchrist. 22.12.2022. https://pingthread.com/thread/1605958004163084292

THL: Koronaan voi suhtautua kuin tavalliseen flunssaan. Terveyden ja hyvinvoinnin laitoksen mukaan koronavirusta koskeville erityisille ohjeille ei ole enää tarvetta. Helsingin Sanomat. 20.12.2023. https://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000009279490.html

Immune systems seriously weakened by COVID,Evolving research says COVID leaves many people at heightened risk for other infections. The Record. 20.12.2022. https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/2022/12/20/immune-systems-seriously-weakened-by-covid.html

Persistent post–COVID-19 smell loss is associated with immune cell infiltration and altered gene expression in olfactory epithelium. Science Transl Med. 21.12.2022.  https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.add0484

December 21-31

Comparing all-cause mortality between European countries and regions methodology.  ONS. 20.12.2022. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/healthandwellbeing/methodologies/comparingallcausemortalitybetweeneuropeancountriesandregionsmethodology

China reports first COVID deaths in weeks as official count questioned. Reuters. 19.12.2022. https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-officially-reports-first-covid-deaths-weeks-virus-wave-swells-2022-12-19/

Sweden’s Pandemic Experiment. Taylor&Francis. 19.12.2022. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/oa-edit/10.4324/9781003289364/sweden-pandemic-experiment-sigurd-bergmann-martin-lindstr%C3%B6m

Effectiveness of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Bivalent Vaccine. [Pfizer, Moderna, mRNA]. medRxiv. 19.12.2022. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.12.17.22283625v1.full

Long-term Follow-up After Critical COVID-19. REMAP-CAP Revisited.JAMA. 16.12.2022. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2799872?guestAccessKey=4d7b8594-4dce-4b39-abfa-63509e71e3c4&utm_source=silverchair&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=article_alert-jama&utm_content=olf&utm_term=121622

Onko koronakuolemia paljon, vai mihin täällä kuollaan? Suomen ylikuolleisuus on huikeaa, ja syyt ovat selvittämättä (Normaaliajan trendistä lasketut kuolemien kasvun odotusarvot vuosille 2020, 2021 ja 2022 olivat 420, 840 ja 1260, kun verrataan vuosiin juuri ennen pandemiaa. Kuolemat kuitenkin lisääntyivät 2400, 3800 ja 9200:lla, jos 2022 loppuvuosi jatkuu samanlaisena. Lukujen erotukset ovat laskennallisia ylikuolemia.). Lääkärilehti. 16.12.2022. https://worldaccordingtomatti.blog/wp-admin/post.php?post=2385&action=edit&calypsoify=1

Anna Rotkirch: Finlands covidoffer skulle inte ha ”dött i alla fall”. HBL. 16.12.2022. https://www.hbl.fi/artikel/dbbc03c1-cabb-4621-927e-47a505b75e08

Structural brain changes in post-acute COVID-19 patients with persistent olfactory dysfunction (Brain, Cognitive). Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology. 16.12.2022. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/acn3.51710

The missing workers who are never coming back.  U.S. labor force
Quarterly, Q4 2019 to Q3 2022. AXIOS. 16.12.2022. [3.2 million] https://www.axios.com/2022/12/16/the-missing-workers-who-are-never-coming-back

CLINICAL SUMMARY. Long COVID: average prevalence of 45%, with highest rate in Europe. A global meta-analysis of 194 studies finds a pooled prevalence of long COVID averaging 45% across hospitalised and nonhospitalised patients.
The pooled prevalence is highest in Europe, standing at 62.7%.
The most common self-reported symptoms are fatigue, breathlessness (dyspnoea), impaired sleep, and pain/discomfort. Univadis. 15.12.2022. https://www.univadis.com/viewarticle/long-covid-average-prevalence-of-45-with-highest-rate-in-europe-2

Select Subcommittee Releases Final Report, Culminating More Than Two Years Of Investigations Related To The Nation’s Response To The Coronavirus Crisis (The final report reveals new findings from several of the committee’s investigations—including findings related to the Trump Administration’s failure to recognize and prepare for the threat posed by the coronavirus in early 2020—and includes new information from the Select Subcommittee’s investigations into right-wing purveyors of coronavirus misinformation, and into the practices of for-profit nursing home chains and the toll on their vulnerable residents.). Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis. 15.12.2022.  https://coronavirus-democrats-oversight.house.gov/

Perspective: A Covid-19 Milestone Attained — A Correlate of Protection for Vaccines. NEJM. 15.12.2022. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2211314

SARS-CoV-2 infection and persistence in the human body and brain at autopsy (…we detected persistent SARS-CoV-2 RNA in multiple anatomic sites, including throughout the brain, as late as 230 days following symptom onset in one case. Despite extensive distribution of SARS-CoV-2 RNA throughout the body, we observed little evidence of inflammation or direct viral cytopathology outside the respiratory tract. Our data indicate that in some patients SARS-CoV-2 can cause systemic infection and persist in the body for months.). nature. 14.2.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-05542-y

SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome). NHS. 14.12.2023. https://covid19.public-inquiry.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/21173155/INQ000023081.pdf

Timo Vesikarin blogi. Koronatilanne on vakaa (mutta huono). NRN. NN.12.2022. https://nrnetwork.fi/koronatilanne-on-vakaa-mutta-huono/

Taysin päivystys Acutan tilanne on kriittinen. Potilaita ei saada eteenpäin täynnä oleville erikoissairaanhoidon vuodeosastoille, jotka taas eivät saa potilaita eteenpäin perussairaanhoidon vuodeosastoille. Lääkärilehti. 14.12.2022. https://www.laakarilehti.fi/terveydenhuolto/taysin-paivystys-acutan-tilanne-on-kriittinen/?public=67e24e69e12e48d35bbd04cfab9043ad

SARS-CoV-2 infection and persistence in the human body and brain at autopsy (…we detected persistent SARS-CoV-2 RNA in multiple anatomic sites, including throughout the brain, as late as 230 days following symptom onset in one case. Despite extensive distribution of SARS-CoV-2 RNA throughout the body, we observed little evidence of inflammation or direct viral cytopathology outside the respiratory tract. Our data indicate that in some patients SARS-CoV-2 can cause systemic infection and persist in the body for months.). nature. 14.12.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-05542-y

As viral infections skyrocket, masks are still a tried-and-true way to help keep yourself and others safe. Conversation. 14.12.2022. https://theconversation.com/as-viral-infections-skyrocket-masks-are-still-a-tried-and-true-way-to-help-keep-yourself-and-others-safe-195788

The WHO estimates of excess mortality associated with the COVID-19 pandemic [Karlinsky]. nature. 14.12.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-05522-2

People who skipped their COVID vaccine are at higher risk of traffic accidents, according to a new study. Fortune Well. 13.12.2022. https://fortune.com/well/2022/12/13/covid-unvaccinated-greater-risk-car-crash-traffic-accident-new-study-says-canada-government-records-pfizer-moderna/

Independent Expert Panel on effective ways of investing in health publishes opinion on the impact of the post-COVID-19 condition (long COVID) on health systems. 13.12.2022. https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/sante/newsletter-archives/42544

Estimates of excess mortality for the five Nordic countries during the COVID-19 pandemic 2020-2021 [Coclusions: We document substantial heterogeneity and uncertainty in estimates of excess mortality. All estimates should be taken with caution in their interpretation as they miss detailed account of demographics, such as changes in the age group populations over the study period.]. Int J Epidemiol. 13.12.2022. https://academic.oup.com/ije/article/51/6/1722/6798817?login=false

6% of Irish adults have self-reported symptoms of long Covid for over three months. Irish Examiner. 12.12.2022. https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41026751.html

Helsinki avasi uudelleen koronaosaston Laakson sairaalaan. Kaksi koronaosastoa on palautettu normaalikäyttöön ja Herttoniemen varasairaala pysyy kiinni. Koronapotilaiden hoidossa käytetty Herttoniemen varasairaala sulki ovensa toukokuussa.Helsingin Sanomat 13.12.2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221213043620/https://www.hs.fi/haku/?query=Marja+Salomaa+HS

Covid Depression Is Real. Here’s What You Need to Know. The risk of developing symptoms of depression remains high up to a year after you’ve recovered. NYTimes. 11.12.2022. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/12/well/long-covid-depression-symptoms-treatment.html

Americans urged to wear face masks indoors as ’tripledemic’ hits millions
Americans across the country have been asked to wear face masks in some indoor settings over fears of a ’tripledemic.’ Low immunity and a lack of resources is believed to be behind the problems. Mirror. 11.12.2022. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/us-news/americans-urged-wear-face-masks-28706979

Ylikuolleisuus ja soten perverssit kannustimet. Lasse Lehtosen blogi. 11.12.2022. https://puheenvuoro.uusisuomi.fi/lasselehtonen/ylikuolleisuus-ja-soten-perverssit-kannustimet/

December 11-20

Pitkäkestoinen koronavirustauti on merkittävä kansanterveysongelma. Pienikin prosenttiosuus koronaviruksen sairastaneista tai väestöstä tarkoittaa vähintään kymmeniätuhansia suomalaisia (Pirta Hotulainen). Helsingin Sanomat. 9.12.2022. https://www.hs.fi/mielipide/art-2000009251065.html

Regeringen håller pressträff om covid-19. Expressen. 9.12.2022. https://www.expressen.se/nyheter/regeringen-haller-presstraff-om-covid-19/

Something in the Air. Germicidal UV: a tradeoff between disinfection and indoor smog. The answer will vary for different times and locations, and here we illustrate how to think about it. Jose-Luis Jimenez. 9.12.2022. https://jljcolorado.substack.com/p/germicidal-uv-a-tradeoff-between?sd=pf

Korona voi heikentää suojaa muita tauteja vastaan. Immuunijärjestelmä on infektion jälkeen heikentyneessä tilassa 3–6 kuukautta. Verkkouutiset 8.12.2022. https://www.verkkouutiset.fi/a/korona-voi-heikentaa-suojaa-muita-tauteja-vastaan/#406d5f9e

Getting China’s old people vaccinated has been slow work. It needs to speed up, fast. Economist. 8.12.2022. https://www.economist.com/china/2022/12/08/getting-chinas-old-people-vaccinated-has-been-slow-work

The number of new disability benefit claimants has doubled in a year.
The number of working-age people newly awarded disability benefits doubled between July 2021 and July 2022. This report investigates that increase. [UK] IFS. 7.12.022. https://ifs.org.uk/publications/number-new-disability-benefit-claimants-has-doubled-year.

Children at risk of strep A in England could be given preventive antibiotics. ‘Rare’ blanket measure may be used at primary schools after at least nine UK deaths from bacterial infection. Guardian. 6.12.2022. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/dec/06/children-risk-strep-a-england-preventive-antibiotics

Models predict massive wave of disease and death if China lifts ‘zero COVID’ policy. Country’s severe approach to pandemic is inflaming the populace, but lifting it carries huge risks. Science 6.12.2022. https://www.science.org/content/article/models-predict-massive-wave-disease-and-death-if-china-lifts-zero-covid-policy

FXR inhibition may protect from SARS-CoV-2 infection by reducing ACE2.. nature. 5.12.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-05594-0

Risk of Type 1 Diabetes in Children is Not Increased after SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Nationwide Prospective Study in Denmark. medRxiv. 5.12.2022.  https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.12.05.22283089v1

Neurologi Risto O. Roine on long covid -asiantuntija: ”Positiivista on se, että hoidolla ja kuntoutuksella potilas lähes aina edistyy”. Seura. 4.12.2022. https://seura.fi/viihde/julkkikset/neurologi-risto-o-roine-on-long-covid-asiantuntija/

Modeling the Impact of Nonpharmaceutical Interventions on COVID-19 Transmission in K-12 Schools (We find that masks and reducing contacts can greatly reduce new infections among students. Weekly screening tests also have a positive impact on disease mitigation. While self-quarantining symptomatic infections and school closures are effective measures for decreasing semester-end infections, they increase absenteeism. The model assesses different nonpharmaceutical interventions applied to K-12 schools during the pandemic and estimates their impact on COVID-19 under varying assumptions. The results are presented using parameter estimates associated with the Omicron variant, but the model is general and can be applied to different parameters. In addition, although we specify our targeted population group as K-12 schools, the conceptual model can be easily extended to implement other population groups (e.g., nursing homes or prisons) if we have a good quantitative understanding of their social contact patterns.). SMDM. 3.12.2022. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/23814683221140866

The Tragedy of Avoidable Covid Deaths. Comprehensive new data show just how many Americans died after vaccines became widely available — mostly in less-vaccinated states. Bloomberg. 3.12.2022. https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2022-12-03/low-us-covid-vaccine-rates-led-to-high-death-rates-during-delta-omicron?leadSource=uverify%20wall

Heart attack deaths spike around winter holidays, expert group warns
Reducing holiday stress and taking care of your body year-round can help lower your risk. Today. 2.12.2022. https://www.today.com/health/news/heart-attack-deaths-holidays-rcna59779

Single-cell multiomics revealed the dynamics of antigen presentation, immune response and T cell activation in the COVID-19 positive and recovered individuals. Frontiers in immunology. 2.12.2022. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2022.1034159/full

Model Evaluation of Secondary Chemistry due to Disinfection of Indoor Air with Germicidal Ultraviolet Lamps. Environ Sci Technol. 2.12,2022. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.estlett.2c00599

Kasvosuojista uutta tietoa – laaja meta-analyysi valmistui
Tutkimusaineistossa mukana lähes 400 000 henkilöä eri puolilta maailmaa.. Lääkärilehti. 2.12.2022. https://www.laakarilehti.fi/terveydenhuolto/kasvosuojista-uutta-tietoa-laaja-meta-analyysi-valmistui/?public=2c806461943bc9cb563331a3dc00d75c

Experimental Vaccines Offer Long-term Protection Against Severe COVID (“With COVID-19, young infants are one of the most vulnerable pediatric populations. This fall, we are seeing a sharp rise in hospitalizations due to respiratory virus disease in infants as the result of a confluence of SARS-CoV-2, flu, and RSV circulation,” “We should take every opportunity to provide safe and effective vaccine immunity to our youngest patients, including considering COVID-19 vaccination earlier than the currently recommended 6 months of age.” “This study emphasizes the need to get human infants immunized against SARS-CoV-2 as much as possible, as the benefits are clear and long-lasting”). Weill Cornell Medicine. 1.12.2022. https://news.weill.cornell.edu/news/2022/12/experimental-vaccines-offer-long-term-protection-against-severe-covid

Data-driven identification of post-acute SARS-CoV-2 infection subphenotypes. nature medicine. 1.12.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-022-02116-3

A new RCT of masks for Covid-19 is making heads spin. Critical appraisal is tough, particularly if you’ve already made up your mind Munro Report. 1.12.2022. [Hanna M. Ollila, Markku Partinen, Jukka Koskela, John Borghi, Riikka Savolainen, Anna Rotkirch, Liisa T. Laine] Face masks to prevent transmission of respiratory infections: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on face mask use [support the use of face masks particularly in a community setting and for adults]. PLOS ONE. 1.12.2022. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0271517

Kukaan ei noudata STM:n rokotelinjausta. Tällä hetkellä myös ne rokotteet, joita yksityiset toimijat voisivat pistää, ovat kuntien takana.Lääkärilehti. 1.12.2022. https://www.laakarilehti.fi/terveydenhuolto/kukaan-ei-noudata-stm-n-rokotelinjausta/

Long Covid may be ‘the next public health disaster’ — with a $3.7 trillion economic impact rivaling the Great Recession. CNBC. 1.12.2022. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/11/30/why-long-covid-could-be-the-next-public-health-disaster.html

 

December 1-10

Study of Excipients in Delayed Skin Reactions to mRNA Vaccines: Positive Delayed Intradermal Reactions to Polyethylene Glycol Provide New Insights for COVID-19 Arm (Immediate and delayed reactions to intradermal testing (IDT) are frequently detected in patients with delayed large local reactions (DLLR). The observation of positive delayed intradermal reactions to polyethylene glycol (PEG) disclosed only in patients with DLLR reinforces a possible role of PEG in the development of these reactions. Skin testing of other excipients is of little importance in clinical practice.). Vaccines. 30.11.2022. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/10/12/2048#:~:text=Immediate%20and%20delayed,in%20clinical%20practice

COVID hospitalization rates in babies as bad as for seniors amid Omicron wave, study shows. Yahoo News. 30.11.2022. https://news.yahoo.com/covid-hospitalization-rates-babies-bad-140059141.html?guccounter=1

Taloustieteen professori Antti Ripatti: Pitkittyneen koronan kustannukset nousevat miljardeihin euroihin. ”En ymmärrä miksi rokottamisen kustannuksista tehdään iso ongelma, kun me voisimme keskittyä epidemian laantumiseen”, Ripatti toteaa. Mediuutiset. 30.11.2022. https://www.mediuutiset.fi/uutiset/taloustieteen-professori-antti-ripatti-pitkittyneen-koronan-kustannukset-nousevat-miljardeihin-euroihin/9919a3ea-2cac-4438-99d9-566c90b5cf3e

Current understanding of T cell immunity against SARS-CoV-2 (compared to antibodies, T cell responses are generally less affected by the mutations of SARS-CoV-2 variants.). BMC. 29.11.2022. https://inflammregen.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s41232-022-00242-6

Disruption in seasonality, patient characteristics and disparities of respiratory syncytial virus infection among young children in the US during and before the COVID-19 pandemic: 2010-2022. medRxiv. 29.11.2022. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.11.29.22282887v1

International Conference ME/CFS and Long COVID – Treatment and Rehabilitation Conference on 7th-8th October 2022, reports (en, fr) (29th Nov 2022).  Suomen lääketieteellinen ME/CFS yhdistys ry. 29.11.2022. https://slme.fi/en/international-conference-me-cfs-and-long-covid-treatment-and-rehabilitation-conference-on-7th-8th-october-2022-reports-en-fr-29th-nov-2022/

Medical Masks Versus N95 Respirators for Preventing COVID-19 Among Health Care Workers, Annals of Internal Medicine. 29.11.2022. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M22-1966

Tuberculosis in individuals who recovered from COVID-19: A systematic review of case reports (Tuberculosis after recovering from COVID-19 is becoming more common, potentially leading to a TB outbreak in the post-COVID-19 era. The immunosuppressive nature of the disease and its treatment modalities may contribute to post COVID-19 TB. Thus, we recommend a further study with a large sample size. Furthermore, we recommend feasibility studies to assess and treat latent TB in COVID-19 patients residing in TB endemic counties since treatment of latent TB is done only in TB non-endemic countries.) PLoS One. 28.11.2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9704624/

Endemicity Is Not a Victory: The Unmitigated Downside Risks of Widespread SARS-CoV-2 Transmission (Our findings suggest large increases in virulence for SARS-CoV-2 would result in minimal loss of transmissibility, implying that the IFR may vary freely under neutral evolutionary drift. We use an SEIRS model framework to examine the effect of hypothetical changes in the IFR on steady-state death tolls under COVID-19 endemicity. Our modeling suggests that endemic SARS-CoV-2 implies vast transmission resulting in yearly US COVID-19 death tolls numbering in the hundreds of thousands under many plausible scenarios, with even modest increases in the IFR leading to unsustainable mortality burdens. Our findings highlight the importance of enacting a concerted strategy and continued development of biomedical interventions to suppress SARS-CoV-2 transmission and slow its evolution.). MDPI Covid. 28.11.2022. https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8112/2/12/121

Keski-ikää lähestyvien naisten kuolemat lisääntyneet – koronatapaukset eivät selitä kuolleisuusluvuissa havaittua kasvua. Tiukat koronarajoitukset suojasivat aluksi ikäihmisiä, mutta omikron- ja delta-muunnokset levisivät nopeasti maskeista ja käsidesistä huolimatta. Viime vuoden loppupuolella alkanut ylikuolleisuus näkyy yli 75-vuotiaissa, muttei nuoremmissa ikäluokissa joitain poikkeuksia lukuun ottamatta. Selitykset saadaan vasta, kun kuolinsyytilastot valmistuvat, mutta THL:n tutkimusprofessori Mika Gessler kertoo ennakkoarvioita. Turun Sanomat. 27.11.2022.  https://www.ts.fi/uutiset/5834558

Lasse Lehtoselta täystyrmäys Mika Salmisen puheille: ”Suomessa on ollut tänä vuonna merkittävää yli­kuolleisuutta, ja toden­näköisin syy sille on korona”
THL:n Mika Salminen kyseenalaisti koronakuolintilastojen luotettavuuden keskustan seminaarissa. ilta=sanomat. 27.11.2022. https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000009229995.html

THL:n Mika Salminen: Tilastot antavat väärän kuvan korona­kuolleisuudesta
THL:n hyvinvointivaikuttajat-osaston johtajan Mika Salmisen mukaan Suomen koronakuolleisuus on tosiasiassa EU:n keskitasolla. Suomen koronalukujen oikeellisuus on herättänyt keskustelua aikaisemminkin. ilta=sanomat.27.11.2022. https://www.is.fi/politiikka/art-2000009229475.html

Pas de purificateur d’air pour un prof, malgré un billet du médecin
En pleine pandémie, un enseignant immunosupprimé doit se débattre pour enseigner en classe. Le Journal de Quebec. 27.11.2022. https://www.journaldequebec.com/2022/08/30/pas-de-purificateur-dair-pour-un-prof-malgre-un-billet-du-medecin

Increasing ventilation reduces SARS-CoV-2 airborne transmission in schools: a retrospective cohort study in Italy’s Marche region. Frontiers Public Health. 25.11.2022. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.1087087/abstract#.Y44ldlUiSw0.twitter

Toinenkin korona kuormittaa merkittävästi terveydenhuoltoa
Amerikkalaistutkimuksen mukaan toinen infektio on usein lievempi, silti komplikaatioita on enemmän niillä, jotka ovat sairastaneet koronan kahdesti verrattuna kerran sairastaneisiin.. Lääkäriulehti. 25.11.2022.  https://www.laakarilehti.fi/tieteessa/toinenkin-korona-kuormittaa-merkittavasti-terveydenhuoltoa/

Ilmansaasteet aiheuttavat Euroopassa yli 200 000 kuolemaa vuosittain, arvioi tuore raportti
Kuolemantapausten määrä on kuitenkin laskenut 45 prosenttia vuodesta 2005. Suurin hiukkasten lähde on lämmitys. Helsingin Sanomat. 24.11.2022. https://www.hs.fi/tiede/art-2000009220857.html

Lifting Universal Masking in Schools — Covid-19 Incidence among Students and Staff. NEJM. 24.11.2022. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2211029

WHO’s departing chief scientist regrets errors in debate over whether SARS-CoV-2 spreads through air. Soumya Swaminathan says the agency should have acknowledged aerosol transmission “much earlier” but is proud of work on vaccine equity. Science. 23.11.2022. https://www.science.org/content/article/who-s-departing-chief-scientist-regrets-errors-debate-over-whether-sars-cov-2-spreads

‘Immunity debt’ is a misguided and dangerous concept. There is no evidence that an individual is worse off for having avoided earlier infection (The immune debt theory seems to intuitivelöy explain the current wave of respitratory illness. It is attractive to those who would downplay disease in children, and those who advocate for infection over vaccination. It provides a post-hoc justification for opposing measures such as masking, even though evidence suggests that such measures curbed Covid and virtyually banished flu. / Immunity debt also plays to the idea that the ebb and flow of childhood illnesses are best left to nature – until one remembers that the entire childhood vaccination schedule is about keeping the worst of nature at bay.) Financial Times. 23.11.2022. https://www.ft.com/content/0640004d-cc15-481e-90ce-572328305798

A multinational Delphi consensus to end the COVID-19 public health threat. narure. 22.11.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-05398-2

THL:n kaksoisrooli vaan jatkuu. Timo Vesikariin blogi. NRN. 22.11.2022.

Intranasal COVID-19 Vaccine Disappointing in First-in-Human Trial. JAMA 22.11.2022. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2798745

COVID-19 Is Linked to Detectable Brain Changes, Study Shows. TIME . 21.11.2022. https://time.com/6235600/covid-19-brain-changes-linked/

Excess mortality in England. Office for Health Improvement and Disparities. 21.10.2022 (latest]. https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiYmUwNmFhMjYtNGZhYS00NDk2LWFlMTAtOTg0OGNhNmFiNGM0IiwidCI6ImVlNGUxNDk5LTRhMzUtNGIyZS1hZDQ3LTVmM2NmOWRlODY2NiIsImMiOjh9

MRI Reveals Significant Brain Abnormalities Post-COVID. Summary: Neuroimaging study reveals significant brain changes in areas associated with language comprehension, cognition, and circadian rhythm control six months after COVID-19 infection. NeurologyNeuroscience·. 21.11.2022. https://neurosciencenews.com/post-covid-brain-21904/

November 21-30

Asymptomatic SARS-COV-2 infection in children’s tonsils. Brazilian J Otorhinolaryngology. Nov 2022. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1808869422001392

Relation between PM2.5 pollution and Covid-19 mortality in Western Europe for the 2020–2022 period. Sci Tot Environ. 20.11.2022. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969722046770

Enhanced replication of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2 in human forebrain and midbrain organoids. nature. 20.11.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41392-022-01241-2

Adapt or die: how the pandemic made the shift from EBM to EBM+ more urgent. BMJ Evidence Based Medicine [EBM]. 19.11.2022. https://ebm.bmj.com/content/27/5/253

COVID-19 and Excess All-Cause Mortality in the US and 20 Comparison Countries, June 2021-March 2022 (Finland at the top). JAMA. 18.11.2022. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2798990

Association of National Football League Fan Attendance With County-Level COVID-19 Incidence in the 2020-2021 Season, JAMA. 18.11.2022. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2798665

Alle ned til 18 år får tilbud om booster-vaksine. Ved å tilby vaksine til flere kan noe av smitten stanses i vinter, skriver helsedepartementet. VG Nyheter. 18.11.2022. https://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/i/8JpVLE/alle-ned-til-18-aar-faar-tilbud-om-booster-vaksine

Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the UK. Gov.UK.17.11.2022 [latest update] https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/cases?areaType=nation&areaName=England

Improved Neutralization of Omicron BA.4/5, BA.4.6, BA.2.75.2, BQ.1.1, and XBB.1 with Bivalent BA.4/5 Vaccine. bioRxiv. 17.11.2022. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.11.17.516898v1

COVID-19 Mortality by wave. Analysis of COVID-19 Mortality by wave, with a focus on deaths occurring during the Omicron wave. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 16.11.2022. https://www.abs.gov.au/articles/covid-19-mortality-wave

Fact Check-No evidence 40% of COVID-19 deaths in Finland were fabricated. Reuters. 16.11.2022. https://www.reuters.com/article/factcheck-deaths-finland-idUSL1N32C2IR

Koronapandemia ja kollegiaalisuus. Covid-19-pandemia on asettanut yhteiskunnat ja lääkärit monella tavalla aiemmasta poikkeaviin tilanteisiin. Pandemiaa osattiin odottaa, mutta siihen ei ehkä kuitenkaan ollut varauduttu kovin hyvin, ainakaan henkisesti. Pandemiasta on vielä paljon opittavaa. Toivottavasti tätä työtä jaksetaan nöyränä kaikissa organisaatioissa tehdä. Lääkäriliitto. 15.11.2022. https://www.laakariliitto.fi/uutiskirjeet/uutiskirjeuutiset/koronapandemia-ja-kollegiaalisuus/

Risk for newly diagnosed diabetes after COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Medicine. 15.11.2022. https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-022-02656-y

Moderna says new booster increases protection from omicron subvariants
The latest results from the bivalent booster are encouraging even as uptake remains low. Washington Post. 14.11.2022. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/11/14/moderna-booster-shot/

Korona leviää edelleen vanhusten osastoilla: ”Jostain se pääsisi livahtamaan, vaikka he olisivat lukkojen takana”, sanoo johtajalääkäri
Koronaepidemiat kuormittavat vanhustenosastoja edelleen, ja osa tartunnan saaneista kuolee. Asiantuntijat korostavat, että vanhuksen viimeiset voimat voisi viedä yhtä lailla influenssa-, noro- tai rinovirus.. Yle Uutiset. 12.11.2022. https://yle.fi/a/3-12673129

Association between vitamin D supplementation and COVID-19 infection and mortality. Scientifric Reports, 12.11.2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9653496/

Health, socioeconomic and genetic predictors of COVID-19 vaccination uptake: a nationwide machine-learning study. medRxiv. 11.11.2022. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.11.11.22282213v1

Koronarokotteista syntyi nuiva sopu. Koronarokotteita ruvetaan jakamaan nykyistä laajemmalle joukolle. Se on järkevää, vaikka lisärokotteista ei välttämättä ole kovin suurta hyötyä. Helsingin Sanomat. 11.11.2022. https://www.hs.fi/paakirjoitukset/art-2000009192538.html?share=b910a4013b9a34686a68ec17cbfaebab

 

November 11-20

Getting COVID-19 Multiple Times Is Risky for Your Health. Time. 10.11.2022. https://time.com/6232103/covid-19-reinfections-effects/

Half a million more people are out of the labour force because of long-term sickness. Between June and August 2022, around 2.5 million people reported long-term sickness as the main reason for economic inactivity, up from around 2 million in 2019. ONS. 10.11.2022. https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peoplenotinwork/economicinactivity/articles/halfamillionmorepeopleareoutofthelabourforcebecauseoflongtermsickness/2022-11-10

Paxlovid-koronaviruslääke. Tällä sivulla voit arvioida, kuulutko Paxlovid-lääkehoidon piiriin ja miten sinun tulee menetellä saadaksesi lääkkeen. HUS.https://www.hus.fi/ajankohtaista/koronavirus-covid-19/paxlovid-koronaviruslaake

Repeat COVID-19 infections increase risk of organ failure, death. (Researchers recommend masks, vaccines, vigilance to prevent reinfection. / “During the past few months, there’s been an air of invincibility among people who have had COVID-19 or their vaccinations and boosters, and especially among people who have had an infection and also received vaccines; some people started to referring to these individuals as having a sort of superimmunity to the virus,” said senior author Ziyad Al-Aly, MD, a clinical epidemiologist at the School of Medicine. “Without ambiguity, our research showed that getting an infection a second, third or fourth time contributes to additional health risks in the acute phase, meaning the first 30 days after infection, and in the months beyond, meaning the long COVID phase.” / Additionally, the study indicated that the risk seems to increase with each infection. “This means that even if you’ve had two COVID-19 infections, it’s better to avoid a third, and if you’ve had three infections, it’s best to avoid the fourth.” Nov. 10 in Nature Medicine). Washington University School of Medicine in St.Louis. 10.11.2022. https://medicine.wustl.edu/news/repeat-covid-19-infections-increase-risk-of-organ-failure-death/

Repeat COVID is riskier than first infection, study finds. Reuters. 10.11.2022. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/repeat-covid-is-riskier-than-first-infection-study-finds-2022-11-10/

Modeling COVID-19 Mortality Across 44 Countries: Face Covering May Reduce Deaths (FFP2, N95, mask, surgical). AJPM. 10.11.2022. https://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(21)00557-2/fulltext#%20

Acute and postacute sequelae associated with SARS-CoV-2 reinfection. (Ziyad Al-Aly. In sum, in this study of 5,819,264 individuals, we provide evidence that reinfection contributes to additional health risks beyond those incurred in the first infection including all-cause mortality, hospitalization and sequelae in a broad array of organ systems. The risks were evident in the acute and postacute phases of reinfection. The evidence suggests that for people who already had a first infection, prevention of a second infection may protect from additional health risks. Prevention of infection and reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 should continue to be the goal of public health policy.) Natutre Medicine [ Long COVID ]. 10.11.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-022-02051-3

Myocarditis after BNT162b2 Vaccination in Israeli Adolescents. NEJM. 10.11.2022. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2207270

Outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 Reinfection. Research Square. 9.11.2022. https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-1749502/v1

Long-lasting Symptoms After an Acute COVID-19 Infection and Factors Associated With Their Resolution. JAMA. 9.11.2022. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2798224

Korona näyttää suuntaavan kausi-infektioksi, mutta tämä vuosi on vilauttanut uusia uhkia. Apulaisprofessori Tarja Sironen painottaa tutkimuksen ja seurannan merkitystä varautumisessa uhkiin, joista apinarokko ja päästäisten paramyksovirus ovat jo käväisseet kilauttamassa hälytyskelloa. Yle Uutiset. 8.11.2022. https://yle.fi/a/3-12668289

Siperian sulavasta ikiroudasta herää ”zombieviruksia” – Voivat olla vakava uhka myös ihmisille.  Viime vuosina on löytynyt suuri määrä jättiviruksia, jotka voivat aiheuttaa tuntemattomia sairauksia. Mecdiuutiset. 8.11.2022. https://www.mediuutiset.fi/uutiset/mu/7efd5b5f-4bae-4b59-a029-2e9e2629a500?

What If COVID Reinfections Wear Down Our Immunity? Dr. Anthony Leonardi is a lightning rod for debate. If he’s right, this pandemic poses a greater threat than widely assumed. The TYEE. 7.11.2022. https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2022/11/07/COVID-Reinfections-And-Immunity/

Kommentti: THL, nyt sala­liitto­höpinät sikseen ja perusteellisia vastauksia esiin. Autoa pitää ajaa niin, ettei edes anna poliisille mahdollisuutta antaa sakkoja. Samalla periaatteella pitäisi THL:nkin toimia, kirjoittaa Petri Seppä (Kiurun selvityspyyntö). ilta=sanomat. 7.11.2022. https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000009183393.html

Suomessa riskiryhmille suunnatun koronalääkkeen käyttö on osoittautunut monimutkaiseksi – uusia lääkkeitä odotetaan
Rajatuille riskiryhmille tarkoitetun koronälääke Paxlovidin käyttö on osoittautunut monimutkaiseksi. Esimerkiksi HUSin alueella lääkettä on jaettu arviolta 400 potilaalle. YLE-Uutiset 6.11.2022. https://yle.fi/a/74-20003583

High vaccine effectiveness against severe COVID-19 in the elderly in Finland before and after the emergence of Omicron (The cohort included 896,220 individuals. Comirnaty (BioNTech/Pfizer) VE against COVID-19-related hospitalization was 93% (95% CI 89–95%) and 85% (95% CI 82–87%) 14–90 and 91–180 days after the second dose; VE increased to 95% (95% CI 94–96%) 14–60 days after the third dose. VE of other homologous and heterologous three dose series was similar. Protection against severe COVID-19 requiring ICU treatment was even better. Since January 1, 2022, Comirnaty VE was 98% (95% CI 92–99%) and 92% (95% CI 87–95%) 14–90 and 91–180 days after the second and 98% (95% CI 95–99%) 14–60 days after the third dose. MJ Note: Somehow Finland exhibited huge Covid and excess mortality in the Omicron year of 2022 ). BMC Infectious Diseases. 5.11.2022. https://bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12879-022-07814-4

Paxlovid and Long Covid. A new study sheds light on a bonus benefit after the acute phase. Ground truths. 6.11.2022. https://erictopol.substack.com/p/paxlovid-and-long-covid

Effects of Different Mask Policies in 2020: A Comparative Analysis. medRxiv. 5.11.2022. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.11.04.22281935v1.full

COVID-19 Mortality Working Group: Another month of high excess mortality in July 2022 (Australia). Actuaries Digital. 4.11.2022.  https://www.actuaries.digital/2022/11/04/covid-19-mortality-working-group-another-month-of-high-excess-mortality-in-july-2022/

Antibody-Activated Endothelial Cells Increase the Risk of Blood Clots with Covid-19. Forbes. 4.11.2022. https://www.forbes.com/sites/williamhaseltine/2022/03/04/antibody-activated-endothelial-cells-increase-the-risk-of-blood-clots-with-covid-19/?sh=6cc13ce419e0

A multinational Delphi consensus to end the COVID-19 public health threat (The top three recommendations focus on whole-of-society1 action and maintaining, or in some cases returning, to a vaccines-plus approach2. First, to avoid the inefficiency and ineffectiveness of fragmented efforts, pandemic preparedness and response should adopt a whole-of-society strategy that includes multiple disciplines, sectors and actors. Second, going forward, whole-of-government approaches (such as interministry coordination) can identify, review and address resilience in health systems to make them more responsive to people’s needs. Third, all countries should adopt a vaccines-plus approach, which includes a combination of COVID-19 vaccination, other prevention measures, treatment and financial incentives such as support measures. Infection rates tend to increase when governments discontinue social measures, including non-pharmaceutical interventions, regardless of the level of vaccination).  nature. 3.11.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-05398-2

Excess all-cause mortality in the USA and Europe during the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 and 2021.  Scientific Reports. 3.11.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-21844-7

‘Immunity debt’ is a misguided and dangerous concept. There is no evidence that an individual is worse off for having avoided earlier infection. Financial Times. 3.11.2022. https://www.ft.com/content/0640004d-cc15-481e-90ce-572328305798

SARS-ANI VIS. A Global Open Access Dataset of Reported SARS-CoV-2 Events in Animals. Complexity Science Hub, Vienna. 3.11.2022. https://vis.csh.ac.at/sars-ani/

Israeli long COVID study: 1 in 3 people fail to regain regular health months later. Spotlighting the ‘immense and evolving’ impact of COVID on human health, large study by health fund points to prevalence of symptoms including memory disturbances and muscle pain. The Times of Israel. 3.11.2022.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-long-covid-study-1-in-3-people-fail-to-regain-regular-health-months-later/

Terveydenhuollon ammattilaisilta hurja epäilys: Haluaako THL sairastuttaa suomalaiset koronaan? IS:n tietojen mukaan moni asiantuntija epäilee, että THL:ssä hybridi-immuniteettitutkimus ja rokotussuositus ovat sekoittuneet keskenään ja että hybridi-immuniteettitutkimus sanelee tahdin, kun rokotussuosituksia ei laajenneta muun maailman tavoin.ilta=sanomat. 3.11.2022. https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000009176414.html

 

Kodeissa ja sairaalassa tehty tutkimus osoittaa: ilmahygieniasta huolehtiminen kannattaa koronatartuntojen ehkäisemiseksi. HUSin, Helsingin yliopiston, Ilmatieteen laitoksen ja Työterveyslaitoksen monitieteellisissä tutkimuksissa on selvitetty SARS-CoV-2 koronaviruksen esiintymistä koti- ja sairaalaympäristössä. HUS. 4.11.2022. https://www.hus.fi/ajankohtaista/kodeissa-ja-sairaalassa-tehty-tutkimus-osoittaa-ilmahygieniasta-huolehtiminen

 

If You’ve Had Covid, Watch Out for Stroke Symptoms. Several studies now show an elevated risk of heart problems during and after an infection with SARS-CoV-2. Bloomberg. 3.11.2022. https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2022-11-03/had-covid-watch-out-for-stroke-symptoms-blood-clots-heart-attacks?leadSource=uverify%20wall

Paxlovid® (nirmatrelviiri ja ritonaviiri) erityisryhmien koronavirusinfektion varhaisessa hoidossa.
Paxlovid®-lääkitys on tehokas mahdollisimman varhain COVID-19-oireiden alun jälkeen aloitettuna ja potilaille, joilla on merkittävä vaikean koronavirustaudin riski. Pirkanmaan hyvinvointialue. 2.11.2022. https://www.pirha.fi/paxlovid-koronavirusinfektion-hoidossa

Jari Litmasen terveys romahti – ”Vajosin täysin pohjalle”. Jalkapallolegenda Jari Litmanen on kärsinyt pitkittyneen koronan oireista yli kaksi vuotta. Rakkain harrastuskin jäi. Ilta=sanomat. 2.11.2022. https://www.is.fi/jalkapallo/art-2000009172164.html

COVID-19 and diabetes — where are we now?  Nature Metabolism. 1.11.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s42255-022-00691-w#Tab1

SARS-CoV-2 infects neurons and induces neuroinflammation in a non-human primate model of COVID-19 (In macaques, SARS-CoV-2 is found in olfactory brain areas at 7 days post infection / Neurons are initially the primary target of SARS-CoV-2 productive infection / Neurocovid is accompanied by robust neuroinflammation and vascular disruption / SARS-CoV-2 brain pathology is worsened by aging and diabetes in infected monkeys) Cell Reports. 1.11.2022. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211124722014346

November 1-10

Long-COVID in patients with a history of mild or asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection: a Nationwide Cohort Study. Taylor & Francis Online. 31.10.2022. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02813432.2022.2139480

Long Covid is affecting women more than men, national survey finds. CNBC. 31.10.2022. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/31/long-covid-is-affecting-women-more-than-men-federal-survey-finds.html

Flu season in the US hasn’t been this bad this early in more than a decade. Now is the time to get a flu shot. CNN Health. 28.10.2022. https://edition.cnn.com/2022/10/28/health/flu-season-worse-than-normal?

Influenza vaccine: morning administering improves outcomes in older adults, women. Univadis. 28.10.2022. https://www.univadis.com/viewarticle/influenza-vaccine-morning-administering-improves-outcomes-in-older-adults-women-eda8456a-1552-36d4-abc7-a205edca80ee?utm_content=5031002&sso=true&utm_medium=email&utm_term=&ecd=mkm_ret_221029_unibow_BOWGLOBAL_5031002&uac=12477BN&utm_source=&utm_campaign=best%20of%20the%20week

Head of Turkish Medical Association is arrested after calling for investigation of army. BMJ. 27.10.2022. https://www.bmj.com/content/379/bmj.o2587?

HS:n grafiikat kertovat tiedot korona­virus­tilanteesta. HS:n grafiikat kertovat tiedot tartunnoista, sairaalahoidossa olevista ja kuolleista niin Suomessa kuin maailmalla. Helsingin Sanomat 27.10.2022 (päivittyvä).  https://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000007983110.html

Suomessa saattaa olla jo yli 100 000 pitkäkestoiseen koronaan sairastunutta, tässä ovat yleisimmät oireet: Pitkäkestoiseen covid-19-tautiin sairastuu enemmän ihmisiä kuin siitä toipuu. Siitä huolimatta diagnoosin saaminen on yhä liian vaikeata. Vaikka suurin osa paranee taudista ajan mittaan, moni joutuu palaamaan työelämään vajaakykyisenä, pieni osa menettää työkykynsä kokonaan.Aamulehti. 27.10.2022. https://www.aamulehti.fi/koronavirus/art-2000009139124.html

Lingering cardiac involvement in previously well people after mild COVID-19. nature medicine. 26.9.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-022-02002-y

China begins administering. PBS. 26.10 2022. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/china-begins-administering-inhalable-covid-19-vaccine-boosters?

THL ei ole toistaiseksi kääntymässä Lapin linjoille. Nohynek: mRNA-rokotteet estävät tartuntoja vain kohtuullisesti ja lyhyen aikaa, mutta vakavan taudin riski on eri asia. 26.10.2022. Lääkärilehti. https://www.laakarilehti.fi/terveydenhuolto/thl-ei-ole-toistaiseksi-kaantymassa-lapin-linjoille/

SARS-CoV-2 promotes microglial synapse elimination in human brain organoids (To a large extent, SARS-CoV-2 exposed microglia adopt a transcriptomic profile overlapping with neurodegenerative disorders that display an early synapse loss as well as an increased incident risk after a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our results reveal that brain organoids infected with SARS-CoV-2 display disruption in circuit integrity via microglia-mediated synapse elimination and identifies a potential novel mechanism contributing to cognitive impairments in patients recovering from COVID-19.). nature. 5.10.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-022-01786-2

Is the Hygiene Hypothesis True? Did Covid shutdowns stunt kids’ immune systems? (Rhinovirus and enterovirus infections … right now, avoiding flu and COVID-19 is a priority. Those are not going to help you develop a healthy immune response, and in fact, they can do a lot of damage to the lungs during that critical developmental time. Data [show] that children that have more infections in the first 6 months to a year of life go on to have more problems). Johns Hopkins. 25.10.2022. https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2022/is-the-hygiene-hypothesis-true

Living with long Covid. (LC) Over 2,000 Guardian readers told us about their long Covid fight. Here are their stories. (Protestors march outside the White House this September to call attention to those suffering from myalgic encephalomyelitis and long Covid.  The chronic condition has an array of physical and neurological symptoms, but most remain misunderstood). Guardian. 25.10.2022. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/oct/25/long-covid-fight-guardian-readers

Näin sairaanhoitopiirit kommentoivat työntekijöiden neljänsiä koronarokotuksia – HUSin Järvinen nostaa esille itsemääräämisoikeuden. Muut sairaanhoitopiirit pitävät THL:n suosituksia sopivana, mutta työntekijöiden joukosta on tullut toiveita lisärokotuksista. YLE Uutiset- 25.10.2022. https://yle.fi/a/74-20002374

COVID-19 Surges Linked to Spike in Heart Attacks. Cedars Sinai 24.10.2022. https://www.cedars-sinai.org/newsroom/covid-19-surges-linked-to-spike-in-heart-attacks/

SARS-CoV-2 indoor environment contamination with epidemiological and experimental investigations. Indoor AIr. 24.10.2022. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/ina.13118

COVID-19 Surges Linked to Spike in Heart Attacks. Cedars Sinai. 24.10.2022. https://www.cedars-sinai.org/newsroom/covid-19-surges-linked-to-spike-in-heart-attacks/

Cardiovascular disease and mortality sequelae of COVID-19 in the UK Biobank. BMJ. 24.10.2022. https://heart.bmj.com/content/109/2/119

Antibody responses to Omicron BA.4/BA.5 bivalent mRNA vaccine booster shot. bioRxiv. 24.10.2022. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.10.22.513349v1

Tutkimus: [Remdessivir] Lääkkeestä ei ollut apua korona­potilaiden toipumiseen. Joka kuudes koronaviruspotilas oli toipunut huonosti vuoden kuluttua sairaalahoidoista. Remdesiviirilääkityksestä ei ollut apua toipumiseen. Helsingin Sanomat. 24.10.2022. https://www.hs.fi/kaupunki/art-2000009154401.html

SARS-CoV-2 indoor environment contamination with epidemiological and experimental investigations (home, hospital, Finland. Indoor Air 24.10.2022. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/ina.13118

10 myyttiä koronasta: Kuukauden tilannekatsaus. (Matti Heino). Linkedin. 22.10.2022.  https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/10-myytti%C3%A4-koronasta-kuukauden-tilannekatsaus-matti-heino

Pääkirjoitus. Kiurun paluu sytytti taas koronariidat. Koronariitojen uskottiin jo olevan takana, mutta sitten Krista Kiuru (sd) palasi sosiaali- ja terveysministeriöön. Helsingin Sanomat. 22.10.2022. https://www.hs.fi/paakirjoitukset/art-2000009150304.html

Effectiveness of Monovalent mRNA Vaccines Against COVID-19–Associated Hospitalization Among Immunocompetent Adults During BA.1/BA.2 and BA.4/BA.5 Predominant Periods of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant in the United States — IVY Network, 18 States, December 26, 2021–August 31, 2022. CDC MMWR. 21,10,2022,  https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm7142a3.htm

Dangerous new COVID-19 variants threaten massive fall-winter surge, World Socialist Web Site. 21.10.2022. https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2022/10/21/pers-o21.html

Effect of Ivermectin vs Placebo on Time to Sustained Recovery in Outpatients With Mild to Moderate COVID-19. A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 21.10.2022. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2797483

October 21-30

Saliva antibody-fingerprint of reactivated latent viruses after mild/asymptomatic COVID-19 is unique in patients with myalgic-encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (Our results denote an altered and chronically aroused anti-viral profile against latent viruses in ME/CFS. SARS-CoV-2 infection even in its mild/asymptomatic form is a potent trigger for reactivation of latent herpesviruses (EBV, HHV6) and endogenous retroviruses (HERV-K), as detected by antibody fingerprints locally in the oral mucosa (saliva samples).). Frontiers Immunology. 20.10.2023. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2022.949787/full

Brain cortical alterations in COVID-19 patients with neurological symptoms. Frontiers in Neuroscience. 20.10.2022. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2022.992165/full

Rokotekiista repii nyt Suomea – THL ja ylilääkärit täysin eri mieltä koronan hoidosta. Neljänsien rokotusten jakaminen aiheuttaa nyt kiistaa THL:n ja ylilääkäreiden välillä. Osa lääkäreistä pitää rokotelinjaa liian tiukkana, THL taas perustelee päätöstä rokotusten vähäisillä hyödyillä.. ilta=sanomat. 20.10 2022. https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000009142699.html

Tapio Sadeojan kolumni: Kiuru vastaan THL. THL:n perivihollinen, Krista Kiuru, palasi perhe- ja peruspalveluministeriksi mielenkiintoiseen aikaan, kirjoittaa Tapio Sadeoja.ilta=sanomat. 19.10.2022. https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000009143743.html

”En ymmärrä tätä pihtausta” – Krista Kiurulta Ylellä tiukka jyrähdys koronan hoidosta. Ministeri Kiuru soimii THL:ää nykyisistä koronalinjauksista. (Kiuru ihmetteli myös, miksei kesällä Suomeen tullutta Paxlovid-koronalääkettä käytetä nykyistä laajemmin. Lääkettä on annettu 750 henkilölle, vaikka varastossa olisi 15 000 kappaletta. En ymmärrä tätä pihtausta, Kiuru jyrähti.). ilta=sanomat. 19.10.2022. https://www.is.fi/politiikka/art-2000009144445.html

Paxlovid –lääkkeen määrääminen ja luovuttaminen koronaa (COVID-19) sairastavalle avohoitopotilaille VSSHP:ssa. Ohje ammattilaiselle. Varsinais-Suomen SHP. 18.10.2022. https://hoito-ohjeet.fi/OhjepankkiVSSHP/Paxlovid%20l%C3%A4%C3%A4kkeen%20m%C3%A4%C3%A4r%C3%A4%C3%A4minen%20ja%20luovuttaminen%20koronaa%20sairastavalle%20avohoitopotilaille%20VSSHPssa.pdf

Estimate: 10.5 Million Children Lost a Parent, Caregiver to COVID-19. JAMA Network. 18.10.2022. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2797407

Effect of remdesivir post hospitalization for COVID-19 infection from the randomized SOLIDARITY Finland trial. nature communications. 18.10.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-33825-5

SARS-CoV-2 vaccine and increased mýocarditis mortality risk: A poipulation based comparative study in Japan. medRxiv.18.10.2022. extension://elhekieabhbkpmcefcoobjddigjcaadp/https://www.medrxiv.org/content/medrxiv/early/2022/10/18/2022.10.13.22281036.full.pdf

If you had COVID, several of your organs could be aging 3-4 years faster, study shows, ”You can start thinking about getting COVID as almost as an accelerant to aging,” Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly said. Eyewitness News. 18.10.2022.  https://abc7.com/covid-study-organs-aging-covid19-long-haul/12340914/

Fauci urges US to resume long Covid research funding efforts.
Top disease expert warns against prematurely declaring victory over pandemic in interview with the Guardian (LC) Guardian. 17.10.2022. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/oct/17/fauci-us-funding-research-long-covid-cdc

Dr Anthony Fauci: long Covid is an ‘insidious’ public health emergency
Dr Anthony Fauci: ‘We’ve hit a wall when it comes to further resources for Covid, including long Covid.’ Composite: Exclusive: America’s top disease expert speaks to the Guardian about the dangers of long Covid and urges US Congress to avoid complacency (LC) Guardian. 17.10.2022. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/oct/17/fauci-interview-long-covid-risk-emergency-response-coronavirus

Can long Covid research unlock other great medical mysteries of our time?
Attention and funding for research into mononucleosis, HIV, Lyme, Ebola, Sars and other infections have historically been limited – but long Covid changed that. (LC) Guardian. 17.10.2022. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/oct/17/long-covid-research-unlock-medical-mysteries

Severe COVID-19 outcomes after full vaccination of primary schedule and initial boosters: pooled analysis of national prospective cohort studies of 30 million individuals in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Lancet. 15.10.2022. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22)01656-7/fulltext

IL: Ministeri Krista Kiurun mukaan koronalääkkeiden käyttöä pitäisi lisätä
Kiurun mukaan Suomessa pitäisi ylipäätään varautua koronatilanteen pahenemiseen syksyn ja talven aikana. Helsingin Sanomat. 15.10.2022. https://www.hs.fi/politiikka/art-2000009137337.html

Comparison of pandemic excess mortality in 2020–2021 across different empirical calculations. Environmental Research. NN.10.2022. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013935122010817?via%3Dihub

Poliisi otti kiinni koronakieltäjäkoplan johtajan: Ryhmä yritti syöstä Saksan sisällissodan tilaan tuhoamalla sähkövoimaloita, suunnitteli myös ministerin kaappaamista. MTV Uutiset. 13.10.2022. https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/poliisi-otti-kiinni-koronakieltajakoplan-johtajan-ryhma-yritti-syosta-saksan-sisallissodan-tilaan-tuhoamalla-sahkovoimaloita-suunnitteli-myos-ministerin-kaappaamista/8548540#gs.j3apjz

Kooste koronarokotteiden haittavaikutusilmoituksista. FIMEA Päivitetty 13.10.2022, seuraava päivitys joulukuussa 2022. https://www.fimea.fi/tietoa_fimeasta/koronavirus-covid-19-/koronarokotteiden-haittavaikutusilmoitukset/kooste-koronarokotteiden-haittavaikutusilmoituksista

SARS-CoV-2 infects neurons and induces neuroinflammation in a non-human primate model of COVID-19 (• In macaques, SARS-CoV-2 is found in olfactory brain areas at 7 days post infection / • Neurons are initially the primary target of SARS-CoV-2 productive infection / • Neurocovid is accompanied by robust neuroinflammation and vascular disruption / • SARS-CoV-2 brain pathology is worsened by aging and diabetes in infected monkeys) Cell Reports 12.10.2022. https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(22)01434-6

WHO:n pääjohtajalta kovaa puhetta long covidista: ”Kymmenien miljoonien elämä tuhoutunut”. Maailman terveysjärjestö vaatii valtioita aloittamaan kiireelliset toimet ”erittäin vakavan” kriisin kukistamiseksi. ilta=sanomat.12.10.2022. https://www.is.fi/ulkomaat/art-2000009131106.html

WHO chief urges immediate action to tackle ‘devastating’ long Covid.
Exclusive: Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus calls for ‘sustained’ efforts to help people still experiencing ‘prolonged suffering’ (LC) . Guardian. 12.10.2022. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/oct/12/long-covid-who-tedros-adhanom-ghebreyesus?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Flunssavirukset leviävät ensisijaisesti ilman välityksellä. Nykyisen tiedon valossa käsien ja pintojen rooli kaikkien flunssavirusten tartunnan välittäjinä on vähäinen. Helsingin Sanomat. 11.10.2022. https://www.hs.fi/mielipide/art-2000009099911.html?share=c57d8aeba9b3ef277b6e99080d8d1925

The pre-exposure SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell repertoire determines the quality of the immune response to vaccination (). Immunity. 11.10.2022. https://www.cell.com/immunity/fulltext/S1074-7613(22)00396-X?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS107476132200396X%3Fshowall%3Dtrue

October 11-20

Brain microstructural changes and fatigue after COVID-19 (Cognitive). Frontiers in Neurology. 10.11.2022. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2022.1029302/full

Estimated Global Proportions of Individuals With Persistent Fatigue, Cognitive, and Respiratory Symptom Clusters Following Symptomatic COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021. (Long Covid.This observational analysis involved bayesian meta-regression and pooling of 54 studies and 2 medical record databases with data for 1.2 million individuals (from 22 countries) who had symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection. The modeled estimated proportion with at least 1 of the 3 self-reported Long COVID symptom clusters 3 months after symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection was 6.2%, including 3.7% for ongoing respiratory problems, 3.2% for persistent fatigue with bodily pain or mood swings, and 2.2% for cognitive problems after adjusting for health status before COVID-19. ) JAMA. 10.10.2022. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2797443

COVID-19 Symptoms and Duration of Rapid Antigen Test Positivity at a Community Testing and Surveillance Site During Pre-Delta, Delta, and Omicron BA.1 Periods. JAMA. 10.10.2022. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2797070?

Misrepresentation and Nonadherence Regarding COVID-19 Public Health Measures. JAMA 10.10.2022. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2797071

Hanna Nohynek WHO:n strategisen rokotusasiantuntijaryhmän puheenjohtajaksi. Kolmen vuoden kausi tarjoaa aitiopaikan maailmanlaajuiseen vaikuttamiseen. Lääkärilehti 7.10.2022. https://www.laakarilehti.fi/terveydenhuolto/hanna-nohynek-who-n-strategisen-rokotusasiantuntijaryhman-puheenjohtajaksi/

The neurobiology of long COVID. Neuron/Cell. 6.10.2022. https://www.cell.com/neuron/fulltext/S0896-6273(22)00910-2

Long COVID is still disabling millions of Americans (Share of Americans with long COVID who also reported significant activity limitations, by race). AXIOS. 6.10.2022. https://www.axios.com/2022/10/06/long-covid-cdc-data-disabling

Strokes, heart attacks, sudden deaths: Does America understand the long-term risks of catching COVID? Fortune. 6.10.2022. https://fortune.com/2022/10/06/strokes-heart-attacks-sudden-death-america-long-term-risks-catching-covid-carolyn-barber/

Millaisen suojan vuoden alussa saatu kolmas koronarokote antaa tällä hetkellä? – THL:n Hanna Nohynek vastaa. Suomenmmaa. 4.10.2022. https://www.suomenmaa.fi/uutiset/millaisen-suojan-vuoden-alussa-saatu-kolmas-koronarokote-antaa-talla-hetkella-thln-hanna-nohynek-vastaa/

Protective effectiveness of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection and hybrid immunity against Omicron infection and severe disease: a systematic review and meta-regression. medRxiv. 4.10.2022. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.10.02.22280610v1

Will there be a COVID winter wave? What scientists say
Emerging variants and waning immunity are likely to push infection rates higher in the Northern Hemisphere as influenza also makes a comeback. na<ture. 3.10.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-03157-x

Study Reveals Main Target of COVID-19 in Brain and Describes Effects of Virus on Nervous System.
Summary: SARS_CoV_2, the virus responsible for COVID-19 infects and replicates in astrocytes, reducing neural viability.  Neuroscience News. 1.10.2022. https://neurosciencenews.com/covid-19-astrocytes-21569/

October 1-10

The End of Evusheld. If you’re immunocompromised, this … isn’t great (...the forecast looks a little grim. None of the new variants will completely circumvent the full set of immune defenses that human bodies, schooled by vaccines or past infections, can launch. Yet all of them seem pretty good at dodging a hefty subset of our existing antibodies. / For anyone who gets infected, such evasions could make the difference between asymptomatic and feeling pretty terrible. And for the subset of people who become sick enough to need clinical care, the consequences could get even worse. Some of our best COVID treatments are made from single antibodies tailored to the virus, which may simply cease to work as SARS-CoV-2 switches up its form. Past variants have already knocked out several such concoctions—among them, REGEN-COV, sotrovimab, and bamlanivimab/etesevimab—from the U.S. arsenal. The only two left are bebtelovimab, a treatment for people who have already been infected, and Evusheld, a crucial supplement to vaccination for those who are moderately or severely immunocompromised; both are still deployed in hospitals countrywide.). The Atlantic. 29.10.2022. https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2022/10/covid-variants-antibody-treatments-immunocompromised/671929/

SARS-CoV-2: The Impact of Co-Infections with Particular Reference to Mycoplasma pneumonia—A Clinical Review (In total, 5867 children under the age of 17 years were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection through real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis of nasopharyngeal swabs to detect viral RNA. Elevated serum IgM levels specific to Mycoplasma pneumoniae were observed in 534 children and were associated with a Kawasaki-like illness in one child. To date, all of the children are alive.). MDPI. 29.9.2022. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/10/10/1936

Excess risk for acute myocardial infarction mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic. [The excess death was most pronounced for the (25–44 years) aged decedents, 23% to 34%] J Med Virology. 29.9.2022. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jmv.28187

Why you might be more likely to get long Covid if you ‘power through’ when you get virus
‘Treating Covid like a cold and thinking in 48 hours you’re ‘good to go’ is wrong. If it was me, I just wouldn’t dare.’ iNews 29.9.2022. https://inews.co.uk/news/science/likely-long-covid-rest-testing-positive-1884942

Unlike flu, COVID-19 attacks DNA in the heart: new research. brisbane times. 29.9.2022. https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/unlike-flu-covid-19-attacks-dna-in-the-heart-new-research-20220929-p5bm10.html

SARS-CoV-2 infection in hamsters and humans result in lasting and unique systemic perturbations after recovery. Science Translational Medicine. 28.9.2022. https://www.science.org/doi/epdf/10.1126/scitranslmed.abq3059

SARS-CoV-2, long COVID, prion disease and neurodegeneration. Front Neurosci. 27.9.2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9551214/

WHO julkaisi uudet suositukset long covidin hoitoon – Risto O. Roine: ”Ohjeistus ei tue koronan jälkitilojen käsittelyä toiminnallisena häiriönä”. WHO ei ota kantaa siihen, miten laajoja tutkimuksia potilaat tarvitsevat. Mediiuutiset 26.9.2022. https://www.mediuutiset.fi/uutiset/who-julkaisi-uudet-suositukset-long-covidin-hoitoon-risto-o-roine-ohjeistus-ei-tue-koronan-jalkitilojen-kasittelya-toiminnallisena-hairiona/3be9bbb5-e880-4b6e-bf6a-dcbdca3bb278

Impact of cross-coronavirus immunity in post-acute sequelae of COVID-19.medRxiv. 25.9.2022. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.09.25.22280335v1

Does IQ Decline as We Age? One Type of Intelligence Peaks in Your Twenties (Global IQ is an amalgam of different kinds of intelligence, the most popularly studied being fluid intelligence and crystallized intelligence which together – along with abilities called working memory and processing speed – are combined to yield global or Full Scale IQ. / Fluid intelligence or fluid reasoning reflects the ability to solve novel problems, the kind that aren’t taught in school,” he explains, ”whereas crystallized intelligence or crystallized knowledge measures learning and problem solving that are related to schooling and acculturation. / Crystallized intelligence ”averages 98 at ages 20–24, rises to 101 by ages 35–44, before declining to 100 (ages 45–54), then 98 (55–64), then 96 (65–69), then 93 (70–74), and 88 (75+),” says Kaufman. /Fluid intelligence drops much more quickly. Kaufman reveals that it ”peaks at ages 20–24 (100), drops gradually to 99 (25–34) and 96 (35–44) before starting a rollercoaster plunge to 91 (45–54), 86 (55–64), 83 (65–69), 79 (70–74), and 72 (75+). / Thomas says: ”The fastest response times you will ever have are in your mid-twenties, but (so long as you don’t develop dementia), your knowledge of vocabulary will increase throughout your life.). Science Alert. 23.9.2022. https://www.sciencealert.com/does-iq-decline-as-we-age-one-type-of-intelligence-peaks-in-your-twenties

Association of SARS-CoV-2 Infection With New-Onset Type 1 Diabetes Among Pediatric Patients From 2020 to 2021. JAMA. 23.9.2022. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2796649

‘I’m Dropping My COVID Hubris,’ Vows a Top Immunologist. After the virus harmed Chris Goodnow’s heart, he joined a growing chorus against reinfection complacency. (LC) TYEE. 23.9.2022. https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2022/09/23/Top-Immunologist-Dropping-COVID-Hubris/

COVID raises risk of long-term brain injury, large U.S. study finds. KSL.com. 23.9.2022. https://www.ksl.com/article/50481186/covid-raises-risk-of-long-term-brain-injury-large-us-study-finds

Long-term neurologic outcomes of COVID-19 (Here we use the national healthcare databases of the US Department of Veterans Affairs to build a cohort of 154,068 individuals with COVID-19, 5,638,795 contemporary controls and 5,859,621 historical controls; we use inverse probability weighting to balance the cohorts, and estimate risks and burdens of incident neurologic disorders at 12 months following acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our results show that in the postacute phase of COVID-19, there was increased risk of an array of incident neurologic sequelae including ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, cognition and memory disorders, peripheral nervous system disorders, episodic disorders (for example, migraine and seizures), extrapyramidal and movement disorders, mental health disorders, musculoskeletal disorders, sensory disorders, Guillain–Barré syndrome, and encephalitis or encephalopathy. We estimated that the hazard ratio of any neurologic sequela was 1.42 (95% confidence intervals 1.38, 1.47) and burden 70.69 (95% confidence intervals 63.54, 78.01) per 1,000 persons at 12 months. The risks and burdens were elevated even in people who did not require hospitalization during acute COVID-19. Limitations include a cohort comprising mostly White males.). nature medicine. 22.9.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-022-02001-z

Long covid—an update for primary care. the BMJ 22.9.2022. https://www.bmj.com/content/378/bmj-2022-072117

COVID-19 associated with increase in new diagnoses of type 1 diabetes in youth, by as much as 72 percent, study finds (Children who were infected with COVID-19 show a substantially higher risk of developing type 1 diabetes (T1D), according to a new study that analyzed electronic health records of more than 1 million patients ages 18 and younger.). Science Daily. 23.9.2022. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/09/220923121735.htm

SARS-CoV-2 infection and subsequent risk of type 1 diabetes in 1.2 million children. (We identified a total of 424,354 children with SARS-CoV-2 infection (of 1,202,174 children included at study start) and 990 incident cases of type 1 diabetes. The adjusted HR for type 1 diabetes at least 31 days after SARS-CoV-2 infection was 1.63 (95% CI 1.08, 2.47) in a test-negative design and 1.57 (95% CI 1.06, 2.33) in the full-cohort) EASD 2022 Stockholm. 23.9.2022. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1boUjb_pUNVcKm02Moh3jXburmTk2j-iR/view

Association of SARS-CoV-2 Infection With New-Onset Type 1 Diabetes Among Pediatric Patients From 2020 to 2021. (At 1, 3, and 6 months after infection, risk of diagnosis of T1D was greater among those infected with SARS-CoV-2 compared with those with non–COVID-19 respiratory infection (1 month: HR, 1.96 [95%CI, 1.26-3.06]; 3 months: HR, 2.10 [95% CI, 1.48-3.00]; 6 months: HR, 1.83 [95% CI, 1.36-2.44]) and in subgroups of patients aged 0 to 9 years, a group unlikely to develop type 2 diabetes, and 10 to 18 years). JAMA. 23.9.2022. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2796649

Long covid—an update for primary care (Long covid (prolonged symptoms following covid-19 infection) is common / The mainstay of management is supportive, holistic care, symptom control, and detection of treatable complications / Many patients can be supported effectively in primary care by a GP with a special interest). BMJ. 22.9.2022. https://www.bmj.com/content/378/bmj-2022-072117

COVID-19 infections increase risk of long-term brain problems. Strokes, seizures, memory and movement disorders among problems that develop in first year after infection. Washington Univ School of Medicine. 22.9.2022. https://medicine.wustl.edu/news/covid-19-infections-increase-risk-of-long-term-brain-problems/

Yhä melkoinen mysteeri. Pitkän koronan syntymekanismia ei vieläkään tunneta. Siihen ei ole myöskään parantavaa hoitoa. Suomessa tutkimusta ja hoitoa ovat hidastaneet rahapula ja sairauden vähättely. Suomen Kuvalehti. 22.9.2022. https://suomenkuvalehti.fi/tiede-ja-teknologia/koronan-loytymisesta-on-pian-kolme-vuotta-silti-pitka-korona-hammentaa-yha-tutkijoita/

Long-term neurologic outcomes of COVID-19 [Here we use the national healthcare databases of the US Department of Veterans Affairs to build a cohort of 154,068 individuals with COVID-19, 5,638,795 contemporary controls and 5,859,621 historical controls; we use inverse probability weighting to balance the cohorts, and estimate risks and burdens of incident neurologic disorders at 12 months following acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our results show that in the postacute phase of COVID-19, there was increased risk of an array of incident neurologic sequelae including ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, cognition and memory disorders, peripheral nervous system disorders, episodic disorders (for example, migraine and seizures), extrapyramidal and movement disorders, mental health disorders, musculoskeletal disorders, sensory disorders, Guillain–Barré syndrome, and encephalitis or encephalopathy. We estimated that the hazard ratio of any neurologic sequela was 1.42 (95% confidence intervals 1.38, 1.47) and burden 70.69 (95% confidence intervals 63.54, 78.01) per 1,000 persons at 12 months. The risks and burdens were elevated even in people who did not require hospitalization during acute COVID-19. Limitations include a cohort comprising mostly White males.]. naturemedicine. 22.9.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-022-02001-z#Fig3

Hybrid immunity and strategies for COVID-19 vaccination, Lancet Infectious Diseases. 21.9.2022. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(22)00640-5/fulltext

 

September 21-30

Association of COVID-19 With Major Arterial and Venous Thrombotic Diseases: A Population-Wide Cohort Study of 48 Million Adults in England and Wales. CIRCULATION. 19.9.2022. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.122.060785

I’ve had COVID and am constantly getting colds. Did COVID harm my immune system? Am I now at risk of other infectious diseases? Conversation 18.9.2022. https://theconversation.com/ive-had-covid-and-am-constantly-getting-colds-did-covid-harm-my-immune-system-am-i-now-at-risk-of-other-infectious-diseases-188899

COVID-19 increases risk of developing Alzheimer’s by 50-80% in older adults (It has been suggested that infections may lead to AD development; however, it is not clear whether SARS-CoV-2 infections can increase the risk for AD. The enhanced risk for SARS-CoV-2 infections among AD patients and the long-term neurologic sequela of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) (partly representing inflammation-associated changes, which are critical in AD neurological pathophysiology) are indicative of a two-way relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infections and AD. The study’s authors previously showed a high risk of breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infections among fully vaccinated AD patients.). News-Medical.Life Sciences. 18.9.2022.  https://www.news-medical.net/news/20220918/COVID-19-increases-risk-of-developing-Alzheimers-by-50-8025-in-older-adults.aspx

Dreaded Side Effect Rears Its Ugly Head in Latest COVID Variant.
Scientists agree that we’re not doing enough to address a “silent” COVID crisis that seems to be spiraling out of control. Daily Beast. 18.9.2022. https://www.thedailybeast.com/scientists-warn-of-spike-in-long-covid-cases-across-the-united-states

Pääkirjoitus: Toiminnallisen häiriön leima haittaa long covidin ja ME-taudin hoitoa. Pitkäkestoinen korona muistuttaa oirekuvaltaan hyvin paljon ME/CFS-tautia. ME/CFS-potilaat ovat kertoneet vuosien ajan vähättelystä ja epäasiallisesta kohtelusta terveydenhuollossa. Toivottavasti tämä ei toistu long covid -potilaiden kohdalla, kirjoittaa Mediuutisten toimituspäällikkö Erpo Pakkala. Mediuutiset. 16.9.2022. https://www.mediuutiset.fi/debatti/toiminnallisen-hairion-leima-haittaa-long-covidin-ja-me-taudin-hoitoa/0c3a8976-461a-4012-b16c-1e5d62ab3185

Hundreds of Americans Will Die From COVID Today. Is this what normal now looks like? Atlantic 16.9.2022. https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2022/09/us-daily-covid-death-numbers-statistics/671453/

A survey of COVID-19 in public transportation: Transmission risk, mitigation and prevention (This article presents a comprehensive survey of the current research on COVID-19 transmission mechanisms and how they relate to public transport. We critically assess literature through a lens of disaster management and survey the main transmission mechanisms, forecasting, risks, mitigation, and prevention mechanisms. Social distancing and control on passenger density are found to be the most effective mechanisms.). Multimodal Transportation. Sept. 2022. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772586322000302

Excess deaths in the United States during the first year of COVID-19. (Highlights • Accurately determining the number of excess deaths caused by COVID-19 is hard. • The biggest challenge is determining deaths that would have occurred in its absence. • Previous studies have probably often overstated the number of excess deaths. • New methods of computing excess deaths are developed in this analysis. • Excess U.S. deaths exceeded 600,000 during the first year of the pandemic.). Preventive Medicine. Sept 2022. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0091743522002237?via%3Dihub

Cognitive impairment in people with previous COVID-19 infection: A scoping review. Cortex. Sept. 2022. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0010945222001691?via%3Dihub

The incidence of congenital anomalies in newborns before and during the Covid-19 pandemic (The incidence of congenital birth anomalies are significantly increased during Covid-19 pandemic compared with before Covid-19 (P value < 0.00001). The number of all types of anomalies has increased in the current pandemic, but the congenital anomalies of the central nervous system (P value = 0.04) and Genitourinary (P value = 0.03) have a larger contribution than before.). Italian Journal of Pediatrics. 15.9.2022.  https://ijponline.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13052-022-01368-6

Is covid-19 settling into a pattern? BMJ 15.9.2022. https://www.bmj.com/content/378/bmj.o2183?utm_source=etoc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=tbmj&utm_content=weekly&utm_term=20220916

Long-COVID in patients with a history of mild or asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection: a Nationwide Cohort Study (Most prevalent long-COVID symptoms were decreased smell sensation (35.1% vs. 4.3%, p < 0.001), decreased taste sensation (25.2% vs. 3.2%, p < 0.001), memory disturbances (36.9% vs. 14.4%, p < 0.001), dyspnea (24.2% vs. 10.7%, p < 0.001) and arthralgia (33% vs. 16.3%, p < 0.001). Risk factors associated with long-COVID included female gender, symptomatic COVID-19, overweight or obesity and the presence of dyslipidemia. About 34.6% of participants reported not returning to their baseline health condition after the acute illness.) Scand J Prim Health Care. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36314555/

THE IMPACTS OF COVID-19 ILLNESSES ON WORKERS. [lost participation in production  and lost income, Sociodemographics and economics].  NBER Working Paper 30435.  NATIONAL BUREAU OF ECONOMIC RESEARCH . Sept. 2022.  w30435.pdf (nber.org)

Viruses may be ‘watching’ you – some microbes lie in wait until their hosts unknowingly give them the signal to start multiplying and kill them. Conversation 15.9.2022. https://theconversation.com/viruses-may-be-watching-you-some-microbes-lie-in-wait-until-their-hosts-unknowingly-give-them-the-signal-to-start-multiplying-and-kill-them-189949

HS:n grafiikat kertovat tiedot korona­virus­tilanteesta. HS:n grafiikat kertovat tiedot tartunnoista, sairaalahoidossa olevista ja kuolleista niin Suomessa kuin maailmalla. Helsingin Sanomat. 15.9.2022. https://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000007983110.html

Pitkittyneet hermosto-oireet joskus hankalia: Korona heikentää tutkitusti aivoterveyttä (Risto O Roine. Pitkittynyt korona- eli covid-19-infektio on tällä hetkellä työikäisen väestön keskeinen aivoterveyttä heikentävä tekijä. Tiedetään, että Iso-Britanniassa noin kolme prosenttia koko väestöstä sairastaa pitkittynyttä koronatautia, Yhdysvalloissa lukema on vieläkin suurempi. Kun otetaan lukuun se tosiseikka, että sairastuneiden enemmistö on pääosin työikäisiä, niin kyseessä on merkittävä kansanterveydellinen ongelma.).  Aivoliitto. 14.9.2022. https://www.aivoliitto.fi/aivoterveys/artikkelit/pitkittyneet-hermosto-oireet-joskus-hankalia-korona-heikentaa-tutkitusti-aivoterveytta/#8095c4f8

Association of COVID-19 with New-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease (Risk factor for developing Alzheimer’s disease increases by 50-80% in older adults who caught COVID-19.) Journal of Altzheimers’ Disease. 13.9.2022. https://content.iospress.com/articles/journal-of-alzheimers-disease/jad220717

Saline nasal irrigation after COVID-19 diagnosis reduces hospitalization. News Medical. 13.9.2022. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20220913/Saline-nasal-irrigation-after-COVID-19-diagnosis-reduces-hospitalization.aspx

Self-assembling short immunostimulatory duplex RNAs with broad-spectrum antiviral activity. Molecular Therapy Nucleic Acids 13.9.2022. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S216225312200230X

One of Long COVID’s Worst Symptoms Is Also Its Most Misunderstood
Brain fog isn’t like a hangover or depression. It’s a disorder of executive function that makes basic cognitive tasks absurdly hard. Atlantic 12.9.2022. https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2022/09/long-covid-brain-fog-symptom-executive-function/671393/

September 11-20

Tartuntojen torjunta ja unohtunut ennakointi. Matti Heino, Käyttäytymisarkkitehtuuri blog. 31.8.2023. https://mattiheino.com/2023/01/16/tartuntojen-torjunta/

The Lancet Commission on lessons for the future from the COVID-19 pandemic. Lancet. 10.9.2022. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22)01585-9/fulltext

Jopa 70 prosenttia suomalaista on sairastanut koronan – tällainen on suoja uutta tartuntaa vastaan [THL Salminen]. MTV Uutiset. 9.9.2022. https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/jopa-70-prosenttia-suomalaista-on-sairastanut-koronan-tallainen-on-suoja-uutta-tartuntaa-vastaan/8508018

Heart inflammation among most common long COVID conditions in children.. Denver7. 8.9.2022. https://www.denver7.com/news/national/heart-inflammation-among-most-common-long-covid-conditions-in-children

Yhdysvaltalaistutkijat ovat löytäneet uuden vasta-aineen, joka voi nujertaa kaikki koronaviruksen muunnokset. Jos löydös päätyy rokotteeksi, se olisi tutkijoiden mukaan oikea rokotteiden Graalin malja. MTV Uutiset. 8.9.2022. https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/tutkijoilta-mullistava-loyto-vasta-aine-joka-voi-nujertaa-kaikki-koronaviruksen-muunnokset/8508044

What scientists have learnt from COVID lockdowns. Restrictions on social contact stemmed disease spread, but weighing up the ultimate costs and benefits of lockdown measures is a challenge. nature. 7.9.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-02823-4

Critical pediatric neurological illness associated with COVID-19 (Omicron BA.2.3.7 variant) infection in Taiwan: immunological assessment and viral genome analysis in tertiary medical center (The new mutation in the S protein, which had not previously been observed but was discovered in this study, potentially explains the sudden increase in incidence of extremely adverse neurological symptoms in pediatric patients.) .  Int J Infect Dis. 7.9.2022. https://www.ijidonline.com/article/S1201-9712(22)00500-8/fulltext#%20

Persistent cardiac symptoms in individuals with mild initial COVID-19. Medical News 7.9.2022. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20220907/Persistent-cardiac-symptoms-in-individuals-with-mild-initial-COVID-19.aspx

Koronaa ei kannata sairastaa uudestaan. Uusintainfektiot lisäävät niin kuoleman kuin sairaalahoitoon joutumisen riskiä pitkään akuutin taudin jälkeen, kertoo vertaisarvioimaton amerikkalaistutkimus.. Lääkärilehti. 5.9.2022. https://www.laakarilehti.fi/terveydenhuolto/koronaa-ei-kannata-sairastaa-uudestaan/

The Swedish Deception – Report. Internal emails from FOI’s question the integrity of the Swedish strategy (It’s difficult to know the extent to which one country influenced another, perhaps some found the confirmation bias they were looking for in those with similar strategy ideas. We do know that representatives of other countries, for example Sweden’s Anders Tegnell lobbied other countries to adopt his strategy throughout the pandemic, even meeting with the UK Government later in 2020. Tegnell had come under criticism early on after emails showed the epidemiologist in charge of Sweden’s strategy appearing to ask whether a higher death rate among older people might be acceptable if it led to faster herd immunity. Tegnell insists the Swedish objective was not to achieve herd immunity but rather to slow the spread of covid enough for health services to cope, however its emerged through freedom of information requests that Tegnell had deleted some of his official emails leaving gaps in the evidence trail. Lobbing for mass infection: While Swedish authorities claim they weren’t actively pursuing herd immunity, it doesn’t appear that way when looking at some of Tegnell and his colleagues lobbying in other countries during 2020). Counter Disinformation Project. 5.9.2022. https://counterdisinformationproject.substack.com/p/the-swedish-deception-report?sd=pf

Koronatilanteessa yllätyskäänne – ylilääkäri (Asko Järvinen): ”Tässä on ollut tuomiopäivän julistajia”. Koronatapausten määrä on syksyllä kääntynyt laskuun, vaikka toisin kesällä pelättiin. Iltalehti 5.9.2022.  https://www.iltalehti.fi/terveysuutiset/a/31bd58ab-4d0d-4843-879a-3467ad5c75cc

Ministeriö valmistelee lakiesitystä potilaiden hengen turvaamiseksi – ministeri Aki Lindén toivoo nopeaa sopua hoitajien työkiistaan
Tehyn puheenjohtaja Millariikka Rytkönen sanoi osanneensa odottaa lain valmistelua. Sosiaali- ja terveysministeriö valmistelee nyt pikavauhdilla lakiesitystä potilasturvallisuuden varmistamiseksi työtaistelutoimien varalta. Yle Uutiset 2.9.2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220905014625/https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12606972

Long COVID Blood Test Receives European Approval. A diagnostic test for long COVID is set for distribution this month after receiving European approval. Medscape UK. 02.09.2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220905010947/https://www.medscape.co.uk/viewarticle/long-covid-blood-test-receives-european-approval-2022a10022cg

September 1-10

Covid Inquiry. How covid-19 spreads: narratives, counter narratives, and social dramas (Key messages – United Kingdom
-A flawed narrative that SARS-CoV-2 was transmitted by droplets rather than being airborne became entrenched early in the pandemic
-Measures aimed at an assumed droplet pathogen (handwashing, surface cleansing, physical distancing) were over-emphasised
-Measures to reduce airborne transmission (improving indoor air quality, reducing indoor crowding and time spent indoors, and high-grade respiratory protection) were under-emphasised
-UK policy makers seemed to favour narratives from a narrow group of scientific advisers
-Consequences included care home deaths, mission critical delays in public masking, and avoidable infections of healthcare workers.). BMJ.  31.8.2022. https://www.bmj.com/content/378/bmj-2022-069940

The physics of respiratory particle generation, fate in the air, and inhalation (Lidia Morawska) nature reviews, physics. 31.8.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s42254-022-00506-7

Assessment of Clinical and Virological Characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Children Aged 0 to 4 Years and Their Household Members. JAMA 31.8.2022. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2795801?utm_source=silverchair&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=article_alert-jamanetworkopen&utm_content=wklyforyou&utm_term=083122

Heikki Hiilamon kolumni: Korona-aika lietsoi professorikunnassa erikoisen ilmiön – tieteentekijät mestaroivat alalla, jota eivät tunne
Suutari pysyköön lestissään, kehottaa vanha sananlasku. Samaa voisi suositella professorikunnalle. Korona-aika opetti, että kun tieteentekijä ryhtyy kansalaisaktiiviksi, lopputulos ei ole tiedettä. Yle Uutiset. 31.8.2022. https://yle.fi/a/3-12597842

Heterogeneity in vaccinal immunity to SARS-CoV-2 can be addressed by a personalized booster strategy (…viral evolution can be expected to impact the effectiveness of vaccinal protection against severe disease, particularly for individuals with a shorter duration of immune response. One possible solution to immune heterogeneity may be more frequent boosting for individuals with a weaker immune response. A model-based approach to targeted boosting that involves the use of the ECLIA RBD assay to identify individuals whose immune response is insufficient for protection against severe disease. Vaccinal protection against severe disease is not assured and provides a path forward to reducing the risk to immunologically vulnerable individuals.). medRxiv. 30.8.2022. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.08.30.22279397v1

Graafi näyttää: Näin selkeää yli­kuolleisuutta korona on Suomessa tänä vuonna aiheuttanut – muutos alkoi viime syksynä. Koronavirusepidemia on aiheuttanut ylikuolleisuutta Suomessa vuoden alusta alkaen. Ilta=Sanomat. 29.8.2022. https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000009030883.html

Sairastitko koronan? Tästä syystä joudut odottamaan neljättä rokotetta – THL:n Hanna Nohynek kertoo, miksi Suomi toimii toisin kuin WHO ja EU suosittavat (Nohynekin mukaan WHO:n ja ECDC:n suositukset eivät ole sinänsä virheellisiä: – Kansainvälisissä suosituksissa on myös mukana käytännön näkökulma ja politiikkaa. Kustannus-vaikuttavuusanalyysejä ei näissä suosituksissa ole otettu huomioon, hän sanoo.). APU. 26.8.2022. https://www.apu.fi/artikkelit/miksi-koronan-sairastanut-ei-saa-neljatta-rokotetta-thl-vastaa

Deep mutational scanning identifies SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid escape mutations of currently available rapid antigen tests. Cell. 26.8.2022. https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(22)01044-3#%20

Years of life lost associated with COVID-19 deaths in the USA during the first 2 years of the pandemic (We estimated roughly 9.7 million YLLs due to COVID-19 deaths. The number of YLLs per 10 000 capita was 297.5, with the highest rate in Mississippi (482.7) and the lowest in Vermont (61.4). There was substantial interstate variation in the timing of YLLs and differences in YLLs by gender. YLLs per death increased from 9.2 in the first year of the pandemic to 10.8 through the first 2 years.). J Public Health. 25.8.2022. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35640260/

The chronification of post-COVID condition associated with neurocognitive symptoms, functional impairment and increased healthcare utilization. Scientific reports. 25.8.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-18673-z

Long-Covid: Causing “Long-Term Impact” On Australia’s Workforce Productivity. (31,000 Aussies taking sick days. With 12 per cent of people absent from work due to long-Covid, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said coronavirus has delivered ongoing ramifications. “Covid is having a long-term impact on the productivity of our workforce.”).  Hit. 25.8.2022. https://www.hit.com.au/story/long-covid-causing-long-term-impact-on-australia-s-workforce-productivity-206788

Persistence, prevalence, and polymorphism of sequelae after COVID-19 in unvaccinated, young adults of the Swiss Armed Forces: a longitudinal, cohort study (LoCoMo). Lancet Infectious Diseases. 25.8.2022. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(22)00449-2/fulltext

Saksa varautuu pahenevaan koronatilanteeseen – palauttaa maskipakon
Saksa palauttaa maskipakon pitkän matkan matkustamiseen, sairaala- ja hoitokotivierailuihin lokakuusta alkaen. Maa valmistuu näin syksyllä ja talvella pahenevaan koronatilanteeseen. Maskipakon lisäksi hallitus kaavailee koronatestipakkoa henkilöille, jotka työskentelevät sairaaloissa ja hoitokodeissa. Tällä hetkellä N-95-tyyppiset kasvomaskit ovat pakollisia lentokoneissa ja julkisissa liikenteissä. Maskipakkoa on tarkoitus jatkaa huhtikuuhun 2023 saakka. Yle Uutiset 24.8.2022. https://yle.fi/a/3-11942036/64-3-102551

Could tiny blood clots cause long COVID’s puzzling symptoms?
Scientists debate evidence for a micro-clot hypothesis that has some people pursuing potentially risky treatments. nature. 24.8.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-02286-7

Milloin liki vuosi sitten rokotettu lääkäri saa boosterin? THL vetoaa pitkäkestoiseen suojaan vakavaa koronatautia vastaan ja hybridi-immuniteettiin. Lääkärilehti. 24.8.2022. https://www.laakarilehti.fi/terveydenhuolto/milloin-liki-vuosi-sitten-rokotettu-laakari-saa-boosterin/?utm_medium=newsletter

Coronavirus World Map: Tracking the Global Outbreak. New York Times. Accessed 24.8.2022. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/world/covid-cases.html

Fragmented outbreak data will lead to a repeat of COVID-19. To break the vicious cycle of patchy understanding and poor virus control, we need to talk about privacy. nature. 23.8.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-02268-9

 

Työsuojelun yhteistoiminta ja riskien arvioinnin päivitys on edelleen tärkeää.
Koulujen alettua myös erilaiset tartuntataudit ovat levinneet. OAJ muistuttaa, että korona edellyttää edelleen muun muassa riskien arviointia päiväkodeissa, kouluissa ja oppilaitoksissa. OAJ. 23.8.2022. https://www.oaj.fi/ajankohtaista/uutiset-ja-tiedotteet/2022/tyosuojelun-yhteistoiminta-ja-riskienarvioinnin-paivitys-on-edelleen-tarkeaa/

Distinguishing features of Long COVID identified through immune profiling (Marked differences were noted in specific circulating myeloid and lymphocyte populations relative to matched control groups, as well as evidence of elevated humoral responses directed against SARS-CoV-2 among participants with Long COVID. Further, unexpected increases were observed in antibody responses directed against non-SARS-CoV-2 viral pathogens, particularly Epstein-Barr virus. Analysis of circulating immune mediators and various hormones also revealed pronounced differences, with levels of cortisol being uniformly lower among participants with Long COVID relative to matched control groups). medRxiv. 9.8.2022. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.08.09.22278592v1

Clinical Features and Burden of Postacute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Children and Adolescents. JAMA Network. 22.8.2022. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2795569

Children’s Risk of Suicide Increases on School Days. Unlike in adults, suicide risk among children is lowest during the summer and higher during the school year. Understanding these patterns can help prevent and treat suicidality. Scientific American. 22.8.2022. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/childrens-risk-of-suicide-increases-on-school-days/

Ylilääkäri: Jos olet kipeä, sinulla on todennäköisesti korona. Verkkouutiset. 22.8.2022. https://www.verkkouutiset.fi/a/ylilaakari-jos-olet-kipea-sinulla-on-todennakoisesti-korona/#1debac39

Rates of COVID-19 Cases and Deaths by Vaccination Status. CDC COVID Data Tracker. Accessed 22.8.2022. https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#rates-by-vaccine-status

Apinarokko. THL. Accessed 22.8.2022. https://thl.fi/fi/web/infektiotaudit-ja-rokotukset/taudit-ja-torjunta/taudit-ja-taudinaiheuttajat-a-o/apinarokko

What were the historical reasons for the resistance to recognizing airborne transmission during the COVID-19 pandemic (Jimenez, Morawska, et al. The question of whether SARS-CoV-2 is mainly transmitted by droplets or aerosols has been highly controversial. We sought to explain this controversy through a historical analysis of transmission research in other diseases. For most of human history, the dominant paradigm was that many diseases were carried by the air, often over long distances and in a phantasmagorical way. This miasmatic paradigm was challenged in the mid to late 19th century with the rise of germ theory, and as diseases such as cholera, puerperal fever, and malaria were found to actually transmit in other ways. Motivated by his views on the importance of contact/droplet infection, and the resistance he encountered from the remaining influence of miasma theory, prominent public health official Charles Chapin in 1910 helped initiate a successful paradigm shift, deeming airborne transmission most unlikely. This new paradigm became dominant. However, the lack of understanding of aerosols led to systematic errors in the interpretation of research evidence on transmission pathways. For the next five decades, airborne transmission was considered of negligible or minor importance for all major respiratory diseases, until a demonstration of airborne transmission of tuberculosis (which had been mistakenly thought to be transmitted by droplets) in 1962. The contact/droplet paradigm remained dominant, and only a few diseases were widely accepted as airborne before COVID-19: those that were clearly transmitted to people not in the same room. The acceleration of interdisciplinary research inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic has shown that airborne transmission is a major mode of transmission for this disease, and is likely to be significant for many respiratory infectious diseases)? Indoor Air. 21.8.2022. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ina.13070

August 21-31

The NHS is being squeezed in a vice. Financial Times. 20.8.2022. https://www.ft.com/content/f36c5daa-9c14-4a92-9136-19b26508b9d2

Pandemic management requires exposure science (MJJantunen). Environment International. 20.8.2022. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016041202200397X?via%3Dihub  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2022.107470

Which COVID boosters to take and when: a guide for the perplexed
A diverse menu of vaccine options leaves people searching for the best route to protection. Nature. 19.8.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-02221-w

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey, UK: 19 August 2022. Percentage of people testing positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) in private residential households in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, including regional and age breakdowns. Office for National Statistics (ONS/UK). accessed 19.8.2022. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditionsanddiseases/bulletins/coronaviruscovid19infectionsurveypilot/19august2022

Asiantuntija (Markku Broas) ihmettelee THL:n koronapuheita: ”Suomi ei yksin voi julistaa pandemiaa päättyneeksi”. THL ilmoitti koronaviruksen siirtyneen endeemiseen vaiheeseen. Maailman terveysjärjestön mielestä pandemia jatkuu yhä. Suomen Kuvalehti. 19.8.2022. https://suomenkuvalehti.fi/kotimaa/asiantuntija-ihmettelee-thln-koronapuheita-suomi-ei-yksin-voi-julistaa-pandemiaa-paattyneeksi/

Time-dependent recovery of brain hypometabolism in neuro-COVID-19 patients (Cognitive). Eur J Nucl Med Molec Imag. 19.8.2022. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00259-022-05942-2

Scientists Discover ”Weak Spot” Across All Major Covid Variants: Study
The weakness can be targeted by neutralising antibodies, potentially paving the way for treatments that would be universally effective across Covid variants, researchers said. NDTV. 19.8.2022. https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/scientists-discover-weak-spot-across-all-major-covid-variants-study-3268899

Health expert warns of spike in monkeypox cases amid shortage of vaccines
Four UK Chief Medical Officers agreed vaccine deployment should be prioritised where there are localised outbreaks. Wales Online 18.8.2022. https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/health/monkeypox-vaccine-symptoms-cases-contact-24787594

ANYWHERE BUT HERE. China now insists the pandemic didn’t start within its borders. Its scientists are publishing a flurry of papers pointing the finger elsewhere. Science. 18.8.2022. https://www.science.org/content/article/pandemic-start-anywhere-but-here-argue-papers-chinese-scientists-echoing-party-line

Onset and window of SARS-CoV-2 infectiousness and temporal correlation with symptom onset: a prospective, longitudinal, community cohort study. Lancet Respiratory Medicine. 18.8.2022. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(22)00226-0/fulltext?fs=e&s=cl

COVID-19: respirator masks cut SARS-CoV-2 infections by >40%. JAMA Network Open. 18.8.2022. https://www.univadis.com/viewarticle/covid-19-respirator-masks-cut-sars-cov-2-infections-by-40-ccc791d1-4826-3288-a6ae-ff773bde8950

Sairauspoissaolo maksaa työnantajalle jopa kaksi euroa (2 €) minuutilta (Sairauspoissaolosta työnantajalle aiheutuvaa menetystä voi arvioida usealla eri tavalla. / Ehkä suoraviivaisin tapa on hyödyntää kansantalouden tilinpitoa: keskimääräinen palkansaajan tuntipalkka oli oikaistuna 26 euroa vuonna 2021. Kun yhdestä työtunnista syntyy bruttoarvonlisäystä 55 euroa, tuottaa yksi työtunti keskimäärin 2,1 kertaisen arvonlisäyksen palkkaan verrattuna. / Tilastokeskuksen palkkarakenne -tilaston mukaan säännöllisen työajan keskipalkka on 174 euroa päivässä vuonna 2021. Sairauspoissaolon aiheuttama työpanoksen menetys saadaan laskettua kertomalla keskipalkka sopivalla kertoimella. Eri laskentatavoilla saa hieman erisuuruisia kertoimia väliltä 2,0 – 2,3. Yllä arvioitu kerroin 2,1 tuottaa keskimääräiseksi sairauspoissaolopäivästä aiheutuvaksi työpanoksen menetykseksi 370 euroa. / Eri koulutustasoilla maksetaan erisuuruista keskipalkkaa: perusasteella 141 euroa päivä ja tutkijankoulutusasteella 251 euroa päivä, muiden koulutustasojen keskipalkka on näiden lukujen väliltä. Menetetyn työpanoksen arvo on 293 – 522 euroa päivältä eri koulutusasteilla. Vastaavasti tehtäväkohtaiset keskipalkat ovat EK:n palkkatilastossa väliltä 104 – 442 euroa päivä, jolloin työpanoksen arvo on 219 – 930 euroa päivä. Suurimmillaan työpanoksen arvo on jopa kaksi euroa minuutilta.). Elinkeinoelämän keskusliitto/Antti Tanskanen. 18.8.2022. https://ek.fi/ajankohtaista/blogit/sairaspoissaolo-maksaa-tyonantajalle-jopa-kaksi-euroa-minuutilta/

CDC director announces shake-up, citing COVID mistakes. LA Times. 17.8.2022. https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2022-08-17/cdc-director-announces-organization-shake-up

How much virus does a person with COVID exhale? New research has answers. One ‘superspreader’ with Omicron shed 1,000 times as much viral RNA as those with Alpha or Delta. Nature. 17.8.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-02202-z

Neurological and psychiatric risk trajectories after SARS-CoV-2 infection: an analysis of 2-year retrospective cohort studies including 1 284 437 patients (Risks of the common psychiatric disorders returned to baseline after 1–2 months (mood disorders at 43 days, anxiety disorders at 58 days) and subsequently reached an equal overall incidence to the matched comparison group (mood disorders at 457 days, anxiety disorders at 417 days). By contrast, risks of cognitive deficit (known as brain fog), dementia, psychotic disorders, and epilepsy or seizures were still increased at the end of the 2-year follow-up period. Post-COVID-19 risk trajectories differed in children compared with adults: in the 6 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection, children were not at an increased risk of mood (HR 1·02 [95% CI 0·94–1·10) or anxiety (1·00 [0·94–1·06]) disorders, but did have an increased risk of cognitive deficit, insomnia, intracranial haemorrhage, ischaemic stroke, nerve, nerve root, and plexus disorders, psychotic disorders, and epilepsy or seizures (HRs ranging from 1·20 [1·09–1·33] to 2·16 [1·46–3·19]). Unlike adults, cognitive deficit in children had a finite risk horizon (75 days) and a finite time to equal incidence (491 days). A sizeable proportion of older adults who received a neurological or psychiatric diagnosis, in either cohort, subsequently died, especially those diagnosed with dementia or epilepsy or seizures. Risk profiles were similar just before versus just after the emergence of the alpha variant (n=47 675 in each cohort). Just after (vs just before) the emergence of the delta variant (n=44 835 in each cohort), increased risks of ischaemic stroke, epilepsy or seizures, cognitive deficit, insomnia, and anxiety disorders were observed, compounded by an increased death rate. With omicron (n=39 845 in each cohort), there was a lower death rate than just before emergence of the variant, but the risks of neurological and psychiatric outcomes remained similar.). Lancet Psychiatry. 17.8.2022. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(22)00260-7/fulltext

Public health taxonomy for social listening on monkeypox conversations
For use in infodemic monitoring and insights generation. WHO Technical Document. 17.8.2022. https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/public-health-taxonomy-for-social-listening-on-monkeypox-conversations?et_rid=35361131&et_cid=4430550

Blood abnormalities found in people with Long Covid. Study implicates lack of key hormone, battle-weary immune cells, and reawakened viruses. Science. 16.8.2022. https://www.science.org/content/article/blood-abnormalities-found-people-long-covid?fbclid=IwAR0-9UxAil5AfnRfhmgLqWTJgcjYiscWeXNchLW07fVjOhky4AbgThYm7cg#.Yv3pboUQQN4.facebook

Tuore tutkimus antoi huolestuttavia tuloksia koronan uusintatartunnoista – Apulaisylilääkäri: Pandemia ei ole ohi- Yhdysvaltalaistutkimus on vielä vertaisarvioimaton. Sen vahvuutena on kuitenkin suuri aineisto, Husin apulaisylilääkäri sanoo. Mediuutiset. 16.8.2022. https://www.mediuutiset.fi/uutiset/tuore-tutkimus-antoi-huolestuttavia-tuloksia-koronan-uusintatartunnoista-apulaisylilaakari-pandemia-ei-ole-ohi/496876c5-e77b-4996-a12b-19356b8d5af8

Tutkimus osoitti ensimmäistä kertaa, että yhteys matalan sosioekonomisen aseman ja koronasairastavuuden välillä rajoittui ainoastaan maahanmuuttajataustaiseen väestöön. Helsingin Uutiset. 16.8.2022. https://www.helsinginuutiset.fi/paikalliset/4790216

Tutkimus paljastaa: Yhdysvalloissa 52 lääkäriä levitti virheellistä tietoa koronasta
Tuoreen tutkimuksen mukaan 52 yhdysvaltalaista lääkäriä levitti virheellistä tietoa koronaviruksesta sosiaalisessa mediassa (52 lääkäristä suurin osa kertoi väärää tai harhaanjohtavaa tietoa Covid-19-rokotteen turvallisuudesta ja tehokkuudesta. Muutamat kiistivät maskien käytön tehokkuuden. Jotkut esittivät perusteettomia väitteitä tai salaliittoteorioita yhdysvaltain hallituksesta tai Covid-19-virusta aiheuttavan SARS-CoV-2 -viruksen alkuperästä.). Iltalehti. 16.8.2023. https://www.iltalehti.fi/ulkomaat/a/b7fd3ebc-6fb0-49e8-be1f-c6ca594f1c05

Healthcare Workers Who Wear Better Masks Get Less COVID. — Observational study affirms better odds of dodging infection by wearing a respirator mask. MedpageToday. 15.8.2022. https://www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdisease/covid19/100227

Group Life COVID-19 Mortality. Survey Report. AUGUST | 2022. [Estimated reported Group Life claim incidence rates were up 20.0% on a seasonally-adjusted basis compared to 2017–2019 reported claims. USA, America] SOA Research Institute. August 2022.

Green zoning: An effective policy tool to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic., Health Policy. August 2022. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168851021001585

Group Life COVID-19 Mortality Survey Report. SOA Research Institute. August 2022. https://www.soa.org/4a368a/globalassets/assets/files/resources/research-report/2022/group-life-covid-19-mortality-03-2022-report.pdf.

Vanhempia kiellettiin tapaamasta vastasyntynyttä vauvaansa Mikkelissä – koronakanteluita tehty jo yli 3000. Eduskunnan oikeusasiamiehelle ja valtioneuvoston oikeuskanslerille on tehty yhteensä yli 3 000 koronaan tavalla tai toisella liittyvää kantelua. Iltalehti kysyi apulaisoikeusasiamies Pasi Pölöseltä ja oikeuskansleri Tuomas Pöystiltä, mitä kantelut ovat koskeneet ja kuinka virallinen Suomi on selvinnyt pandemiasta. Iltalehti.14.8.2022. https://www.iltalehti.fi/kotimaa/a/dae3e5c1-0571-4bf7-a194-ac5e9dd2840f?utm_source=iltalehti.fi&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email_il_uutiskirje

Non-pharmaceutical Interventions and Social Distancing as Intersubjective Care and Collective Protection. Asian Bioethics Review. 13.8.2022. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41649-022-00212-7

Pandemia ei ole ohi, maskit käyttöön, apulaisylilääkäri kehottaa – uusi koronatartunta voi olla edellistä vaikeampi, uusi tutkimus kertoo
Tuore yhdysvaltalaistutkimus antaa syytä vältellä uutta koronatartuntaa edelleenkin. Iltalehti. 13.8.2022. https://www.iltalehti.fi/terveysuutiset/a/927fa44b-fcc7-4658-b57f-b8f53a0c6366

Sacrificing children’s health in the name of Health – A look at the US’s Counterproductive Covid Policies and why Scandinavia did Better (“We Swedes should play with the thought that it could have been us – that it could have been our kids that had had their schools closed, that it could have been our kids that for multiple quarters were forced to go to school with a mask… over the entire world, little children were forced to wear masks, eat their lunches outside in the cold and forced to take rapid tests.”). Sensible Medicine. 12.8.2022. https://www.sensible-med.com/p/sacrificing-childrens-health-in-the?utm_medium=email

Seinäjoen keskussairaala on ollut niin täynnä, että naistentautien osastolle on sijoitettu miehiä – koronapotilaita hoidetaan ympäri sairaalaa.
Keskussairaala on ollut täynnä lähes koko kesän. Heikentyneestä koronatilanteesta huolimatta pandemiaosastoa ei aiota avata.YLE Uutiset. 12.8.2022. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12573331

Ei vähänkään oireisena kouluun, käsiä pestään armotta – katso tästä vinkit koronaturvalliseen koulunalkuun. Koulut avaavat ovensa ympäri Suomea tämän ja ensi viikon aikana. Maskit ja karanteenit ovat pitkälti eilispäivää, mutta jotkin koronavuosien käytännöt pysyvät. YLE Uutiset. 12.8.2022. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12572153

It can feel safer to block out contradictory information that challenges a belief. Cognitive biases and brain biology help explain why facts don’t change minds. The Conversation. 11.8.2022. https://theconversation.com/cognitive-biases-and-brain-biology-help-explain-why-facts-dont-change-minds-186530

Morphological, cellular, and molecular basis of brain infection in COVID-19 patients. PNAS. 11.8.2022. https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2200960119

August 11-20

Distinguishing features of Long COVID identified through immune profiling. medRxiv. 10.8.2022. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.08.09.22278592v1

Hallitus varautuu laittamaan ravintolat ja tapahtumat taas kiinni koronan takia – oikeusoppinut: ”Kestämätön himmeli”. Perustuslakiasiantuntija Pauli Rautiaisen mielestä toistaiseksi voimassa olevien lakien sijaan nyt täytyisi keskittyä rakentamaan pysyvää tartuntatautilakia. Iltalehti. 9.8.2022. https://www.iltalehti.fi/politiikka/a/b39698aa-f62a-4d29-b0ad-fb2e8f852e83

Distinguishing features of Long COVID identified through immune profiling. medRxiv. 9.8.2022. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.08.09.22278592v1

Long COVID: which symptoms can be attributed to SARS-CoV-2 infection? Lancet. 6.8.2022. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22)01385-X/fulltext

Persistence of somatic symptoms after COVID-19 in the Netherlands: an observational cohort study [Long COVID] Lancet. 6.8.2022. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22)01214-4/fulltext#seccestitle130

Post-Covid-19 Symptoms and Conditions Among Children and Adolescents – United States, March 1, 2020-January 31, 2022. CDC MMWR. 5.8.2022. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm7131a3.htm

Long COVID, Cognitive Impairment, and the Stalled Decline in Disability Rates. FEDS Notes. 5.8.2022. https://www.federalreserve.gov/econres/notes/feds-notes/long-covid-cognitive-impairment-and-the-stalled-decline-in-disability-rates-20220805.htm

Conformational flexibility in neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 by naturally elicited anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. nature. Communications biology. 5.8.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-022-03739-5

Comparative evaluation results of SARS-CoV-2 antigen rapid diagnostic tests passing the sensitivity criteria (in alphabetical order of manufacturers), Germany, 2020–2021 (n = 96). accessed 5.8.2022. https://www.eurosurveillance.org/content/table/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2021.26.44.2100441.t1?fmt=ahah&fullscreen=true

Itävaltaa järkyttää korona­rokotuksia kannattaneen lääkärin peruuttamaton ratkaisu kuukausien viha­kampanjan jälkeen
Koronatoimien puolesta kampanjoineen Lisa-Maria Kellermayrin kuolema sai tuhannet osoittamaan mieltään Itävallassa. Liittopresidentti Alexander Van der Bellen tuomitsi jyrkästi vihan lietsomisen lääkäriä kohtaan. Ilta=sanomat. 4.8.2022. https://www.is.fi/ulkomaat/art-2000008982689.html

Blood clots, heart problems, kidney failure: COVID creates a higher risk for rare pediatric health problems, new CDC study finds. Fortune. 4.8.2022. https://fortune.com/2022/08/04/covid-creates-higher-risk-kids-children-pediatric-blood-clots-kidney-failure-heart-problems-type-1-diabetes/

Samhällsnytta före individens rättigheter i Sveriges coronastrategi.
Syftet med den svenska coronastrategin har varit att skydda institutioner snarare än individer. Det menar Per Bauhn, professor i praktisk filosofi vid Linnéuniversitetet. Han har utvärderat Sveriges hantering av pandemin i ett bidrag till en internationell samlingsvolym om etik och pandemihantering. Linnéuniversitetet. 3.8.2022. https://lnu.se/mot-linneuniversitetet/aktuellt/nyheter/2022/samhallsnytta-fore-individens-rattigheter-i-sveriges-coronastrategi/

Das sieht der Entwurf für Corona-Maßnahmen ab dem Herbst vor
Der vorgeschlagene Katalog könnte ab Oktober bis April nächsten Jahres gelten. Dieser sieht verpflichtende Basismaßnahmen vor und Möglichkeiten für die Länder. Der Tagesspiegel. 3.8.2022. https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/lauterbach-und-buschmann-einig-das-sieht-der-entwurf-fuer-corona-massnahmen-ab-dem-herbst-vor/28570952.html

Tracking Covid-19’s global spread. The disease has spread to every continent and case numbers continue to rise. CNN health. 3.8.2022 Update. https://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2020/health/coronavirus-maps-and-cases/

Heart disease after COVID: what the data say. Some studies suggest that the risk of cardiovascular problems, such as a heart attack or stroke, remains high even many months after a SARS-CoV-2 infection clears up. Researchers are starting to pin down the frequency of these issues and what is causing the damage. Nature. 2.8.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-02074-3

Why the Chair of the Lancet’s COVID-19 Commission Thinks The US Government Is Preventing a Real Investigation Into the Pandemic. Current Affairs. 2.8.2022. https://www.currentaffairs.org/2022/08/why-the-chair-of-the-lancets-covid-19-commission-thinks-the-us-government-is-preventing-a-real-investigation-into-the-pandemic

Association of Receiving a Fourth Dose of the BNT162b Vaccine With SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Health Care Workers in Israel. JAMA. 2.8.2022. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2794864

Varautuminen koronatilanteen jatkumiseen kasvatuksessa ja koulutuksessa 1.8.2022.  Opetushallitus. https://www.oph.fi/fi/kehittaminen/varautuminen-koronatilanteen-jatkumiseen-kasvatuksessa-ja-koulutuksessa-182022

Evolution of SARS-CoV-2 Shedding in Exhaled Breath Aerosols. medRxiv. 1.8.2022. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.07.27.22278121v2.full

New trial shows nasal spray reduces infection of covid-causing virus by 62%. A new clinical trial led by Queen Mary University of London and Barts Health researchers has shown that the pHOXWELL nasal spray can reduce infection with SARS-CoV-2 – the virus that causes Covid-19 – by 62%. [Study published iun J Clinical Virology] Queen Mary University of London. 1.8.2022. https://www.qmul.ac.uk/media/news/2022/smd/new-trial-shows-nasal-spray-reduces-infection-of-covid-causing-virus-by-62-.html

August 1-10

The Efficacy of Facemasks in the Prevention of COVID-19: A Systematic Review. medRxiv. 31.7.2022. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.07.28.22278153v1

Initial strategy of vaccinating only known monkeypox contacts was ’doomed to failure’ in the US, experts say. CNN health. 31.7.2022. https://edition.cnn.com/2022/07/30/health/monkeypox-vaccination-strategy/index.html

Spain reports first monkeypox-related death in Europe. CNN. 30.7.2022. https://edition.cnn.com/2022/07/29/europe/spain-first-monkeypox-death-europe-intl-hnk/index.html

Is COVID prematurely aging our immune systems? Repeated SARS-CoV-2 infections may be prematurely aging human immune systems, research suggests. National Post. 30.7.2022. https://nationalpost.com/health/is-covid-prematurely-aging-our-immune-systems

Why The BMJ will no longer report on unsubstantiated press releases. BMJ. 28.7.2022. https://www.bmj.com/content/378/bmj.o1878

Onko korona nyt pysyvästi keskuudessamme? THL:n Salminen: ”Sen kanssa joudutaan elämään ainakin allekirjoittaneen loppuiän”. Koronavirus on tullut keskuuteemme jäädäkseen. THL:n Mika Salminen totesi keskiviikkona pandemian muuttuneen koronaendemiaksi. Mitä endeemisellä taudilla oikein tarkoitetaan? MTV-Uutiset 28.7.2022. https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/onko-korona-on-nyt-pysyvasti-keskuudessamme-thl-n-salminen-sen-kanssa-joudutaan-elamaan-ainakin-allekirjoittaneen-loppuian-verran/8477606#gs.87ezjh

Raju pettymys! Koronan jälkioireet päättävät Maria Huntingtonin kauden
Seitsenottelija oli jo valittu Münchenin EM-kisoihin. Ilta=Sanomat. 28.7.2022. https://www.is.fi/yleisurheilu/art-2000008971328.html

Jari Litmanen kertoo Iltalehdelle, että hänen terveytensä romahti puoleksitoista vuodeksi: ”Elämäni oli pitkään selviytymis­taistelua”. Jari Litmanen sairastui koronavirustautiin heti ensimmäisessä aallossa. Vasta nyt hän tuntee Iltalehden mukaan olevansa voimissaan. Litmanen kertoo nukkuneensa pahimmillaan päivittäin kahdet päiväunet. Helsingin Sanomat. 28.7.2022. https://www.hs.fi/urheilu/art-2000008971090.html?share=ff2d27fd5903f64ef9fdbf58200fea67

THL:n Mika Salminen: Talvella edessä kunnon epidemia. Laitoksen mukaan koronavirus on siirtymässä pandemiasta endemiaan.Verkkouutiset. 27.7.2022. https://www.verkkouutiset.fi/a/thln-mika-salminen-talvella-edessa-kunnon-epidemia/#1debac39

Jopa 10 000 henkeä on voinut selvitä rokotusten ansiosta tänä vuonna, arvioi Mika Salminen ja sanoo, että pandemiasta on siirrytty endemiaan. THL on kerännyt yli 4400 kuolintodistusta, joissa koronavirusinfektio on kirjattu kuolinsyyksi tai kuolemaan vaikuttaneeksi tekijäksi. Yle-uutiset. 27.7.2022. https://yle.fi/a/3-12552244

Long COVID and the labour market. Institute for Fiscal Studies.  27.7.2022. https://ifs.org.uk/publications/16121

Wuhanin villieläintori oli koronapandemian alkujuuri, sanovat kaksi uutta tutkimusta. Torilla myytiin muun muassa eläviä punakettuja, mäyriä ja supikoiria. Helsingin Sanomat. 27.7.2022. https://www.hs.fi/tiede/art-2000008968992.html?share=60f33bf3557b3ad84f863b830791776f

Tapio Sade­ojan kolumni: On vain yksi totuus ja se on THL:n totuus. Miksi THL on vähätellyt neljänsien rokotuksien merkitystä, kysyy Tapio Sadeoja. Ilta=Sanomat. 27.7.2022. https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000008968379.html

Onko apinarokko sittenkään vain seksitauti? Esitimme tämän ja kahdeksan muuta kysymystä virologille. Helsingin yliopiston virologian professori Olli Vapalahti muistuttaa, että apinarokko voi tarttua läheisessä kontaktissa myös pisaratartuntana. Pienille lapsille tauti on erityisen vaarallinen. YLE Uutiset. 26.7.2022.  https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12551225

The Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan was the early epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic (Pekar et al. found that genomic diversity before February 2020 comprised two distinct viral lineages, A and B, which were the result of at least two separate cross-species transmission events into humans (see the Perspective by Jiang and Wang). The precise events surrounding virus spillover will always be clouded, but all of the circumstantial evidence so far points to more than one zoonotic event occurring in Huanan market in Wuhan, China, likely during November–December 2019.). Science. 26.7.2022. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abp8715

The molecular epidemiology of multiple zoonotic origins of SARS-CoV-2. (Pekar et al.) 26.7.2022. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abp8337

Reproduction number of monkeypox in the early stage of the 2022 multi-country outbreak. medRxiv. 26.7.2022. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.07.26.22278042v1

Professorin mukaan Suomi on herännyt jälkijunassa pitkittyneen koronataudin riskeihin: ”Britanniassa on noin sata hoitoon erikoistunutta klinikkaa”. Arviot pitkittyneen koronataudin esiintyvyydestä vaihtelevat. Kansallista tutkimusta aiheesta ei vielä ole saatavilla. YLE Uutiset. 26.7.2022. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12561417

Isolation facilities for covid-19: towards a person centred approach. The BMJ. 26.7.2022. https://www.bmj.com/content/378/bmj-2021-069558

How long is COVID infectious? What scientists know so far. Those with SARS-CoV-2 are often advised to isolate for only a few days. But evidence is mounting that some people can continue to pass on the virus for much longer. Nature. 26.7.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-02026-x

The Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan was the early epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic. Science. 26.7.2022. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abp8715

The molecular epidemiology of multiple zoonotic origins of SARS-CoV-2. Science 26.7.2022. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abp8337

Symptoms and risk factors for long COVID in non-hospitalized adults. nature medicine. 25.7.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-022-01909-w

THL:n Salminen kehottaa päättäjiä harkitsemaan terveydenhuollon resurssien lisäämistä – ”Koronaan ei voida ikuisesti suhtautua toisin kuin muihin tauteihin”. Mika Salminen toivoo, että terveydenhuollon kapasiteettia vahvistettaisiin, jottei yhteiskuntaa tarvitsisi niin herkästi sulkea terveydenhuollon kantokyvyn turvaamisen nimissä. Salminen vertaa koronaa RS-virukseen, joka on toistuva riesa lapsille ja vanhuksille.Mika Salminen toivoo, että terveydenhuollon kapasiteettia vahvistettaisiin, jottei yhteiskuntaa tarvitsisi niin herkästi sulkea terveydenhuollon kantokyvyn turvaamisen nimissä. Salminen vertaa koronaa RS-virukseen, joka on toistuva riesa lapsille ja vanhuksille. Keskipohjanmaa. 25.7.2022. https://www.keskipohjanmaa.fi/uutinen/629659

Preventive Medication for COVID-19 Infection. JAMA. 25.7.2022. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2794799?guestAccessKey=be88b5a6-16ab-4c8e-9b4a-30a2c91f95d1&utm_source=For_The_Media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_content=tfl&utm_term=072522

WHO declares monkeypox a public health emergency of international concern. CNN health. 23.7.2022. https://edition.cnn.com/2022/07/23/health/monkeypox-who-intl/index.html

Korona pitäisi poistaa yleisvaarallisten tartuntatautien joukosta, sanoo THL:n Salminen – näin vastaa STM. MTV Uutiset. 23.7.2022.  https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/korona-pitaisi-poistaa-yleisvaarallisten-tartuntatautien-joukosta-sanoo-thl-n-salminen-nain-vastaa-stm/8473888#gs.6qtyrc

Mid-term MRI evaluation reveals microstructural white matter alterations in COVID-19 fully recovered subjects with anosmia presentation (Brain, Cognitive). SAGE. 23.7.2022. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/17562864221111995

Government must act now to ensure pupils’ learning is not disrupted in ​September. Ministers must use ​the summer break to prepare for Covid surge. Unison. 22.7.2022. https://www.unison.org.uk/news/2022/07/government-must-act-now-to-ensure-pupils-learning-is-not-disrupted-in-%E2%80%8Bseptember/

THL:n Mika Salminen listaa viisi syytä, miksi on hyvä, etteivät poliitikot tai mielipide­vaikuttajat päätä rokotuksista. Salminen kirjoittaa THL:n blogikirjoituksessaan pitävänsä Suomen nykyistä järjestelmää onnistuneena. Heksingin Sanomat. 22.7.2022. https://www.hs.fi/kaupunki/art-2000008962148.html

Rokotusohjelma ei voi perustua mielipiteisiin. THL Blogi. 22.7.2022. https://blogi.thl.fi/rokotusohjelma-ei-voi-perustua-mielipiteisiin/

Euroopassa on käynnissä uusi koronavirusaalto – EU:n tartuntatautiviraston mukaan nousu jatkuu vielä viikkoja.  Euroopan tartuntatautivirasto seuraa tarkasti uutta Intiasta löytynyttä varianttia. Virasto arvioi, että päivitettyjä koronavirusrokotteita saadaan loppusyksystä. YLE Uutiset 22.7.2022. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12545135

As new variant spreads, a crucial drug to protect the most vulnerable goes vastly underused. STAT. 22.7.2022.  https://www.statnews.com/2022/07/22/evusheld-covid-drug-for-immunocompromised-underused/

Duration of Shedding of Culturable Virus in SARS-CoV-2 Omicron (BA.1) Infection. NEJM. 21.7.2022. https://worldaccordingtomatti.blog/wp-admin/post.php?post=2385&action=edit

July 21-31

Omicron spike function and neutralizing activity elicited by a comprehensive panel of vaccines. Science. 19.7.2022. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abq0203

As Omicron rages on, scientists have no idea what comes next. A rapid succession of subvariants is the new normal—but a completely new variant could still emerge. Science. 19.7.2022. https://www.science.org/content/article/omicron-rages-scientists-have-no-idea-what-comes-next

A seven point plan to suppress covid infections and reduce disruptions. BMJ. 19.7.2022. https://www.bmj.com/content/378/bmj.o1793

Association of COVID-19 with New-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease (An infectious etiology of Alzheimer’s disease has been postulated for decades. It remains unknown whether SARS-CoV-2 viral infection is associated with increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease. In this retrospective cohort study of 6,245,282 older adults (age ≥65 years) who had medical encounters between 2/2020–5/2021, we show that people with COVID-19 were at significantly increased risk for new diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease within 360 days after the initial COVID-19 diagnosis (hazard ratio or HR:1.69, 95% CI: 1.53–1.72), especially in people age ≥85 years and in women. Our findings call for research to understand the underlying mechanisms and for continuous surveillance of long-term impacts of COVID-19 on Alzheimer’s disease.). Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. 18.7.2022. https://content.iospress.com/articles/journal-of-alzheimers-disease/jad220717

Preliminary public health considerations for COVID-19 vaccination strategies in the second half of 2022. ECDC. 18.7.2022. https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/Preliminary-public-health-considerations-%20COVID-19-vaccination-2022.pdf

Tutkimus: Pfizerin ja Modernan rokotteet antavat pitkäaikaisimman suojan koronaa vastaan. Tuoreen yhdysvaltalaistutkimuksen mukaan mRNA-rokotteet antavat lähes kolme kertaa pidemmän suojan kuin adenovirusvektorirokotteet tai koronatartunta. YLE Uutiset. 18.7.2022. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12540734

Editorials: The NHS is not living with covid, it’s dying from it, BMJ. 18.7.2022. https://www.bmj.com/content/378/bmj.o1779

An Examination of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission Based on Classroom Distancing in Schools With Other Preventive Measures in Place—Missouri, January–March 2021 (In 3 school districts in Missouri with moderate to high rates of community SARS-CoV-2 transmission, no transmission was documented in close contacts seated at desks at least 3 ft apart. These results support CDC school guidance16 indicating that student classroom density can be safely increased by reducing the minimum physical distancing to 3 ft when other recommended prevention strategies are applied, including wearing face masks. Implementation of this guidance will support in-person education for K-12 students.). Public Health Reports. 16.7.2022. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00333549221109003

MTV: Sauli Niinistö arvioi, että Suomessa vallitsee koronatietoisuuden puute: ”Se vaatii niitä maskeja ja vähän harkintaa”. Sauli Niinistö vetoaa nyt suomalaisiin ja korostaa, että etenkin riskiryhmäläisten tartuttamista on vältettävä. Kauppalehti. 16.7.2022. https://www.kauppalehti.fi/uutiset/mtv-sauli-niinisto-arvioi-etta-suomessa-vallitsee-koronatietoisuuden-puute-se-vaatii-niita-maskeja-ja-vahan-harkintaa/8c9a52ee-a38d-4198-91e5-9e5684400304

2-[18F]-FDG PET for imaging brain involvement in patients with long COVID: perspective of the EANM Neuroimaging Committee. Eur J Nucl Med and Molec Imag. 16.7.2022. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00259-022-05913-7

Omikron jyllää Kiinassa mittavista sulkutoimista huolimatta.
Koronatartuntojen hillitsemiseksi Kiina käyttää koronasulkuja, pitkiä karanteeniaikoja sekä massatestauksia, vaikka toimet ovat käyneet raskaiksi maan taloudelle. Ilta=Sanomat. 16.7.2022. https://www.is.fi/ulkomaat/art-2000008949177.html

Molecular Imaging Findings on Acute and Long-Term Effects of COVID-19 on the Brain: A Systematic Review (Cognitive). J Nucl Med. July 2022. https://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/63/7/971

The Economic Cost of Long COVID: An Update. Harvard University ($billions/5 years: Reduced Quality of Life, $2195; Reduced earnings, $997, Medical spending $528, Total, $3 719, per capita $11 189 Percent od 2019 GDP, 17%). July 2022. https://scholar.harvard.edu/files/cutler/files/long_covid_update_7-22.pdf

The durability of natural infection and vaccine-induced immunity against future infection by SARS-CoV-2. PNAS. 15.7.2022. https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2204336119

Kansanedustaja sai tarpeekseen: THL pitäisi uudistaa kokonaan.
Terhi Koulumies korostaa, että kansanterveysviranomaisen toiminta pitäisi rahoittaa täysin verorahoin. Verkkouutiset.  15.7.2022.  https://www.verkkouutiset.fi/a/kansanedustaja-sai-tarpeekseen-thl-pitaisi-uudistaa-kokonaan/#6d0bdcea

Six-month sequelae of post-vaccination SARS-CoV-2 infection: A retrospective cohort study of 10,024 breakthrough infections. Brain Behaviour Immunity. July 2022. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0889159122001118

Koronarokotusten vaikuttavuus Suomessa. Tervetuloa THL:n kuutioraportointiin! THL Update. 14.7.2022. https://sampo.thl.fi/pivot/beta/fi/epirapo/covid19inci/fact_epirapo_covid19inci?row=inciagegroup-639348&column=quadrimestermonth-642723&filter=measure-639168&filter=incivacstatus-669813

 

Provisional COVID-19 Deaths by HHS Region, Race, and Age. CDC. Update 13.7.2022. https://data.cdc.gov/NCHS/Provisional-COVID-19-Deaths-by-HHS-Region-Race-and/tpcp-uiv5

THL:n selvitys: iäkkäät riskiryhmäläiset hyötyvät selvästi eniten neljännestä koronarokotteesta. THL. 13.7.2022. https://thl.fi/fi/-/thl-n-selvitys-iakkaat-riskiryhmalaiset-hyotyvat-selvasti-eniten-neljannesta-koronarokotteesta

COVID-19 Reinfections May Be Common—But They’re Not Harmless. TIME. 13.7.2022. https://time.com/6196814/covid-19-reinfections-omicron-risks/?

Effectiveness of a fourth dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine against all-cause mortality in long-term care facility residents and in the oldest old: A nationwide, retrospective cohort study in Sweden. Lancet. 13.7.2022. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanepe/article/PIIS2666-7762(22)00162-4/fulltext

Have new COVID variants changed what we know about surface transmission? San Francisco Chronicle 13.7.2022. https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/pandemicproblems/article/covid-surface-transmission-17300795.php

SARS-CoV-2 accelerated clearance using a novel nitric oxide nasal spray (NONS) treatment: A randomized trial (Overall, mean SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations (6·96 log10 copies/mL in the NONS group and 7·16 log10 copies/mL in the placebo group) were comparable at baseline. Primary endpoint mean treatment difference SARS-CoV-2 RNA change from baseline to the end of treatment (EOT) was -0·52 copies/mL (SE 0·202, 95% CI -0·92 to -0·12; p = 0·010) with NONS compared to placebo. Secondary endpoint assessments demonstrated a greater proportion of patients receiving NONS (82·8%) cleared SARS-CoV-2 (RT-PCR negative) by EOT compared to placebo (66·7%, p = 0·046), with no virus RNA detected a median of four days earlier compared to placebo (three vs seven days; p = 0·044).). Lancet Regional Health Southeast Asia. 12.7.2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lansea.2022.100036 https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lansea/article/PIIS2772-3682(22)00046-4/fulltext

Long covid patients travel abroad for expensive and experimental “blood washing”. Feature BMJ. 12.7.2022. https://www.bmj.com/content/378/bmj.o1671

COVID-19’s impact on the brain: Immune response may cause damage. Previous research links COVID-19 infection to brain issues, such as “brain fog” and neurological issues.
In a very small cadaver study, researchers from the National Institutes of Health found that antibodies created by the body in response to COVID-19 infection can cause damage to blood vessels in the brain, causing neurological symptoms.
Scientists believe the discovery of antibody-driven immune complexes on endothelial cells in the brain suggests immune-modulating therapies may help long COVID patients.  Medical News Today. 12.7.2022. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/covid-19s-impact-on-the-brain-immune-response-may-cause-damage?

Statement on the twelfth meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee regarding the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. WHO 12.7.2022. https://www.who.int/news/item/12-07-2022-statement-on-the-twelfth-meeting-of-the-international-health-regulations-(2005)-emergency-committee-regarding-the-coronavirus-disease-(covid-19)-pandemic

Excess Mortality during the Pandemic: The Role of Health Insurance. The White House. 12.7.2022. https://www.whitehouse.gov/cea/written-materials/2022/07/12/excess-mortality-during-the-pandemic-the-role-of-health-insurance/

Kymsote keskeyttää toistaiseksi 12–69-vuotiaiden riskiryhmään kuuluvien 4. koronarokotukset. KymSoten koronainfo. 12.7.2022. https://korona.kymsote.fi/kymsote-keskeyttaa-toistaiseksi-12-69-vuotiaiden-riskiryhmaan-kuuluvien-4-koronarokotukset/

BA.5, Chapter 2. Significant updates from the previous BA.5 story. Eric Topol.  Ground Truths. 11.7.2022. https://erictopol.substack.com/p/ba5-chapter-2

Undercounted Covid-19 cases leave US with a blind spot as BA.5 variant becomes dominant. CNN Health. 11.7.2022. https://edition.cnn.com/2022/07/11/health/ba-5-hidden-covid-case-increase/index.html

EU kehottaa jäsenvaltioita antamaan välittömästi neljännen koronarokotteen yli 60-vuotiaille – Suomi aikoo antaa piikit vasta syyskuussa. THL ei ole vielä ehtinyt perehtyä uuden EU-suosituksen taustoihin. Helsingin Sanomat. 11.7.2022. https://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000008938641.html?share=97c9021486e54028bbcfd9e2920cf013

July 11-20

Rapid improvement in severe long COVID following perispinal etanercept. Curr Med Res Opin 10.7.2022. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35791687/

Huippututkijat: paremmalla ilmanvaihdolla olisi mahdollista torjua hengitysteitse leviäviä epidemioita. Tutkijoiden tekemien laskelmien perusteella tehostetulla ja oikein suunnatulla sisäilmanvaihdolla riski saada hengitysteitse leviävä tauti, kuten Covid-19, laskisi 20 prosentista 5 prosenttiin. YLE-Uutiset. 10.7.2022. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12518229?

Rokotettavien määrä – Kuinka monta ihmistä pitää rokottaa, jotta yksi koronan vuoksi tapahtunut erikoissairaalahoitojakso estyisi? Työpaperi 32/2022. THL https://www.julkari.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/144815/URN_ISBN_978-952-343-896-5.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

Huolestuttava uusi tutkimus koronasta: Jokainen uusi tartunta voikin olla edellistä kohtalokkaampi. Terveydenhuollossa on syytä varautua lähivuosina hoitamaan koronan aiheuttamia pitkäaikaishaittoja, kuten sydäntauteja ja veritulppia, varoittaa Husin diagnostiikkajohtaja Lasse Lehtonen. Ilta=Sanomat. 9.7.2022. https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000008931452.html

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant Sub-Lineages BA.4 and BA.5: Evidence and Risk Assessment. [Evidence shows that SARS-CoV-2 reinfection adds risk of all-cause mortality, hospitalization and adverse health outcomes during acute and post-acute SARS-CoV-2 reinfection, and that the risk and burden may increase in a graded manner according to the number of infections. The evidence that SARS-CoV-2 can cause immune dysregulation is increasing. Reducing the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and reinfection could reduce overall burden of death and disease in Ontario during the pandemic and longer-term.] Public Health Ontario. 8.7.2022. https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/nCoV/voc/2022/07/evidence-brief-ba4-ba5-risk-assessment-jul-8.pdf?sc_lang=en

The effect of COVID certificates on vaccine uptake, health outcomes, and the economy. nature 8.7.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-31394-1?s=09

Long COVID and symptom trajectory in a representative sample of Americans in the first year of the pandemic. Scientific Reports. 8.7.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-15727-0

Rokotuskeskus rauhoittelee keskustelua koronadisinformaation jakamisesta: Lääkärit katsovat yksittäisiä potilaita, THL koko väestöä. Asiantuntijat ovat eri mieltä koronarokotusten antamisesta. THL on laajentamassa neljännen rokotteen antamista loppukesästä. Infektiolääkärit haluavat, että rokotukset aloitettaisiin heti.YLE Uutiset. 8.7.2022. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12529809?

Covid’s chronic effects loom increasingly large. Despite fewer severe cases, the sheer volume of infections means hundreds of thousands are unwell for the long term. Financial Times. 8.7.2022. https://www.ft.com/content/63dcc4d1-8b53-4110-bd44-10e3d1d98585

The Economy Could Have a Long Case of Long Covid. Lingering symptoms for millions of people may place a prolonged drag on economic activity and pose problems for life insurers and healthcare providers. WSJ. 8.7.2022. https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-economy-could-have-a-long-case-of-long-covid-11657272619?st=nax9wf2motn897s&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

Australian medical authorities order Zero-COVID activist Dr David Berger to undertake “education” program or be deregistered. World Socialist Web Site. 8.7.2022. https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2022/07/08/aakm-j08.html?s=03

AHPPC statement on COVID-19 winter update and ongoing health protection measures to support our community. The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) continues to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic situation, drawing upon international and local evidence. Australian Government, Dept of Health and Aged Care. 8.7.2022. https://www.health.gov.au/news/ahppc-statement-on-covid-19-winter-update-and-ongoing-health-protection-measures-to-support-our-community

Opinion The worst virus variant just arrived. The pandemic is not over. Washington Post. 7.7.2022. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/07/07/worst-virus-variant-just-arrived-pandemic-is-not-over/

Pääkirjoitus: Korona ”loppui” kun Kiuru lähti. Heti kun koronaministeri Kiuru lähti sairauslomalle, loppui hallituksessa koronan pelko, mutta kevät ja kesä ovat näyttäneet, ettei korona ole kadonnut mihinkään, kirjoittaa Iltalehden toimittaja Kreeta Karvala. Iltalehti 7.7.2022. https://www.iltalehti.fi/paakirjoitus/a/0e08075e-513a-4709-bc5c-d1ac22444210

Tuomas Aivelo: Koronaviruksen uusinta aaltoa ei tarvitse odotella, se on jo alkanut. Omikronin BA.5-alamuunnos on levinnyt Euroopassa nopeasti, mutta on vaikea ennustaa, kuinka korkeaksi sen aiheuttama tartunta-aalto Suomessa nousee. Iltalehti 7.7.2022. https://www.iltalehti.fi/kotimaa/a/c6631197-9a03-43ca-96e8-e716eda3c3f6

Neurovascular injury with complement activation and inflammation in COVID-19 (Antibody-mediated cytotoxicity directed against the endothelial cells is the most likely initiating event that leads to vascular leakage, platelet aggregation, neuroinflammation and neuronal injury. Therapeutic modalities directed against immune complexes should be considered. COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, neurovascular injury, complement deposition, neuroinflammation). Brain. 5.7.2022. https://academic.oup.com/brain/article/145/7/2555/6621999

The Truth About COVID Reinfections, Now That There Are New Variants
A viral article paints a picture where we’re constantly sick. Here’s what’s actually going on. (Slate trashes TYEE). Slate. 7.7.2022. https://slate.com/technology/2022/07/covid-reinfection-omicron-wave-forever-plague.html

Effects of Previous Infection and Vaccination on Symptomatic Omicron Infections. New England Journal of Medicine. 7.7.2022. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2203965

Duration of immune protection of SARS-CoV-2 natural infection against reinfection in Qatar. medRxiv. 7.7.2022. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.07.06.22277306v1

How long and effective does a mask protect you from an infected person who emits corona virus-laden particles: by implementing physics-based modeling. medRxiv. 6.7.2022. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.07.05.22277221v1

Waning of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine-induced immunity: A systematic review and secondary data analysis. medRxiv. 6.7.2022. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.07.04.22277225v1

Long covid -asian­tuntija­ryhmä: Työkyvyttömyysaallon sijaan edessä tuottavuuden lasku
Neurologian professori Risto O. Roine arvioi, että Suomessa pitkittyneen koronataudin tapauksia voi olla jopa kymmenen kertaa virallisia lukuja enemmän. Helsingin Sanomat. 6.7.2022. https://www.hs.fi/visio/art-2000008919913.html

Korona, joka ei katoa. Edes lieväoireisen koronatartunnan jälkeen ei voi huokaista helpotuksesta, koska miljoonille ihmisille taudista on jäänyt lamauttavia oireita kuukausiksi ja vuosiksi, sanoo Akiko Iwasaki, yksi maailman johtavista koronatutkijoista. HS Vision haastattelussa hän kertoo näkemyksensä siitä, mitä tällä hetkellä tiedetään koronaviruksen aiheuttamista pitkäaikaisista oireista. Helsingin Sanomat. 6.7.2022. https://www.hs.fi/visio/art-2000008873226.html

Covid-19 reinfections may increase the likelihood of new health problems. CNN Health. 5.7.2022. https://edition.cnn.com/2022/07/05/health/covid-reinfection-risk/index.html

Now That BA.5 Is Dominant, Stopping It Will Be Difficult. TIME. 5.7.2022. https://time.com/6193890/ba-5-omicron-dominant/

Get Ready for the Forever Plague. Public health officials’ COVID complacency has opened the door to new illnesses and devastating long-term damage (Canada). The TYEE 4.7.2022.  https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2022/07/04/Get-Ready-Forever-Plague/

Medici famiglia: mai visti tanti casi di covid. Intervenire subito o si rischia la tempesta perfetta. All’Aifa l’appello a modificare il protocollo per la somministrazione degli antivirali, alla politica di investire decisamente sulle quarte dosi. L’intervista di Gerardo D’Amico a Silvestro Scotti. RAI News. 4.7.2022. Medici famiglia: mai visti tanti casi di covid. Intervenire subito o si rischia la tempesta perfetta (rainews.it)

Covid: 84.700 positivi, 63 morti. 118, aumentano i casi di polmonite
Tasso di positività al 26%. Responsabile servizio Emergenza: per le polmoniti responsabile la più recente delle sottovarianti di Omicron, BA.5. ANSA  Cronaca. 3.7.2022. https://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/cronaca/2022/07/02/covid-84.700-positivi-63-morti.-118-aumentano-i-casi-di-polmonite_14b3783f-bb72-41bd-8dcd-f52cf6ea8c5e.html

Infektio­ylilääkäri kritisoi kovin sanoin THL:n linjauksia: ”Vakavien tautien vähentämiseen on olemassa keino”. Markku Broas toivoo, että rokotteista ja koronan aiheuttamista kuolemista keskusteltaisiin enemmän. Ilta=Sanomat. 2.7.2022. https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000008921572.html

Kansanedustaja vaatii selvitystä koronakuolleisuudesta – ”Miksi ihmisten ei anneta suojautua tältä hankalalta taudilta?” Pia Kauma epäilee, onko valmistautuminen syksyn korona-aaltoon riittävää. Hän nostaa esiin myös neljännet koronarokotteet. Uusi Suomi. 2.7.2022. https://www.uusisuomi.fi/uutiset/kansanedustaja-vaatii-selvitysta-koronakuolleisuudesta-miksi-ihmisten-ei-anneta-suojautua-talta-hankalalta-taudilta/f5660af1-48e5-4dd6-9382-160dcde2b05e

Aki Lindén tivaa THL:ltä vastausta rokote­kysymykseen: ”Mitä erityis­perusteita Suomessa on?” Ministeri Aki Lindén on vaatinut jo kolme kuukautta, että neljänsiä koronarokotteita annettaisiin nykyistä enemmän. Koronatartuntojen ja sairaalassa olevien määrä on Suomessa jälleen nousussa. Ilta=Sanomat. 2.7.2022. https://www.is.fi/politiikka/art-2000008921639.html

Comparisons of all-cause mortality between European countries and regions: 28 December 2019 to week ending 1 July 2022
Comparisons of all-cause excess mortality on a weekly basis since the start of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Measures include relative age-standardised mortality rates and relative cumulative age-standardised mortality rates. ONS. 1.7.2022. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/articles/comparisonsofallcausemortalitybetweeneuropeancountriesandregions/latest

Opinion: Monkeypox—not doing enough is not an option. bmj. 1.7.2022. https://www.bmj.com/content/378/bmj.o1631?

WHO concerned about first cases of monkeypox in children. The organization warns that overall cases in Europe have tripled in the last two weeks, although it has not yet declared the outbreak a global health emergency. El Pais. 1.7.2022. https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2022-07-01/who-concerned-about-first-cases-of-monkeypox-in-children.html

Immunity and infectivity in covid-19. bmj. 1.7.2022. https://www.bmj.com/content/378/bmj-2020-061402 https://www.bmj.com/content/378/bmj-2020-061402/rapid-responses

Covid-19: Brazil is recording a fifth of all deaths of under 5s. bmj. 1.7.2022. https://www.bmj.com/content/378/bmj.o1634?

Where’s the herd immunity? Our research shows why Covid is still wreaking havoc. ‘Living with the virus’ is proving much harder than the early vaccine success suggested: this fight is far from over. Guardian. 1.7.2022. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jul/01/herd-immunity-covid-virus-vaccine?

COVID-19 reinfection could be worse than first thought. 9News. 1.7.2022. https://www.9news.com.au/national/covid-19-second-and-third-infections-could-be-worse-than-first-time/66eef293-a9c1-4f1a-bbc2-ca4ab5e5cf02

Association Between BNT162b2 Vaccination and Long COVID After Infections Not Requiring Hospitalization in Health Care Workers. JAMA. 1.7.2022. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2794072

Novavax is part of the FDA’s COVID-19 booster debate, but its vaccine still hasn’t been authorized. The experimental shot played a front-and-center role during this week’s debate about how best to update the COVID-19 vaccines to better protect against omicron. MarketWatch. 1.7.2022. https://www.marketwatch.com/story/novavax-is-part-of-the-fdas-covid-19-booster-debate-but-its-vaccine-still-hasnt-been-authorized-11656528348

EU COVID-19 vaccine procurement.  Sufficient doses secured after initial challenges, but performance of the process not sufficiently assessed. European Court of Auditors Special report 19 2022. https://op.europa.eu/webpub/eca/special-reports/covid19-vaccines-19-2022/en/

July 1-10

An Agent-Based Model to Support Infection Control Strategies at School (The significance of risk reduction through the policies assessed here is of potential relevance for public health authorities and school administrators both at a local and national level. Implementation of standard preventive measures such as mask-wearing and environmental ventilation should be considered necessary in phases of low viral circulation. Active preventive measures such as screening campaigns can be seen as additional measures to be implemented to reduce the viral transmission in the school environment during high viral circulation period to avoid massive school closures.). Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation. 30.6.2022. https://www.jasss.org/25/3/2.html

Long distance airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2: rapid systematic review. bmj. 29.6.2022. https://www.bmj.com/content/377/bmj-2021-068743

Airborne SARS-CoV-2 (Time for an indoor air revolution). Editorial. bmj. 29.6.2022. https://www.bmj.com/content/377/bmj.o1408

Novavax COVID vaccine surprisingly effective against all Omicron variants. New Atlas, 29.6.2022. https://newatlas.com/science/novavax-covid19-vaccine-omicron-booster/

Duration of Shedding of Culturable Virus in SARS-CoV-2 Omicron (BA.1) Infection. NEJM. 29.6.2022. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2202092

First reported case of a person getting COVID from a cat. Scientists in Thailand have established that a tabby passed SARS-CoV-2 to a veterinary surgeon — although such cases of cat-to-human transmission are probably rare. nature. 29.6.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-01792-y

Bad news for Paxlovid? Coronavirus can find multiple ways to evade COVID-19 drug. Lab studies identify resistance mutations in SARS-CoV-2’s protease, and some circulating variants have them. Science. 29.6.2022. https://www.science.org/content/article/bad-news-paxlovid-coronavirus-can-find-multiple-ways-evade-covid-19-drug?

U.S. FDA advisers recommend change to COVID vaccine composition for fall. Reuters. 29.6.2022. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-fda-advisers-meet-discuss-design-future-covid-vaccines-2022-06-28/

BioNTech, Pfizer to start testing universal vaccine for coronaviruses. [Germany’s BioNTech, Pfizer’s partner in COVID-19 vaccines, said the two companies would start tests on humans of next-generation shots that protect against a wide variety of coronaviruses in the second half of the year. Their experimental work on shots that go beyond the current approach include T-cell-enhancing shots, designed to primarily protect against severe disease if the virus becomes more dangerous, and pan-coronavirus shots that protect against the broader family of viruses and its mutations.] Reuters. 29.6.2022. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/biontech-pfizer-starting-testing-universal-coronavirus-vaccine-h2-2022-06-29/

Ensimmäinen tablettimuotoinen koronalääke saapunut Suomeen − tarkoitettu vain vakavan taudin riskiryhmään kuuluville. Tarkat kriteerit on täytettävä ja kotitesti varmistettava laboratoriossa. Mediuutiset. 29.6.2022. https://www.mediuutiset.fi/uutiset/ensimmainen-tablettimuotoinen-koronalaake-saapunut-suomeen-tarkoitettu-vain-vakavan-taudin-riskiryhmaan-kuuluville/eae0f676-6feb-4e09-aa6d-cf5d287b9482

Tapio Sadeojan kolumni: Tuhansia kuollut koronaan Suomessa? Kaikki harhaa vaan on. 4 832 kuollut koronaan. Juhannukseen mennessä tilastoihin ehtineenä, kirjoittaa Tapio Sadeoja. Ilta=Sanomat. 29.6.2022. https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000008912785.html

How long does SARS-CoV-2 stay in the body? BMJ. 28.6.2022. https://www.bmj.com/content/377/bmj.o1555

Up to one in six people with COVID-19 report long COVID symptoms.
One in six (17%) middle-aged people who report being infected by SARS-CoV-2 also report long COVID symptoms, while this falls to one in 13 (7.8%) among younger adults who reported having Covid-19, according to a new study led by King’s and UCL.Kings College London News Centre. 28.6.2022.  https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/up-to-one-in-six-people-covid-19-long-covid-symptoms

New Study: COVID-19 May Cause or Accelerate Neurological Diseases. BioSpace. 28.6.2022. https://www.biospace.com/article/research-suggests-covid-19-patients-at-higher-risk-of-parkinson-s-alzheimer-s-stroke-and-bleeding/

Over half of people with Long Covid for two years are declared unfit to work. DutchNews.nl. 28.6.2022. https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2022/06/over-half-of-people-with-long-covid-for-two-years-are-declared-unfit-to-work/

Australia must plan now for a significant burden of disease and disability due to Long COVID 

Apinarokko uhkaa jäädä kiertämääön ihmisiin (Tuomas Aivelo). TIEDE. 29.6.2022. https://www.tiede.fi/blogit/kaiken-takana-loinen/apinarokko-uhkaa-jaada-kiertamaan-ihmisiin

The BA.5 story. The takeover by this Omicron sub-variant is not pretty. Eric Topol. Ground Truths. 27.6.2022. https://erictopol.substack.com/p/the-ba5-story

COVID-19 could put us at a greater risk of neurodegenerative diseases and stroke. Analysis of nearly one million Danish health records has found patients who tested positive for COVID-19 were subsequently more likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and stroke. Science Focus. 25.6.2022. https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/covid-19-could-put-us-at-a-greater-risk-of-neurodegenerative-diseases-and-stroke

Effectiveness of COVID-19 Vaccination in Preventing All-Cause Mortality among Adults during the Third Wave of the Epidemic in Hungary: Nationwide Retrospective Cohort Study (The whole adult population (N = 6,404,702) of the country was followed in this study (4,026,849 fully vaccinated). Each vaccine could reduce the HVE-corrected all-cause mortality in the epidemic period (VEOxford/AstraZeneca = 0.592 [0.518–0.655], VEJanssen = 0.754 [0.628–0.838], VEModerna = 0.573 [0.526–0.615], VEPfizer-BioNTech = 0.487 [0.461–0.513], VESinopharm = 0.530 [0.496–0.561], and VESputnik V = 0.557 [0.493–0.614]).). Vaccines (Basel). 24.6.2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9319484/

What doctors wish patients knew about wearing N95 masks. AMA. 24.6.2022. https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/what-doctors-wish-patients-knew-about-wearing-n95-masks

Laaja tutkimus: koronarokotteet estivät lähes 20 miljoonaa kuolemaa vuoden aikana. Tutkijoiden mukaan noin 600 000 kuolemaa lisää olisi voitu estää, jos Maailman terveysjärjestön WHO:n tavoite rokottaa 40 prosenttia kaikkien maiden väestöstä viime vuoden loppuun mennessä olisi toteutunut. Helsingin Sanomat. 24.6.2022. https://www.hs.fi/ulkomaat/art-2000008906484.html?share=6ad15524f38aedba1af41699a9a33705

COVID-19 positive patients at higher risk of developing neurodegenerative disorders, new study shows. Medical Press. 24.6.2022. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-06-covid-positive-patients-higher-neurodegenerative.html

Presidentti Niinistö pyysi, mutta ei saanut neljättä korona­rokotusta ennen sairastumistaan: ”Minun on vaikea ymmärtää, miksi niitä pantataan”. Presidentti Niinistö kertoo IS:lle sairastelun ottaneen voimille. Hän perää neljännen rokotteen saajien laajentamista ja on äärimmäisen huolissaan koronakuolemista. – Siitä vallitsee valtava vaiennus. Kuolema on kova asia. ilta=sanomat. 23.6.2022. https://www.is.fi/politiikka/art-2000008901028.html

Global impact of the first year of COVID-19 vaccination: a mathematical modelling study. Lancet Infectious Diseases. 23.6.2022. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(22)00320-6/fulltext

Global Life Expectancy Falls for First Time Since 1950s Due to Covid. Global life expectancy has fallen for the first time since the 1950s following the Covid-19 pandemic, according to new analysis. The analysis, published by the ONE Campaign, has found that global life expectancy has fallen 1.64 years between 2019 and 2021. Bloomberg. 23.6.2022. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-06-22/global-life-expectancy-falls-for-first-time-since-records-began-due-to-covid-19

STM: Laajamittaiselle koronan testaus- ja jäljitystoiminnalle ei ole enää tarvetta. Strategian tavoitteena on jatkossa ehkäistä riskiryhmäläisten koronatartuntoja, ohjata vaikeaoireiset potilaat hoidon piiriin ja turvata terveydenhuollon kantokyky. Ilta=Sanomat. 23.6.2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220623054457/https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000008903640.html

THL muuttaa rokotussuosituksiaan todennäköisesti syksyllä. Osa varastossa olevista rokotteista saattaa olla silloin jo vanhentunut. Suomenmaa. 23.6.2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220623190609/https://www.suomenmaa.fi/uutiset/thl-muuttaa-rokotussuosituksiaan-todennakoisesti-syksylla/

Long-COVID in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analyses. Scientific Reports, 23.6.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-13495-5

China’s first mRNA vaccine is close — will that solve its COVID woes?
Researchers say a highly effective jab will help to avoid hospitals getting overwhelmed, but probably won’t end the country’s ‘zero COVID’ policy. Nature. 22.6.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-01690-3

PAXLOVID-LÄÄKEHOIDON KOHDENTAMINEN COVID-19-INFEKTION HOIDOSSA Paxlovid-lääkitys on tehokas mahdollisimman varhain covid-19-oireiden alun jälkeen aloitettuna ja potilaille, joilla on merkittävä vaikean koronavirustaudin riski. Lääkityksen kohdentaminen on ohjeistettu näillä periaatteilla. Ennen hoitoa diagnoosi on varmistettava terveydenhuollossa tehtävällä PCR-testillä. Hoito tulee aloittaa 5 vrk:n kuluessa oireiden alkamisesta. STM. 22.6.2022. https://www.vsshp.fi/fi/sairaanhoitopiiri/media-tiedotteet-viestinta/tiedotteet/Documents/Ohje%20Paxlovid-hoidon%20kohdentamisesta.pdf

A reinfection red flag. Why a new report is so troubling (Eric Topol). Ground Truths. 22.6.2022. https://erictopol.substack.com/p/a-reinfection-red-flag

Gut microbiota from patients with mild COVID-19 cause alterations in mice that resemble post-COVID syndrome. Research Square. 22.6.2022. https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-1756189/v1

Long COVID symptoms in SARS-CoV-2-positive children aged 0–14 years and matched controls in Denmark (LongCOVIDKidsDK): a national, cross-sectional study. Lancet. 22.6.2022. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanchi/article/PIIS2352-4642(22)00154-7/fulltext

Despite Access to Federal COVID-19 Funds to Optimize Ventilation, Most Schools Use Lower-Cost Strategies. JAMA Health Forum. 21.6.2022. doi:10.1001/jamahealthforum.2022.2501

There’s more & more evidence accumulating that COVID-19 causes a chronic illness in many, and that this correlates with virus persistence in tissues. We should really start thinking about this as an illness where virus persists chronically in a significant proportion of people. [Dr. Deepti Gurdasani]. The Reader. 21.6.2022. https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1539174805198479360.html

June 21-30

Risk of long COVID associated with delta versus omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2. Lancet. 18.6.2022. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22)00941-2/fulltext

“We Have to Get Out of This Phase”: Ashish Jha on the Future of the Pandemic. President Biden’s COVID czar talks about his public-health philosophy, his Twitter threads, his unlikely path to the White House, and where we go from here. New Yorker. 18.6.2022. https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-new-yorker-interview/we-have-to-get-out-of-this-phase-ashish-jha-on-the-future-of-the-pandemic

Monitoring occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 in school populations: A wastewater-based approach. (Children transmit COVID in communities) PLOS One. 17.6.2022. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0270168

Covid infections up after Platinum Jubilee celebrations. BBC. 17.6.2022. https://www.bbc.com/news/health-61839777

Outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 Reinfection. Research Square 17.6.2022. https://assets.researchsquare.com/files/rs-1749502/v1/

The covid waves continue to come. Omicron continues to drive waves of covid infections, writes Christina Pagel, but let’s not give up trying to control transmission. bmj. 17.6.2022. https://www.bmj.com/content/377/bmj.o1504?

Outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 Reinfection [US Veterans study, 0…1…2…3 infections]. Research Square. 17.6.2022. https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-1749502/v1

 

Reactogenicity, immunogenicity and breakthrough infections following heterologous or fractional second dose COVID-19 vaccination in adolescents (Com-COV3): A randomised controlled trial (Neutralising antibodies against Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 were higher after NVXCoV2373 than a two-dose 30µg BNT162b2 schedule. The lowest rate of SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections occurred in participants who received NVXCoV2373 as their second dose.) J Infect. 16.6.2023. https://www.journalofinfection.com/article/S0163-4453(23)00330-4/fulltext

 

Nature Index Annual Tables 2022: China’s research spending pays off
Experts say the country’s strong scientific performance is likely to be sustained in the coming years. nature. 16.6.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-01669-0

Ko­ro­na­joh­ta­ja­na tun­ne­tuk­si tullut Mika Sal­mi­nen vaihtaa teh­tä­vää. Kaleva. 16.6.2022. https://www.kaleva.fi/koronajohtajana-tunnetuksi-tullut-mika-salminen-va/4694403?s=03

Koronakriisin hoitoa johtanut Mika Salminen siirtyy uusiin tehtäviin – ”Ei pitäisi kohahduttaa”. Salminen ei usko, että muutos kohahduttaa suomalaisia. ”Minähän olen tässä ollut vain kasvot, jotta THL:n asiantuntijat saavat tehdä rauhassa työtään koronan torjumiseksi.””Nyt puhutaan siitä, että koronaan pitäisi varautua syksyä varten, se on väärä ajattelutapa. Meidän pitää sopeutua siihen, että korona on täällä. Nyt on sopiva aika jättää akuutti vaihe taakse. Koronaa hoidetaan siinä missä muitakin tarttuvia tauteja.”. Helsingin Sanomat. 16.6.2022. https://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000008889186.html

CLUES TO LONG COVID. Scientists strive to unravel what is driving disabling symptoms. Science. 16.6.2022. https://www.science.org/content/article/what-causes-long-covid-three-leading-theories

Long covid -diagnoosien määrä räjähti Suomessa – Rokotukset eivät pelastaneetkaan pitkittyneeltä koronalta. Helsingin Uutoiset 16.6.2022. https://www.helsinginuutiset.fi/paikalliset/4672874

Persistent circulating SARS-CoV-2 spike is associated with post-acute COVID-19 sequelae. medRxiv.16.6.2022. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.06.14.22276401v1

Life expectancy in racial and ethnic groups in the USA. Lancet. 16.6.2022. The Lancet | The best science for better lives

Neurotoxic amyloidogenic peptides in the proteome of SARS-COV2: potential implications for neurological symptoms in COVID-19. nature communications. 15.6.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-30932-1.epdf

Ylilääkäreiden kannanotto Kainuun hyvinvointialueen organisaatiomuutoksiin: henkilöstöä on kuultu, mutta ei kuunneltu – ”tapa on Kainuun soten kannalta vakavasti haitallinen”. Kainuun Sanomat. 15.6.2022. https://www.kainuunsanomat.fi/artikkeli/ylilaakareiden-kannanotto-kainuun-hyvinvointialueen-organisaatiomuutoksiin-henkilostoa-on-kuultu-mutta-ei-kuunneltu-tapa-on-kainuun-soten-kannalta-vakavasti-haitallinen-220160025/

Astodrimer sodium antiviral nasal spray for reducing respiratory infections is safe and well tolerated in a randomized controlled trial (Viraleze nasal spray against COVID and other virus infections). Scientific Reports. June 2022. DOI:10.1038/s41598-022-14601-3 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/361382162_Astodrimer_sodium_antiviral_nasal_spray_for_reducing_respiratory_infections_is_safe_and_well_tolerated_in_a_randomized_controlled_trial

Selective visuoconstructional impairment following mild COVID-19 with inflammatory and neuroimaging correlation findings (Our findings provide evidence of neuroinflammatory burden causing cognitive deficit, in an already large and growing fraction of the world population. While living with a multitude of mild COVID-19 cases, action is required for a more comprehensive assessment and follow-up of the cognitive impairment, allowing to better understand symptom persistence and the necessity of rehabilitation of the affected individuals.) Molecular Psychiatry. 14.6.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-022-01632-5

Innate immune suppression by SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccinations: The role of G-quadruplexes, exosomes, and MicroRNAs. (Highlights: •mRNA vaccines promote sustained synthesis of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. •The spike protein is neurotoxic, and it impairs DNA repair mechanisms. •Suppression of type I interferon responses results in impaired innate immunity. •The mRNA vaccines potentially cause increased risk to infectious diseases and cancer. •Codon optimization results in G-rich mRNA that has unpredictable complex effects. Food and ChemicAL Toxicology. nn.6.2022. Selective visuoconstructional impairment following mild COVID-19 with inflammatory and neuroimaging correlation findings.) Molecular Psychiatry. 14.6.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-022-01632-5

Selective visuoconstructional impairment following mild COVID-19 with inflammatory and neuroimaging correlation findings. Molecular Psychiatry. 14.6.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-022-01632-5

Omicron infection is a poor booster of COVID-19 immunity. People infected with the Omicron variant show poor immune boosting against future SARS-CoV-2 infection. Imperial College, London. 14.6.2022. https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/237315/omicron-infection-poor-booster-covid-19-immunity/

Immune boosting by B.1.1.529 (Omicron) depends on previous SARS-CoV-2 exposure. Science 14.6.2022. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abq1841

Persistent circulating SARS-CoV-2 spike is associated with post-acute COVID-19 sequelae. MedRxiv. 14.6.2022. https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.06.14.22276401

People who caught Covid in first wave get ‘no immune boost’ from Omicron. Study of triple vaccinated people also says Omicron infection does little to reduce chance of catching variant again. Guardian. 14.6.2022. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/14/people-who-caught-covid-in-first-wave-get-no-immune-boost-from-omicron?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

How many healthy life years for EU men and women? (In 2020, the number of healthy life years at birth in the EU was 64.5 years for women and 63.5 years for men. / Life expectancy at birth for women in the EU was, on average, 5.7 years longer than that for men in 2020 (83.2 years compared with 77.5 years). Healthy life years represent 78% and 82% of the total life expectancy for women and men, respectively. Therefore, on average, men tend to spend a greater proportion of their somewhat shorter lives free from activity limitations.) Eurostat. 13.6.2022. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/-/ddn-20220613-1

Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease Following Influenza Vaccination: A Claims-Based Cohort Study Using Propensity Score Matching. Journal orf Alzheimer’s Disease. 13.6.2022. https://content.iospress.com/articles/journal-of-alzheimers-disease/jad220361#ref020

Japan Has Fewest Covid-19 Deaths Per Capita in OECD, New Data Show
Widespread mask-wearing and relatively little obesity in East Asia are cited for low mortality rate, but lessons remain elusive. WSJ. 13.6.2022. https://www.wsj.com/articles/japan-has-fewest-covid-19-deaths-per-capita-in-oecd-new-data-show-11655116829

Neurotoxic amyloidogenic peptides in the proteome of SARS-COV2: potential implications for neurohttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-30932-1logical symptoms in COVID-19. nature communications. 13.6.2022.

Brain fog after COVID-19 has similarities to ‘chemo brain,’ Stanford-led study finds. Stanford Medicine 13.6.2022. https://neuroscience.stanford.edu/news/brain-fog-after-covid-19-has-similarities-chemo-brain-stanford-led-study-finds

Relax, This Isn’t the Future of Japanese Tourism. It’s easy to be frustrated with Japan’s slow reopening, but the country needs to learn to let down its guard first.  Bloomberg. 13.6.2022. https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2022-06-12/relax-tourism-to-japan-is-not-becoming-like-north-korea#xj4y7vzkg

Covid is making flu and other common viruses act in unfamiliar ways. Washington Post. 13.6.2022. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/06/13/covid-flu-rsv-viruses/

Yle: Husin johtaja­yli­lääkäri varoittaa kesän korona­kuolemista – ”Kehitys voi olla varsin huolestuttava”. Markku Mäkijärvi pitää kesäkuukausia tartuntojen kannalta riskialttiina, koska ihmiset liikkuvat ja lomailevat paljon. Ilta=Sanomat. 13.6.2022. https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000008881999.html

Mild respiratory COVID can cause multi-lineage neural cell and myelin dysregulation. •Respiratory COVID induces CSF cytokine elevation and microglial reactivity •CCL11 activates hippocampal microglia and impairs neurogenesis •Respiratory COVID causes persistent loss of oligodendrocytes and myelinated axons •Respiratory influenza causes similar but less persistent cellular dysregulation. cell. 12.6.2022. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2022.06.008

June 11-20

’More work’ to be done’: Key takeaways from the WHO report on origins of the Covid-19 pandemic. CNN World. 10.6.2022. https://edition.cnn.com/2022/06/10/china/who-covid-pandemic-origins-report-intl-hnk/index.html?

Widespread white matter oedema in subacute COVID-19 patients with neurological symptoms (Brain, Cognitive) Brain. 9.6.2022. https://academic.oup.com/brain/article/145/9/3203/6604299?login=false

Neurodevelopmental Outcomes at 1 Year in Infants of Mothers Who Tested Positive for SARS-CoV-2 During Pregnancy. JAMA. 9.6.2022. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2793178

FDA decision on Novavax’s Covid shots could be delayed to review changes in manufacturing. CNBC. 9.6.2022. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/09/fda-decision-on-novavaxs-covid-shots-could-be-delayed-.html

Study Finds Previous Covid-19 Infection Doesn’t Protect Children From Omicron. Forbes. 9.6.2022. https://www.forbes.com/sites/williamhaseltine/2022/06/09/study-finds-previous-covid-19-infection-doesnt-protect-children-from-omicron/?sh=49cf6e9e1176

The occurrence of hyperactivated platelets and fibrinaloid microclots in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). Research Square. 8.6.2022. https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-1727226/v1

The COVID Event Horizon. How many COVID infections will you have in your lifetime? There’s probably a limit. Medium. 8.6.2022. https://medium.com/@socialcreature/the-covid-event-horizon-37dc504bf503

Concordance of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Aerosols From a Nurses Station and in Nurses and Patients During a Hospital Ward Outbreak. JAMA. 8.6.2022. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2793153?utm_source=silverchair&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=article_alert-jamanetworkopen&utm_content=mthlyforyou&utm_term=070322

Hallitus laatii pelisääntöjä syksyn korona-aallon varalle – Koronapassilla ei enää voisi kiertää rajoituksia, jos niihin turvaudutaan. Hallitus kerää lausuntoja tartuntatautilakiin ehdotetuista muutoksista. Mediuutiset 8.6.2022. https://www.mediuutiset.fi/uutiset/mu/9f7492b9-942f-4298-b4e8-3ea828ea8161

New York Times: Leviääkö apinarokko ilmassa? Yhdysvaltain tautikeskus suosittelee maskia apinarokkopotilaalle ja hänen perheenjäsenilleen, aerosolitartunnoista puhutaan kuitenkin varoen. Lääkärilehti. 8.6.2022. https://www.laakarilehti.fi/terveydenhuolto/new-york-times-leviaako-apinarokko-ilmassa/?

Osa long covid -potilaista täyttää ME/CFS:n diagnostiset kriteerit – Molempien hoidossa ja kuntoutuksessa korostuu yksilöllisyys ja moniammatillinen yhteistyö. Covid-19-pandemia tulee todennäköisesti lisäämään merkittävästi ME/CFS-potilaiden määrää, kirjoittavat Hanna Markkula, Tuuli Latvala ja Eveliina Leinonen. Mediuutiset. 7.6.2022. https://www.mediuutiset.fi/debatti/osa-long-covid-potilaista-tayttaa-me-cfsn-diagnostiset-kriteerit-molempien-hoidossa-ja-kuntoutuksessa-korostuu-yksilollisyys-ja-moniammatillinen-yhteistyo/c6ca5347-41a1-48bc-aa33-2d721d246e4a

BA.5-variantin osuus yli kolminkertaistunut viikossa Husin alueella
Rokotusten ja aiemmin sairastetun koronan tuomaa suojaa kiertävä variantti yleistyy nopeasti. Lääkärilehti. 7.6.2022. https://www.laakarilehti.fi/terveydenhuolto/ba.5-variantin-osuus-yli-kolminkertaistunut-viikossa-husin-alueella/

The Intersectionality of Race, Innovative Medical Research, and Eugenics (For some people, the media is the only source of so-called ‘education’ and this can prove incredibly dangerous. Therefore, it must be a priority to implement a variety of initiatives that facilitate the disbursement of high-quality information through several mediums, at appropriate levels. Information that is provided must be accessible as clear language enables a wide demographic to make informed decisions. This may be the most feasible way we can begin to repair the disintegration of public trust caused by the legacy of eugenics and how we can move towards a more equitable future.) 7.7.2022. Herbst Program for Engineering, Ethics & Society https://www.colorado.edu/herbst/2022/06/07/intersectionality-race-innovative-medical-research-and-eugenics

Nirmatrelvir Resistant SARS-CoV-2 Variants with High Fitness in Vitro. bioRxiv. 7.6.2022. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.06.06.494921v1

The substitutions L50F, E166A and L167F in SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro are selected by a protease inhibitor in vitro and confer resistance to nirmatrelvir. bioRxiv. 7.6.2022. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.06.07.495116v1

U.S. CDC removes mask recommendation from monkeypox travel notice to avoid confusion. Reuters. 7.6.2022. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-cdc-removes-mask-recommendation-monkeypox-travel-notice-avoid-confusion-2022-06-07/

Reducing SARS-CoV-2 in Shared Indoor Air. JAMA Wiewpoint. 7.6.2022.  https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2793289

Covid-19: Doctor who sold hydroxychloroquine as “magic bullet” treatment is jailed. bmj. 6.6.2022. https://www.bmj.com/content/377/bmj.o1395?=&utm_source=adestra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=usage&utm_content=daily&utm_term=text

Suomessa on varastossa yli 3 miljoonaa koronarokotetta – ylilääkäri kommentoi. Suomen suuret koronarokotevarastot ovat monen tekijän summa. Iltalehti. 6.6.2022. https://www.iltalehti.fi/terveysuutiset/a/1a472435-f0dd-4758-8cbf-a1aef16b9cc0

What Our COVID-19 Response Can Teach Us About Dealing With Monkeypox. TIME. 6.6.2022. https://view.newsletters.time.com/?qs=9cb58f3b3de900675050d37e9b6ffb7f1046c9a1ae9705166182eecc6f650ee06006c91f5ac2b1d08814c8613a974a32c9e21a0b23c631e31989e7d00123d09625d8bc616f83a350777fe2b0696e294c&fbclid=IwAR3-zUmfPNK1KYaybI8s8IhOaAfQRaxLWEvhiiJNJCZOBTphHED9CZ0Hb9k

Short-term Mortality Fluctuations. HMD Short-Term Human Mortality Database. 6.6.2022. https://mpidr.shinyapps.io/stmortality/  HMD Finland Total population https://www.mortality.org/Country/Country?cntr=FIN

How Swedish authorities worked to export “herd immunity” to other countries. The following is a submission to the Global Workers’ Inquest into the COVID-19 Pandemic from anti-COVID activists Keith Begg and Virpi Flyg on the efforts of the Swedish government to export its “herd immunity” strategy of mass infection to countries throughout the world. Begg is a communications specialist from Ireland who holds both Irish and Swedish citizenship, and the founder of Media Watchdogs of Sweden. Flyg is a writer, translator, and social media influencer from Finland. World Socioalist Web Site. 5.6.2022. https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2022/06/06/swed-j06.html

Suomalaistutkijat alkavat etsiä kiivaasti long covidin alatyyppejä – diagnoosien määrä on jopa nelinkertaistunut lyhyessä ajassa
Helsingin yliopistollisen sairaalan johtaman tutkimushankkeen tavoitteena on selvittää koronavirusinfektion jälkeisten pitkäaikaisten oireiden eli long covidin taustalla olevia mekanismeja.YLE Uutiset. 4.6.2022. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12468334

Long COVID-19 in children: an Italian cohort study. (Our study demonstrates that Long COVID-19 is a reality in pediatric age and could involve even patients with mild or no acute symptoms. The results stress the importance of monitoring primary care pediatric patients after acute COVID-19 infection and the relevance of vaccination programs in pediatric population, also in order to avoid the consequences of Long COVID-19 syndrome.). Italian Journal of Pediatrics. 3.6.2022. https://ijponline.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13052-022-01282-x

Can long Covid lead to death? A new analysis suggests it could
The CDC is beginning to look at death certificates that indicate more than 100 people who died had long Covid. Politico. 3.6.2022. https://www.politico.com/news/2022/06/03/can-long-covid-lead-to-death-a-new-analysis-suggests-it-could-00036845

Omicron subvariant drives spike in cases and deaths in Portugal
Europe faces prospect of further Covid measures later in the year as share of Omicron BA.5 cases rise in Portugal and Germany. Guardian. 3.6.2022. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/03/omicron-covid-subvariant-drives-spike-in-cases-and-deaths-in-portgual?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Covid Is Way More Lethal to Kids Than The Flu (In the US, nearly six times more kids and teens died from Covid in one year than did from the flu, according to a new analysis of pediatric mortality data.). Bloomberg. 3.6.2022.  https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2022-06-03/coronavirus-daily-covid-is-more-lethal-to-kids-than-the-flu

Lasse Lehtoselta kritiikkiä THL:n rokotussuosituksista: ”Hifistelyä” – näkee myös asiakastyytyväisyyden vaarantuvan. Helsingin ja Uudenmaan sairaanhoitopiirin diagnostiikkajohtaja ja terveysoikeuden professori Lasse Lehtonen antaa kritiikkiä THL:n tänään päivittämästä rokotussuosituksesta. Demokraatti. 2.6.2022. https://demokraatti.fi/lasse-lehtoselta-kritiikkia-thln-rokotussuosituksista-hifistelya-nakee-myos-asiakastyytyvaisyyden-vaarantuvan

Yli 80-vuotiaiden ylikuolleisuudella ei selvää yhteyttä tehosterokotusten myöhäiseen aloitukseen. FaktaBaari. 2.6.2022. https://www.faktabaari.fi/fakta/yli-80-vuotiaiden-ylikuolleisuudella-ei-selvaa-yhteytta-tehosterokotusten-myohaiseen-aloitukseen/

Why did Covid disappear from our collective consciousness so quickly?
Brigid Delaney. Guardian. 2.6.2022. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jun/03/why-did-covid-disappear-from-our-collective-consciousness-so-quickly

Efficacy and Safety of a Recombinant Plant-Based Adjuvanted Covid-19 Vaccine. NEJM. 2.6.2022. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2201300

Covid-19: Two million people in the UK are estimated to be experiencing long covid, says ONS. bmj. 1.6.2022. https://www.bmj.com/content/377/bmj.o1391?

Why does viral RNA sometimes persist after recovery from acute infections? PLOS Biology. 1.6.2022.  https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3001687

People still afraid of catching COVID-19 are costing the U.S. economy billions of dollars.  Head Topics US. 1.6.2022. https://headtopics.com/us/people-still-afraid-of-catching-covid-19-are-costing-the-u-s-economy-billions-of-dollars-32517926

COVID death tolls: scientists acknowledge errors in WHO estimates
Researchers with the World Health Organization explain mistakes in high-profile mortality estimates for Germany and Sweden.. nature. 1.6.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-01526-0/

Hyvästi, Koronavilkku! Sovellus lopetti toimintansa – Sen kautta tehtiin 64 000 tartuntailmoitusta. Mediuutiset. 1.6.2022. https://www.mediuutiset.fi/uutiset/mu/f72367c1-f0c0-41c1-b36d-82457a0bdf7b?ref=newsletter:e718&utm_source=uutiskirje%40mediuutiset.fi&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=MU-Uutiskirje-laakari

Great Barrington julkilausuma eli miten fossiilisten polttoaineiden teollisuuden lobbarit kaappasivat keskustelun koronatorjunnasta. GBD Blog. June 2022. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eLRKtkRg5fnHFs_cgarZWIzsFE6Seya39oCVExD76Kk/mobilebasic

June 1-10

During the Omicron Wave, Death Rates Soared for Older People
Last year, people 65 and older died from Covid at lower rates than in previous waves. But with Omicron and waning immunity, death rates rose again. New York Times. 31.5.2022. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/31/health/omicron-deaths-age-65-elderly.html

Mask wearing in community settings reduces SARS-CoV-2 transmission (We resolve conflicting results regarding mask wearing against COVID-19. Most previous work focused on mask mandates; we study the effect of mask wearing directly. We find that population mask wearing notably reduced SARS-CoV-2 transmission (mean mask-wearing levels corresponding to a 19% decrease in R). We use the largest wearing survey (n = 20 million) and obtain our estimates from regions across six continents. We account for nonpharmaceutical interventions and time spent in public, and quantify our uncertainty.). PNAS. 31.5.2022. https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2119266119

Living with covid cannot save lives, but research can. BMJ. 30.5.2022. https://www.bmj.com/content/377/bmj.o1361

Monitoring for SARS-CoV-2 drug resistance mutations in broad viral populations. bioRxiv. 30.5.2022. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.05.27.493798v1

COVID-19: Infektionen hinterlassen bei Kindern keinen Antikörperschutz vor Omikron. 30.5.2022. https://www.aerzteblatt.de/nachrichten/134653/COVID-19-Infektionen-hinterlassen-bei-Kindern-keinen-Antikoerperschutz-vor-Omikron?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Secretoglobin family 1D member 2 (SCGB1D2) protein inhibits growth of Borrelia burgdorferi and affects susceptibility to Lyme disease. bioRxiv. 28.5.2022. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.05.27.493784v1

A global systematic analysis of the occurrence, severity, and recovery pattern of long COVID in 2020 and 2021. medRxiv.27.5.2022. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35664995/

COVID-19 in 2022—The Beginning of the End or the End of the Beginning? JAMA. 27.5.2022. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2793011?

Aktuell veckorapport om influensa: Denna rapport publicerades den 26 maj 2023 och redovisar influensaläget vecka 19–20 (8–21 maj). Uppdaterad 27 juli 2023 med korrigering av datakälla för Region Norrbottens vaccinationstäckning. Folkhälsomyndigheten. 26.5.2023. https://www.folkhalsomyndigheten.se/folkhalsorapportering-statistik/statistik-a-o/sjukdomsstatistik/influensa-veckorapporter/aktuell-veckorapport-om-influensa/

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2.12.1, BA.4, and BA.5 subvariants evolved to extend antibody evasion. bioRxiv. 26.5.2022. https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.05.26.493517

Virological characteristics of the novel SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants including BA.2.12.1, BA.4 and BA.5. bioRxiv. 26.5.2022. https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.05.26.493539

On the Trail of Long COVID. TIME. 26.5.2022. https://view.newsletters.time.com/

A silent march-Post covid fibrosis in asymptomatics – A cause for concern? (We report a case series of patients presenting with undiagnosed pulmonary fibrosis as a primary manifestation. On evaluation, after excluding other causes, the fibrosis was attributed to asymptomatic or mild COVID illness in the past. This case series serves to highlight the difficulties posed to clinicians while evaluating pulmonary fibrosis in the post-COVID era, more so in mild to asymptomatic COVID-19. The intriguing possibility of fibrosis setting even in mild to asymptomatic COVID is discussed.). Indian Journal of Tuberculosis. 25.5.2022. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37100584/

Evusheld long-acting antibody combination retains neutralising activity against Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5, according to new study from University of Oxford. AstraZeneca. 25.5.2022. https://www.astrazeneca.com/media-centre/medical-releases/evusheld-long-acting-antibody-combination-retains-neutralising-activity-omicron-variants-ba4-ba5-according-new-study-university-oxford.html

Long COVID after breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection. Nature Medicine. 25.5.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-022-01840-0

Long COVID risk falls only slightly after vaccination, huge study shows
Results suggest that vaccines offer less protection against lingering symptoms than expected. Nature. 25.5.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-01453-0

Kuolleisuus on kasvanut, mutta THL ei tingi neljänsien koronarokotteiden ikärajasta – ”En uskonut silmiäni”, sanoo Maijaliisa Aho, 72
Moni ikäihminen odottaa muutoksia rokotusten ikärajoihin. Asiantuntijat ovat erimielisiä, eikä Kansallisen rokotusasiantuntijaryhmän päätöskään ollut yksimielinen.YLE Uutiset. 25.5.2022. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12461806

Suomen ensimmäinen apinarokkotartunta hyvin todennäköinen. HUSissa on todettu aikuisella miespotilaalla orthopox-ryhmään kuuluvan viruksen aiheuttama tartunta. Apina- ja isorokkovirukset ovat orthopoxviruksia. Lopullinen varmistus apinarokkotartunnasta saadaan, kun näytteen sekvensointi valmistuu loppuviikolla. STT Info (HUS).  25.5.2022. https://www.sttinfo.fi/tiedote/suomen-ensimmainen-apinarokkotartunta-hyvin-todennakoinen?publisherId=23980819&releaseId=69942501

Risk of blood clots in lung doubled for COVID survivors: US study. MedicalXpress. 25.5.2022. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-05-blood-clots-lung-covid-survivors.html

Researchers Find a Pathway to Prevent COVID Infection. Medscape. 25.5.2022. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/974617?

Evolution of neurologic symptoms in non-hospitalized COVID-19 “long haulers”(Of 52 patients who completed the study (27 SARS-CoV-2+, 25 SARS-CoV-2−) a median 14.8 (range 11–18) months after symptom onset, mean age was 42.8 years, 73% were female, and 77% were vaccinated for SARS-CoV-2. Overall, there was no significant change in the frequency of most neurologic symptoms between first and follow-up evaluations, including “brain fog” (81 vs. 71%), numbness/tingling (69 vs. 65%), headache (67 vs. 54%), dizziness (50 vs. 54%), blurred vision (34 vs. 44%), tinnitus (33 vs. 42%), and fatigue (87 vs. 81%). However, dysgeusia and anosmia decreased overall (63 vs. 27%, 58 vs. 21%, both p < 0.001). Conversely, heart rate and blood pressure variation (35 vs. 56%, p = 0.01) and gastrointestinal symptoms (27 vs. 48%, p = 0.04) increased at follow-up. Patients reported improvements in their recovery, cognitive function, and fatigue, but quality of life measures remained lower than the US normative population (p < 0.001). SARS-CoV-2 vaccination did not have a positive or detrimental impact on cognitive function or fatigue.). Annals Clin Translat Neurol. 24.5.2023. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/acn3.51570

Post–COVID Conditions Among Adult COVID-19 Survivors Aged 18–64 and ≥65 Years (As more persons are exposed to and infected by SARS-CoV-2, reports of patients who experience persistent symptoms or organ dysfunction after acute COVID-19 and develop post-COVID conditions have increased.COVID-19 survivors have twice the risk for developing pulmonary embolism or respiratory conditions; one in five COVID-19 survivors aged 18–64 years and one in four survivors aged ≥65 years experienced at least one incident condition that might be attributable to previous COVID-19.). CDC MMRW. 24.5.2022. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm7121e1.htm

Why the Air at the Gym May Be More Likely to Spread Covid. A new study found exercisers expel a shocking number of tiny aerosol particles when they are working hard. New York Times. 24.5.2022. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/24/well/move/covid-gym-air.html

Post-COVID C+onditions Among Adult COVID-19 Survivors Aged 18-64 and >65 Years – United States, March 2020-November 2021. CDC MMWR. 24.5.2022. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm7121e1.htm

Aerosol particle emission increases exponentially above moderate exercise intensity resulting in superemission during maximal exercise. 23.5.2022. PNAS. https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2202521119

As Monkeypox Cases Rise, Nations Are Urged to Examine Vaccine Stores
The United States has stockpiled millions of doses of two smallpox vaccines, also effective against monkeypox. But the outbreaks so far are clustered in other countries. New York Times. 23.5.2022. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/23/health/monkeypox-vaccines.html?referringSource=articleShare

COVID-19 symptoms and duration of direct antigen test positivity at a community testing and surveillance site, January 2021-2022. medRxiv. 23.5.2022. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.05.19.22274968v1

How Rapid Reinfection Has Changed the Covid Fight. New variants can infect people who had Covid-19 as recently as a few months ago. The Mew Republic. 23.5.2022. https://newrepublic.com/article/166573/reinfection-ba2-omicron-covid

Where is the next SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern?. Lancet. 21.5.2022. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22)00743-7/fulltext

Widening of inequalities in COVID- 19 years of life lost from 2020 to 2021: a Scottish Burden of Disease Study. JECH. 21.5.2022.https://jech.bmj.com/content/jech/early/2022/05/24/jech-2022-219090.full.pdf

May 21-31

School Masking Policies and Secondary SARS-CoV-2 Transmission. AAP Publications. 20.5.2022. https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/149/6/e2022056687/185379/School-Masking-Policies-and-Secondary-SARS-CoV-2?autologincheck=redirected

Excess Mortality in Massachusetts During the Delta and Omicron Waves of COVID-19. JAMA. 20.5.2022. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2792738?

Child hepatitis cases up to almost 200, say public health officials. ‘It’s important that parents know the likelihood of their child developing hepatitis is extremely low’ says UKHSA.  Independent. 20.5.2022. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/child-hepatitis-public-health-b2083855.html

Monkeypox in Australia: what is it and how can we prevent the spread? The Conversation. 20.5.2022. https://theconversation.com/monkeypox-in-australia-what-is-it-and-how-can-we-prevent-the-spread-183526

So, Have You Heard About Monkeypox? A new viral outbreak is testing whether the world has learned anything from COVID. Atlantic.  20.5.2022. https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2022/05/monkeypox-outbreak-covid-pandemic/629920/

SARSCoV2 variants of concern and variants under investigation in England Technical briefing 42. UK Health Security Agency. 20.5.2022. extension://elhekieabhbkpmcefcoobjddigjcaadp/https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1077180/Technical-Briefing-42-20May2022.pdf

Don’t look away from the implicit eugenics of “living with COVID”(… Not that we don’t see it, but that we do—and look away. This becomes more difficult if we name what is happening: the normalizing of eugenics. I do not use the term eugenics lightly. I recognize it immediately brings to mind the barbarism of the Third Reich, but it also comes in subtler and less overt forms. / Aparna Nair, an anthropologist and historian of disability at the University of Oklahoma, spoke with Ed Yong of The Atlantic this past February who said “(Eugenics is) often framed as part of a past that is over. I think the pandemic has demonstrated that that’s not entirely the case.” / The idea that we can now return to a pre-pandemic ‘normal’ in exchange for the severe illness and deaths of the most vulnerable is best described as market-eugenics or “the eugenics of the market” as Development Studies Professor Vito Laterza and Anthropology Professor put it, in an article for Al-Jazeera. Their article, written in the early days of the pandemic, before vaccines, was about the eugenics ideology that truly underlies the notion of ‘herd immunity.’). rabble.ca. 19.5.2022. https://rabble.ca/health/dont-look-away-from-the-implicit-eugenics-of-living-with-covid/

Families Live in Fear as Long-Haul Covid Afflicts More Children
A hospital in Ohio creates a new clinic to treat those patients. Bloomberg. 19.5.2022. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-05-19/long-haul-covid-kids-coronavirus-proving-more-serious-risk-to-children#xj4y7vzkg

Want to prevent pandemics? Stop spillovers. Decision-makers discussing landmark agreements on health and biodiversity must include four actions to reduce the risk of animals and people exchanging viruses. Nature. 19.5.2022. https://media.nature.com/original/magazine-assets/d41586-022-01312-y/d41586-022-01312-y.pdf

Ensimmäinen polio­tapaus 30 vuoteen on vahvistettu Mosambikissa – Virus hävitettiin Afrikasta jo kertaalleen. Maailman terveysjärjestön (WHO) Afrikan-aluejohtaja Matshidiso Moeti totesi uuden löydöksen olevan ”erittäin huolestuttava”. Helsingin Sanomat. 19.5.2022. https://www.hs.fi/ulkomaat/art-2000008830045.html

Korona aiheuttaa edelleen runsaasti poissaoloja työpaikoilta – korvaushakemuksia on niin paljon jonossa, että Kela palkkaa 50 uutta käsittelijää. S-ryhmässä alkuvuosi oli haastava omikronin viedessä työntekijöitä sairauslomille. Pandemian aikana koronapoissaolot ovat pakottaneet jopa sulkemaan yksittäisiä S-ryhmän liikkeitä tai lyhentämään aukioloa. YLE Uutiset. 19.5.2022. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12450525

STM: Hoivakodeissa on vielä keväällä edessä korona­kuolemia – Uusi tartunta-aalto syksyllä tai talvella toden­näköinen. Suomessa koronakuolemien ja tartuntojen määrä on kuitenkin laskenut maaliskuun korkeista luvuista. Helsingin Sanomat. 19.5.2022. https://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000008826106.html

Apinarokko on isorokon varjo. (Aivelo) Tiede. 19.5.2022. https://www.tiede.fi/blogit/kaiken-takana-loinen/apinarokko-isorokon-varjo

Neutralization Escape by the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variants BA.2.12.1 and BA.4/BA.5 medRxiv. 19.5.2022. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.05.16.22275151v1

Fact Sheet / Eugenics and Scientific Racism (Eugenics is an inaccurate theory linked to historical and present-day forms of discrimination, racism, ableism and colonialism. It has persisted in policies and beliefs around the world, including the United States.) . NIH / National Human Genome Research Institute, 18.4.2022. https://www.genome.gov/about-genomics/fact-sheets/Eugenics-and-Scientific-Racism

Unexplained post-acute infection syndromes (…post-acute infection syndromes (PAISs) represent a substantial healthcare burden, but there is a lack of understanding of the underlying mechanisms, representing a significant blind spot in the field of medicine. The relatively similar symptom profiles of individual PAISs, irrespective of the infectious agent, as well as the overlap of clinical features with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), suggest the potential involvement of a common etiopathogenesis...) nature medicine. 18.5.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-022-01810-6

Kannattaako koronarokotusta enää ottaa? Tähän ihmisryhmään kuuluvien ei ole vielä syytä mennä kolmannelle piikille, kertoo THL:n Hanna Nohynek. Helsingin Uutiset. 18.5.2022. https://www.helsinginuutiset.fi/paikalliset/4612645

Erkenntnisse zu Covid-Infektionen: Warum manche Menschen kein Corona hatten. Während der Omikron-Welle haben sich Millionen Menschen mit Sars-CoV-2 infiziert. Manche hatten aber bisher noch nie ein positives Testergebnis. Woran kann das liegen? BaZ Wissen. 18.5.2022. https://www.bazonline.ch/warum-manche-menschen-kein-corona-hatten-318416937600?

The pandemic’s true health cost: how much of our lives has COVID stolen? Researchers are trying to calculate how many years have been lost to disability and death. (DALY) Nature. 18.5.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-01341-7?

Monkeypox – United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. WHO. 18.5.2022. https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2022-DON383

U.S. monkeypox case reported, as Spain, Portugal report infections in growing outbreak. STAT. 18.5.2022. https://www.statnews.com/2022/05/18/spain-portugal-report-monkeypox-cases-raising-specter-of-wider-outbreak/?

Onko kesä peruttu? Tehoavatko rokotteet? Viisi kysymystä ja vastausta Suomeen rantautuneesta uudesta omikronvariantista
Turun yliopistollinen keskussairaala kertoi keskiviikkona löytäneensä potilaalta Suomen ensimmäisen Etelä-Afrikan omikronvariantin. YLE Uutiset. 18.5.2022. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12451831

Limited cross-variant immunity from SARS-CoV-2 Omicron without vaccination. nature.18.5.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-04865-0.

Omicron Infection Induces Low-Level, Narrow-Range SARS-CoV-2 Neutralizing Activity. Lancet. 16.5.2022. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4099400

Coronavirus may be linked to cases of severe hepatitis in children. Reuters. 16.5.2022. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/coronavirus-may-be-linked-cases-severe-hepatitis-children-2022-05-16/

The Answer to Stopping the Coronavirus May Be Up Your Nose. New York Times. 16.5.2022. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/16/opinion/covid-nasal-vaccine.html

Just how accurate are rapid antigen tests? Two testing experts explain the latest data. The Conversation. 16.5.2022. https://theconversation.com/just-how-accurate-are-rapid-antigen-tests-two-testing-experts-explain-the-latest-data-180405?

Avohilmo: Perusterveydenhuollon avohoidon ICD-10 – käyntisyyt. THL jatkuvasti päivittyvä? https://sampo.thl.fi/pivot/prod/fi/avo/perus06/summary_icd1001?alue_0=11810&alue_1=&alue_2=&palvelumuoto_0=33780&ammattiryhm%C3%A4_0=30664&ik%C3%A4luokat_0=109987&sukupuoli_0=11936&mittari_0=100050&drill-diagnoosi=11

How Australia Saved Thousands of Lives While Covid Killed a Million Americans. The United States and Australia share similar demographics, but their pandemic death rates point to very different cultures of trust. New York Times. 15.5.2022. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/15/world/australia/covid-deaths.html?referringSource=articleShare

Long-term Neuropsychiatric Complications and 18F-FDG-PET Hypometabolism in the Brain From Prolonged Infection of COVID-19. Alzheimer Disease. April-June. 2022. https://journals.lww.com/alzheimerjournal/Abstract/2022/04000/Long_term_Neuropsychiatric_Complications_and.12.aspx

Multivariate profile and acute-phase correlates of cognitive deficits in a COVID-19 hospitalised cohort. eClinicalMedicine. May 2022. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S258953702200147X

Post COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis; a meta-analysis study. Annals of Medicine and Surgery. May 2022. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2049080122003508

SARS-CoV-2 Infection May Present as Acute Hepatitis in Children. Ped Inf Dis J. May 2022. https://journals.lww.com/pidj/fulltext/2021/05000/sars_cov_2_infection_may_present_as_acute.38.aspx

Severe acute hepatitis in children: investigate SARS-CoV-2 superantigens. Lancet Gastroent&Hepatol. 14.5.2022. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468125322001662

Elevated liver enzymes and bilirubin following SARS-CoV-2 infection in children under 10. medRxiv. 14.5.2022. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.05.10.22274866v1

Mistä ylikuolleisuusluvut johtuvat? Koronapandemia on sosiaalilääketieteellinen tauti, jonka ilmaantuvuuteen ja haittoihin vaikuttavat niin lääketieteelliset kuin sosiaalisetkin tekijät. Mielipidekirjoitus. Helsingin Sanomat. 14.5.2022. https://www.hs.fi/mielipide/art-2000008812081.html

Tracking covid-19 excess deaths across countries. In many parts of the world, official death tolls undercount the total number of fatalities. Economist. 13.5.2022. https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/coronavirus-excess-deaths-tracker

You Could Catch Covid Again. And Again. And Even Again. As the virus surges through the US yet again, some people are catching it for a second, third or even fourth time. Bloomberg. 13.5.2022. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-05-13/can-i-get-covid-twice-covid-surges-again-in-us-with-reinfections-rising?

Protecting Children Against Omicron. JAMA. 13.5.2022. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2792526?guestAccessKey=dce928b5-79bb-4785-978d-20cc768a93cb&utm_source=silverchair&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=article_alert-jama&utm_content=olf&utm_term=051322

Epidemiological update: SARS-CoV-2 Omicron sub-lineages BA.4 and BA.5. ECDC. 13.5.2022. https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/news-events/epidemiological-update-sars-cov-2-omicron-sub-lineages-ba4-and-ba5

NICE outlines steps needed to put ME/CFS guideline into practice. NICE has today, International ME Awareness Day (Thursday, 12 May 2022) published its implementation statement which sets out the practical steps needed to put its recent guideline on the diagnosis and management of myalgic encephalomyelitis (or encephalopathy)/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) into. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. 12.5.2022. https://www.nice.org.uk/news/article/nice-outlines-steps-needed-to-put-me-cfs-guideline-into-practice

Premature ageing of the immune system may be one cause of long covid. New Scientist. 12.5.2022. https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25033343-000-premature-ageing-of-the-immune-system-may-be-one-cause-of-long-covid/

High population burden of Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) is associated with the emergence of severe hepatitis of unknown etiology in children. Int J Infect Dis. 12.5.2022. https://www.ijidonline.com/article/S1201-9712(22)00290-9/fulltext

Sairaanhoitopiiri suosittaa neljänsiä koronarokotteita nyt myös yli 70-vuotiaille kotihoidon tai omaishoidon piirissä oleville – Tampere aloittaa heti
Jo aiemmin neljänsiä rokotuksia on suositeltu yli 80-vuotiaille. YLE Uutiset. 12.5.2022. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12441549

”Koronakuolleisuuden voimakas kasvu jäänyt pimentoon”, sanoo HUSin Lasse Lehtonen – Suomi saattaa tätä menoa kiilata Ruotsin ohi
Lehtosen mukaan väärä tilannekuva voi vähentää ihmisten hakeutumista tehosterokotuksiin. YLE Uutiset. 12.5.2022. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12440967

Akuutteja maksatulehduksia havaittu useissa Euroopan maissa, ei yhteyttä koronavirukseen – Suomessa ei viitteitä tapausten lisääntymisestä. Keski-Uusimaa. 12.5.2022. https://www.keski-uusimaa.fi/paikalliset/4600549

Japanese researcher suggests ties between omicron variant and severe hepatitis in children, Japan Times. 12.5.2022. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/05/12/national/science-health/japanese-researcher-omicron-hepatitis-children/

Health outcomes in people 2 years after surviving hospitalisation with COVID-19: a longitudinal cohort study. Lancet. Respiratory Medicine. 11.5.2022. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(22)00126-6/fulltext

Huippujulkaisu The Lancet julkaisi tietoa Suomen hurjasta ylikuolleisuudesta koronavuosina – Mikä on totuus lukujen takana? THL:n ylilääkäri Tuija Leinon mukaan todellisuudessa vain osassa kuolemista koronatauti on perimmäinen kuolinsyy. ”Osassa tauti on osavaikutus, pienessä osassa ei sitäkään”, hän sanoo. Helsingin Sanomat. 11.5.2022. https://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000008803767.html

 

May 11-20

THL:n kaksoisrooli rokotteiden tutkimuksessa ja hankinnassa sai oikeuskanslerin vaatimaan riippumattomuuden vahvistamista. SSS.fi. 10.5.2022. https://www.sss.fi/2019/05/oikeuskansleri-vaatii-rokotetutkimuksen-ja-hankintojen-selkeampaa-erottamista-thln-toiminnassa/

Fulminant onset COVID-19: predictors and outcome. BMJ Postgraduate Medical Journal. 10.5.2022. https://pmj.bmj.com/content/early/2022/05/10/postgradmedj-2022-141724

Suun kautta otettavia koronalääkkeitä ei toiveista huolimatta ole saatu Suomeen – neuvottelut junnaavat tai lisänäyttöä vaaditaan
Tuore tutkimustulos kertoo, että koronalääkkeistä remdesiviiri vähentää varmasti kuolleisuutta varhain aloitettuna. Suomalaisprofessori toivoo, että lääkkeitä käyttöönotettaessa niiltä vaadittaisiin laajempaa tutkimusnäyttöä. YLE-Uutiset. 10.5.2022. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12430354?utm_source=social-media-share&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ylefiapp

Are COVID surges becoming more predictable? New Omicron variants offer a hint. Omicron relatives called BA.4 and BA.5 are behind a fresh wave of COVID-19 in South Africa, and could be signs of a more predictable future for SARS-CoV-2. Nature. 10.5.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-01240-x?

Effectiveness of influenza vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers in Qatar. medRxiv. 10.5.2022. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.05.09.22274802v1.full

New versions of Omicron are masters of immune evasion. Vaccines and prior infection still prevent severe disease from new SARS-CoV-2 strains. Science. 10.5.2022. https://www.science.org/content/article/new-versions-omicron-are-masters-immune-evasion

Covid-19: Fourth dose of mRNA vaccines is safe and boosts immunity, study finds. BMJ. 10.5.2022. https://www.bmj.com/content/377/bmj.o1170?

 

Feature: How Hong Kong’s vaccination missteps led to the world’s highest covid-19 death rate. Omicron has taken Hong Kong from having one of the lowest covid-19 death rates in the world to having the highest daily death rate per capita. A key reason for this is the island’s handling of vaccination. BMJ. 9.5.2022. https://www.bmj.com/content/377/bmj.o1127?

The route back to 2% inflation − speech by Michael Saunders (impact of COVID & Long COVID on workforce) 9.5.2022. https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/speech/2022/may/michael-saunders-speech-at-the-resolution-foundation-event

Surviving the pandemic is only half the battle: ‘Long COVID’ could affect a billion in just a few years. Fortune. 8.5.2022. https://fortune.com/2022/05/08/surviving-pandemic-half-the-battle-long-covid-growing-public-health-crisis-could-affect-a-billion-in-just-a-few-years/

Suomi kärkisijoilla koronakuolleisuustilastossa – Lasse Lehtonen: ”Epäonnistumiseen on vaikuttanut viisi tekijää”. Kauppalehti. 8.5.2022. https://www.kauppalehti.fi/uutiset/suomi-karkisijoilla-koronakuolleisuustilastossa-lasse-lehtonen-epaonnistumiseen-on-vaikuttanut-viisi-tekijaa/d9ec49a7-8766-46b5-a2a0-f7e737ea4a9c?ref=whatsapp:6978

Estimates of excess mortality for the five Nordic countries during the Covid-19 pandemic 2020-2021. medRxiv. 7.5.2022. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.05.07.22274789v1.full.pdf

Prevalence of ongoing symptoms following coronavirus (COVID-19) infection in the UK: 6 May 2022
Estimates of the prevalence of self-reported long COVID and associated activity limitation, using UK Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey data. Office of National Statistics. 6.5.2022. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditionsanddiseases/bulletins/prevalenceofongoingsymptomsfollowingcoronaviruscovid19infectionintheuk/6may2022

Omicron as severe as other COVID variants -large U.S. study. Reuters. 6.5.2022. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/omicron-severe-previous-covid-variants-large-study-finds-2022-05-05/

Masks Work. Distorting Science to Dispute the Evidence Doesn’t (New mask studies relying on a medical paradigm do not erase decades of engineering and occupational science that show they work / Masks work. Especially respirator-style N95 masks. / Amid an ongoing pandemic and outbreaks of influenza and RSV caused by airborne viruses, arguing over the virus-blocking power of masks remains one of the COVID era’s signature follies. Disconcertingly, despite decades of evidence of their efficacy, some of the disagreement comes from a few in the medical field itself, misusing science and endangering lives. / Most recently a Cochrane review, which systematically assesses multiple randomized controlled trials, provoked headlines after claiming a lack of evidence that masks prevent transmission of many respiratory viruses. Not for the public, health care workers, or anyone. “There is just no evidence that they make any difference,” the lead author said in a media interview. This brought an unusual chastisement from the Cochrane Library’s editor-in-chief, who stated it was “not an accurate representation of what the review found.”/ That wasn’t the first time something like this has happened. Late last year, a randomized controlled trial claimed that N95 respirators were no better than medical (or surgical) masks for health care workers. Whereas scientists, engineers and occupational health and safety experts highlighted flaws (see its comments section) in the study, these two episodes point to a bigger fundamental question: whether these types of trials are suitable to test how well physical interventions like masks reduce viral transmission. / Medical assertions of exclusive “ownership” over the science of masks when they are used during a pandemic ignore the fact that they represent a well-understood engineered solution, with decades of widespread and successful use behind them. Demands to reject this evidence reflect a failure to recognize and respect interdisciplinary expertise that has undercut the global pandemic response.). Scientific American. 5.5.2023. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/masks-work-distorting-science-to-dispute-the-evidence-doesnt/

Persistent white matter changes in recovered COVID-19 patients at the 1-year follow-up. Brain. 5.5.2022. https://academic.oup.com/brain/article/145/5/1830/6464331?login=false

Why India’s real Covid toll may never be known. BBC News. 5.5.2022. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-60981318

Näin 4. koronarokotuksen suositus laajenee – Mika Salminen: Suomeen tulossa rauhallinen kesä. Laajennuksella pyritään estämään heikossa kunnossa olevien tartuntoja. Asiantuntijat odottavat kesästä rauhallista, mutta epidemia nostanee päätään taas syksyllä. Uusi Suomi. 5.5.2022. https://www.uusisuomi.fi/uutiset/nain-4-koronarokotuksen-suositus-laajenee-mika-salminen-suomeen-tulossa-rauhallinen-kesa/565bef5e-613d-4f62-b23f-b0cb7b4aa53c

SARS-CoV-2 and its variants, but not Omicron, induces severe thymic atrophy and impaired T cell development. Research Square. 5.5.2022. https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-1581769/v1

Long COVID or Post-COVID Conditions. CDC. 5.5.2022. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/long-term-effects/index.html

Tehohoidon tilannekuva: COVID-19 teho-osastoilla.   Kansallinen tehohoidon koordinoiva toimisto Kuopion yliopistollinen sairaala. Raportti 4.5.2022. https://www.psshp.fi/documents/194344/209627/Tehohoidon+tilannekuva+-+Koordinoivan+toimiston+raportti+2022_05_04.pdf/32c19e78-75ca-02dd-14bc-c50965ae4a04

Mitä maskien hyödyistä oikeasti tiedetään? Maskisuositus päättyi, mutta maski kannattaisikin vaihtaa hengityksensuojaimeen, jos haluaa välttää koronan. Lääkärilehti. 4.5.2022. https://www.laakarilehti.fi/terveydenhuolto/mita-maskien-hyodyista-oikeasti-tiedetaan/?public=e5870728c558cf14d30dff51e32e1935

The Children Left Behind by Long Covid. As the world pretends the pandemic is over, at least a half-million children in the U.S. are struggling with the mysterious disease. Bloomberg. 4.5.2022. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2022-05-04/long-covid-in-kids-has-effects-that-last-beyond-hospital

Lasting brain impacts of severe COVID-19 equivalent to 20 years of ageing (Analysis of the data revealed COVID-19 survivors were less accurate and had slower response times than the matched control population. These deficits were still detectable when the patients were following up six months later. / The effects were strongest for those who required mechanical ventilation. By comparing the patients to 66,008 members of the general public, the researchers estimate that the magnitude of cognitive loss is similar on average to that sustained with 20 years ageing, between 50 and 70 years of age, and that this is equivalent to losing 10 IQ points. / Survivors scored particularly poorly on tasks such as verbal analogical reasoning, a finding that supports the commonly-reported problem of difficulty finding words. They also showed slower processing speeds, which aligns with previous observations post COVID-19 of decreased brain glucose consumption within the frontoparietal network of the brain, responsible for attention, complex problem-solving and working memory, among other functions.). Imperial College. 3.5.2022. https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/236034/lasting-brain-impacts-severe-covid-19-equivalent/

Long COVID: As much as 75% of hospital patients still not ’fully recovered’. -Researchers followed around 2,000 people who were hospitalized due to a COVID-19-related illness. Of the participants, only 1 in 4 reported feeling fully recovered a year after they were released from the hospital.
Some factors the researchers believe contributed to a poorer outcome include obesity and requiring the use of a ventilator during their hospital stay. MedicalNewsToday. 3.5.2022. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/long-covid-as-much-as-75-of-hospital-patients-still-not-fully-recovered

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant is as Deadly as Previous Waves After Adjusting for Vaccinations, Demographics, and Comorbidities. Research QSARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant is as Deadly as Previous Waves After Adjusting for Vaccinations, Demographics, and Comorbidities. Research Square. 2.5.2022. https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-1601788/v1

Remdesivir and three other drugs for hospitalised patients with COVID-19: final results of the WHO Solidarity randomised trial and updated meta-analyses [Marjukka Myllärniemi]. Lancet. 2.5.2022. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22)00519-0/fulltext

Postacute COVID-19 is Characterized by Gut Viral Antigen Persistence in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. Gastroenterology. 1.5.2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9057012/

Inflammasome activation in infected macrophages drives COVID-19 pathology. bioRxiv. 1.5.2022. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.09.27.461948v2

May 1-10

Fulminant onset COVID- 19: predictors and outcome. BMJ. 30.4.2022. extension://elhekieabhbkpmcefcoobjddigjcaadp/https://pmj.bmj.com/content/postgradmedj/early/2022/05/10/postgradmedj-2022-141724.full.pdf

The 4 physician groups leading the political antivax movement. A physician-led attack on public health is being mediated by the Big 4: The Great Barrington Declaration, America’s Front Line Doctors, Frontline Critical Care Alliance, and the Unity Project. MisinformationKills’s Newsletter. 30.4.2022. https://misinformationkills.substack.com/p/the-4-physician-groups-leading-the?s=r

Protection against Omicron re-infection conferred by prior heterologous SARS-CoV-2 infection, with and without mRNA vaccination. medRxiv. 29.4.2022.https://globalnews.ca/news/8688590/long-covid-symptoms-children/ https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.04.29.22274455v1.full

Heart Problems after COVID-19. Johns Hopkins Medicine. 28.4.2022. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/heart-problems-after-covid19

Multivariate profile and acute-phase correlates of cognitive deficits in a COVID-19 hospitalised cohort (COVID-19 survivors were less accurate (G_SScore=-0.53SDs) and slower (G_RT=+0.89SDs) in their responses than expected compared to their matched controls. Acute illness, but not chronic mental health, significantly predicted cognitive deviation from expected scores (G_SScore (p=​​0.0037) and G_RT (p = 0.0366)). The most prominent task associations with COVID-19 were for higher cognition and processing speed, which was qualitatively distinct from the profiles of normal ageing and dementia and similar in magnitude to the effects of ageing between 50 and 70 years of age. A trend towards reduced deficits with time from illness (r∼=0.15) did not reach statistical significance.). eClinicalMedicine. 28.4.2022. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(22)00147-X/fulltext

Long-term mortality following SARS-CoV-2 infection: A national cohort study from Estonia. Lancet Regional Health Europe, 28.4.2022. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanepe/article/PIIS2666-7762(22)00087-4/fulltext

South Africa is being hit hard by COVID again. Here is what that means for the US. It’s too soon to know whether the BA.4 and BA.5 omicron variants will take off in the U.S. as they are in South Africa. But some experts are anxious. USA Today. 28.4.2022. https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2022/04/28/south-africa-omicron-ba-4-ba-5-what-means-us/9553483002/

Monitoring SARS-CoV-2 in air and on surfaces and estimating infection risk in buildings and buses on a university campus. Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology. 27.4.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41370-022-00442-9

Public health impact of covid-19 vaccines in the US: observational study. BMJ 27.4.2022. https://www.bmj.com/content/377/bmj-2021-069317

What Is “Brain Fog” and Cognitive Dysfunction in Long COVID? After recovering from the initial COVID infection, many people are experiencing a symptom that is difficult to explain, yet it may be one of the most life-changing and debilitating symptoms they experience. Cognitive dysfunction, often described as “brain fog,” affects how easy it is to think and make decisions. Unfortunately, these cognitive changes are a common symptom associated with many chronic conditions, including Long COVID. RTHm. 26.4.2022. https://rthm.com/what-is-brain-fog-and-cognitive-dysfunction-in-long-covid/

Critical weaknesses in shielding strategies for COVID-19. PLOS Global Public Health. 26.4.2022. https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0000298

Moderna’s new COVID-19 booster protects better against Omicron and other variants. MedicalNewsToday. 25.4.2022. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/modernas-new-covid-19-booster-protects-better-against-omicron-other-variants?

Resistance to recognizing airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 may be rooted in historical error. (Neha Mathur) News Medical 25.8.2022. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20220825/Resistance-to-recognizing-airborne-transmission-of-SARS-CoV-2-may-be-rooted-in-historical-error.aspx?utm_source=news_medical_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=covid_19_newsletter_1_september_2022

COVID-19 and the Brain: The Neuropathological Italian Experience on 33 Adult Autopsies. MDPI (Biomolecules) 25.4.2022. https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/12/5/629

Investigation into acute hepatitis of unknown aetiology in children in England. Technical briefing. UK Health Security Agency, 25.4.2022. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1071198/acute-hepatitis-technical-briefing-1_4_.pdf

Coronavirus (COVID-19) deaths worldwide per one million population as of April 26, 2022, by country https://www.statista.com/statistics/1104709/coronavirus-deaths-worldwide-per-million-inhabitants/

A rampage through the body. The lungs are ground zero, but COVID-19 also tears through organ systems from brain to blood vessels. Science. 24.4.2022. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.368.6489.356

Clinical characteristics with inflammation profiling of long COVID and association with 1-year recovery following hospitalisation in the UK: a prospective observational study (LC). Lancet Respiratory Medicine. 23.2.2022. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(22)00127-8/fulltext

SARS-CoV-2 productively infects primary human immune system cells in vitro and in COVID-19 patients. JMCB. 22.4.2022. https://academic.oup.com/jmcb/article/14/4/mjac021/6572370

Brain Imaging Changes in Patients Recovered From COVID-19: A Narrative Review (Cognitive). Frontiers in Neuroscience. 22.4.2022. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2022.855868/full

WHO recommends highly successful COVID-19 therapy (Paxlovid) and calls for wide geographical distribution and transparency from originator. WHO.  22.4.2022. https://www.who.int/news/item/22-04-2022-who-recommends-highly-successful-covid-19-therapy-and-calls-for-wide-geographical-distribution-and-transparency-from-originator

Longest known COVID-19 infection – 505 days – described by UK researchers
One of the first occult COVID infections is also described (…evidence that new Covid variants may arise in immunocompromised individuals and present details of one of the first occult Covid infections (cases where the patient was thought to have cleared the virus, with negative testing to show that, but is subsequently found to have had an ongoing infection).). EurekAlert. 21.4.2022. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/950412

An mRNA vaccine with a twist—it copies itself—protects against COVID-19. Company’s limited data release backs promise of new, lower dose vaccine designed to be easier to distribute and cheaper. Science. 21.4.2022. https://www.science.org/content/article/mrna-vaccine-twist-it-copies-itself-protects-against-covid-19?

Longest known COVID-19 infection – 505 days – described by UK researchers. One of the first occult COVID infections is also describedEurekAlert. 21.4.2022. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/950412

Everything You Need to Know About the Hepatitis Outbreak Among Children. Is the number of cases in Israel unusually high, what are the symptoms of the disease and is it linked to the coronavirus? Haaretz explains. Haaretz. 21.4.2022. https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-hepatitis-outbreak-among-children-1.10754895

Israel Examining 12 Cases of Kids’ Hepatitis After WHO Warning
After 84 cases of hepatitis in children were discovered in the U.K. without a known cause, Israel begins monitoring similar cases in hopes of finding an explanation for the recent surge. Haaretz. 21.4.2022. https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-examining-12-cases-of-kids-hepatitis-after-who-warning-1.10752779

Policy stringency and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal analysis of data from 15 countries. Lancet Public Health. 21.4.2022.  https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(22)00060-3/fulltext

Kaksi kokenutta lääkäriä vaatii neljänsiä rokotteita entistä nuoremmille – viidessä kuukaudessa koronakuolemia on ollut Suomessa yli 2300. HUSin Eeva Ruotsalainen ja Länsi-Pohjan Markku Broas vaativat neljänsien rokotteiden ikärajan laskemista pikaisella aikataululla. Näin on tehty myös useissa muissa maissa. YLE Uutiset. 21.4.2022. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12412961

April 21-30

In-person schooling and associated COVID-19 risk in the United States over spring semester 2021. Science Advances. 20.4.2022. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abm9128

Ruotsin valtion­epidemiologi Anders Tegnell ei saanutkaan töitä WHO:sta. Rokotteiden saannin turvaamiseen liittyvän työpaikan oli tarkoitus sijaita WHO:n päämajassa Sveitsin Genevessä. Helsinngin Sanomat. 20.4.2022. https://www.hs.fi/ulkomaat/art-2000008763814.html

Maskeista luovutaan Helsingin seudun joukko­liikenteessä – Finnair tarkastelee maski­vaatimustaan lähi­aikoina. Helsingin seudun liikenne luopuu yleisestä maskisuosituksesta. Helsingin Sanomat. 20.4.2022. https://www.hs.fi/kaupunki/art-2000008763129.html

The Link Between COVID-19 And Erectile Dysfunction. (Erectile dysfunction, or ED. Preliminary studies show about a 20% increase in the incidence of erectile dysfunction in men who have had COVID-19 compared to men who haven’t had COVID-19). Henry Ford Health. 19.4.2022. https://www.henryford.com/blog/2022/04/covid-and-erectile-dysfunction

UK to have slowest growth of G7 nations in 2023, says IMF. PM’s claims that Britain has strongest rebound in group undermined by fund’s latest economic forecast (COVID pandemic).  Financial Times. 19.4.2022. https://www.ft.com/content/4ac7e454-5a0c-4094-90af-fb54404d45a0

THL:n Mika Salminen tokaisi Ylellä työterveydestä ”suosittu mutta typerä”– ja palautetta vyöryy. Mika Salmisen mielestä terveydenhuoltojärjestelmän pitäisi olla kaikille sama riippumatta siitä, käykö ihminen töissä. Mediuutiset. 19.4.2022. https://www.mediuutiset.fi/uutiset/mu/dd510566-85d2-4472-9165-4e1e81db3909

Global COVID-19 Death Toll May Be Triple the Reported Deaths. JAMA. 19.4.2022. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2791213?

Pulmonary fibrosis seen in half of COVID-19 survivors. Univadis. 18.4.2022. https://www.univadis.com/viewarticle/pulmonary-fibrosis-seen-in-half-of-covid-19-survivors-76f7a96b-ee38-31c8-9986-f9aa25b835a3?

Six-month sequelae of post-vaccination SARS-CoV-2 infection: A retrospective cohort study of 10,024 breakthrough infections. Brain Behaviour and Immunity. 18.4.2022. https://reader.elsevier.com/reader/sd/pii/S0889159122001118?

Dose-response modelling of endemic coronavirus and SARS-CoV-2: human challenge trials reveal the individual variation in susceptibility. medRxiv. 16.4.2022. https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.04.07.22273549; t

Global Prevalence of Post COVID-19 Condition or Long COVID: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review. J Infect Dis. 16.4.2022. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35429399/

Vaccines are no match for long Covid. Treating it is science’s next great challenge. Guardian. 16.4.2022. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/apr/16/vaccines-long-covid-science?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

Protocol for isolation and analysis of small volatile microbiome metabolites from human or mouse samples.STAR Protocols 15.4.2022. https://star-protocols.cell.com/protocols/1569?twclid=2-6ci34ce4rrh3velfxq0m1y76w

Pitkäkestoinen ylikuolleisuusanomalia 2022. Rönning & Guldbransen. April 2022.  https://jarjenaani.fi/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Ylikuolleisuusanomalia2021-1.pdf

Even mild COVID-19 can cause your brain to shrink. Recent brain imaging shows the disease can cause physical changes equivalent to a decade of aging and trigger problems with attention and memory. Exactly why is still a mystery. National Geographic. 15.4.2022. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/article/even-mild-covid-19-can-cause-your-brain-to-shrink?

Acute hepatitis of unknown aetiology – the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. WHO. 15.4.2022. https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/acute-hepatitis-of-unknown-aetiology—the-united-kingdom-of-great-britain-and-northern-ireland

FDA authorizes first Covid-19 breath test. CNN health. 15.4.2022. https://edition.cnn.com/2022/04/14/health/covid-breath-test/index.html?

Modelling COVID-19 in school settings to evaluate prevention and control protocols (In the context of schools as well, reactive protocols are not able to make significant impacts because waiting for symptomatic cases to be detected corresponds to a lack of anticipation of the spread dynamics. Moreover, at high incidence, reactive testing imposes a large number of tests but in an unanticipated way, thus causing shortages and delays [19]. Iterative screening protocols instead detect both presymptomatic and asymptomatic cases, can be planned efficiently and would constitute moreover an epidemic surveillance tool that allows detecting the beginning of a new wave in a timely fashion.).  Anaesthesia Critical Care & Pain Medicine, April 2022. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352556822000285?via%3Dihub

Estimating excess mortality due to the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic analysis of COVID-19-related mortality, 2020–21. Lancet. 14.4.2022. https://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S0140-6736%2821%2902796-3

Hundreds are still dying from Covid every day. Why is Paxlovid sitting on shelves? The supply of Pfizer’s highly effective antiviral pill has rapidly increased, but many physicians still aren’t prescribing it. NBCNews.14.4.2022. https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/covid-antiviral-pill-paxlovid-underused-supply-rcna24200

COVID-19 Autopsies Reveal Underreporting of SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Scarcity of Co-infections.  Frontiers in Medicine. 14.4.2022. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2022.868954/full

SARS-CoV-2 Actively Infects And Kills Lymphoid Cells. Forbes. 14.4.2022. https://www.forbes.com/sites/williamhaseltine/2022/04/14/sars-cov-2-actively-infects-and-kills-lymphoid-cells/?sh=2c22257786b8

Po­ti­laan Lää­kä­ri­leh­ti: Neu­ro­lo­gian pro­fes­so­rin mukaan ko­ro­na­tar­tun­nan vält­te­ly on yhä jär­ke­vää, Koro­na­tar­tunnan vält­tely on neuro­logian pro­fes­sorin Ris­to O. Roi­neen mukaan edelleen jär­kevää. Roine kommentoi asiaa Potilaan lääkärilehdessä. Kaleva. 14.4.2022. https://www.kaleva.fi/potilaan-laakarilehti-neurologian-professorin-muka/4521049

SARS-CoV-2 Actively Infects And Kills Lymphoid Cells. Forbes. 14.4.2022. https://www.forbes.com/sites/williamhaseltine/2022/04/14/sars-cov-2-actively-infects-and-kills-lymphoid-cells/?sh=cf4122486b89

Unmasked Facies. JAMA. 14.4.2022. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2791316

Omikron BA.2 on nyt yleisin jätevesien koronavirusmuunnos Koronaviruksen RNA:n kokonaismäärä Suomen jätevesissä on edelleen korkealla tasolla. Mediuutiset. 13.4.2022. https://www.mediuutiset.fi/uutiset/mu/00b5d440-733e-49df-aa28-c181927582c6

Statement on the eleventh meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee regarding the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. WHO. 13.4.2022. https://www.who.int/news/item/13-04-2022-statement-on-the-eleventh-meeting-of-the-international-health-regulations-(2005)-emergency-committee-regarding-the-coronavirus-disease-(covid-19)-pandemic

COVID-19: “THE ELIMINATION OF THE VIRUS IS ALWAYS POSSIBLE”
Interview with Yaneer Bar-Yam. World Health Network. 12.4.2022. https://www.worldhealthnetwork.global/yaneer-interview

Gastrointestinal symptoms and fecal shedding of SARS-CoV-2 RNA suggest prolonged gastrointestinal infection. Clinical Advances. 12.4.2022. https://www.cell.com/med/fulltext/S2666-6340(22)00167-2

Gastrointestinal symptoms and fecal shedding of SARS-CoV-2 RNA suggest prolonged gastrointestinal infection. Clinical Advances. 12.4.2022. https://www.cell.com/med/fulltext/S2666-6340(22)00167-2

COVID-19: Current cases. Information about confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in New Zealand. Ministry of Health. 11.4.2022. https://www.mediuutiset.fi/uutiset/mu/d12f17a8-a11a-4aad-a02a-8c47c99a4834

NHS chiefs call for return of masks and limits on indoor mixing. The NHS Confederation wants a return to mask use. Health chiefs want the government to reconsider its ’living with Covid plan’ and are urging a return to mask use, accusing No10 of abandoning ”any interest in Covid whatsoever.” LBC. 11.4.2022. https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/nhs-chiefs-call-for-return-of-masks-and-limits-on-indoor-mixing/

Postmortem Assessment of Olfactory Tissue Degeneration and Microvasculopathy in Patients With COVID-19. JAMA Neurology. 11.4.2022. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/fullarticle/2790735

Aivot ottavat koronasta osumaa. Korona ei vanhenna aivoja kymmentä vuotta, vaan kohutussa brittitutkimuksessa havaittiin sen aiheuttavan volyymikatoa aivojen etualaosassa etenkin iäkkäillä. Lääkärilehti. 11.4.2022. https://www.laakarilehti.fi/terveydenhuolto/aivot-ottavat-koronasta-osumaa/

Japan’s Low-Key Covid Campaign Has Lessons for China
The strident efforts in the People’s Republic are in stark contrast to the restrained but more sustainable efforts by its old rival to the east. Bloomberg. 11.4.2022. https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2022-04-10/japan-s-low-key-covid-campaign-is-more-sustainable-than-china-s-all-out-efforts

April 11-20

Tutkimukset osoittavat, että vähintään 30 prosenttia Suomen väestöstä on saanut koronatartunnan – THL:n Salminen: Osuus voi olla vielä tätäkin isompi. Tutkimukset perustuvat satunnaisotantaan, jossa on tarkasteltu verinäytteistä löydettyjä vasta-aineita. Löydetyt määrät ovat paljon virallisia tartuntalukuja suuremmat, ja tämäkin arvio on vain minimimäärä. YLE Uutiset. 10.4.2022. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12424610

Erikoislääkäri Maria Juusela pohtii, pitäisikö meillä olla itsenäinen koronapandemian seurantalaskuri? Juusela myös ihmettelee, missä viipyvät päätökset ikäihmisten 4. rokotteista ja kolmas rokotekierros 12–17-vuotiaille? MediUutiset. 10.4.2022. https://www.mediuutiset.fi/uutiset/mu/d12f17a8-a11a-4aad-a02a-8c47c99a4834

Notes from the Field: SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant Infection in 10 Persons Within 90 Days of Previous SARS-CoV-2 Delta Variant Infection — Four States, October 2021–January 2022. CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 8.4.2022. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm7114a2.htm

Estimating global, regional, and national daily and cumulative infections with SARS-CoV-2 through Nov 14, 2021: a statistical analysis. Lancet. 8.4.2022. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22)00484-6/fulltext

FcγR-mediated SARS-CoV-2 infection of monocytes activates inflammation. Nature. 8.4.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-04702-4

”Tästä tulee tauti muiden joukossa” – Koronaepidemiassa ei ole näkynyt laantumisen merkkejä, mutta asiantuntijat toivovat, että kevään epidemia­huippu olisi jo saavutettu. ”Todennäköisesti neljänsiin rokotuksiin tullaan menemään myöskin nuoremmissa ikäryhmissä, mutta ajoitus ja ajankohta täytyy määrittää tarkan seurantatiedon perusteella”, sanoi Taneli Puumalainen sosiaali- ja terveysministeriöstä. Helsingin Sanomat. 7.4.2022. https://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000008733903.html

Korona piinaa jatkossakin: ”Suurin osa tulee sairastamaan monta kertaa elämänsä aikana” (Mika Salminen). MTV Uutiset. 7.4.2022. https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/korona-piinaa-jatkossakin-suurin-osa-tulee-sairastamaan-monta-kertaa-elamansa-aikana/8397892#gs.9jqtea

The Latest on Long Covid Research with Dr. Iwasaki. YouTube. 7.4.2022. https://www.youtube.com/embed/CF4j-EVPlPU

Use of face masks did not impact COVID-19 incidence among 10–12-year-olds in Finland. medRxiv. 7.4.2022. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.04.04.22272833v1

Covid-19: Symptomatic infection with omicron variant is milder and shorter than with delta, study reports. BMJ. 7.4.2022. https://www.bmj.com/content/377/bmj.o922

COVID-19 Linked to Increased Risk of Blood Clots Even Months Later: What to Know. A new study finds that people who had COVID-19 are at increased risk for blood disorders months after their illness.
This may be due to inflammation from the illness.
Getting vaccinated can help protect people from developing blood clots or bleeding disorders after COVID-19. HealthLine. 6.4.2022. https://www.healthline.com/health-news/covid-19-linked-to-increased-risk-of-blood-clots-even-months-later-what-to-know

Risks of deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and bleeding after covid-19: nationwide self-controlled cases series and matched cohort study. BMJ. 6.4.2022. https://www.bmj.com/content/377/bmj-2021-069590

Post COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis; a meta-analysis study. Ann Med Surg. 6.4.2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8983072/

 

Why the WHO took two years to say COVID is airborne. Early in the pandemic, the World Health Organization stated that SARS-CoV-2 was not transmitted through the air. That mistake and the prolonged process of correcting it sowed confusion and raises questions about what will happen in the next pandemic. Nature. 6.4.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-00925-7#:~:text=Early%20in%20the%20pandemic%2C%20the,happen%20in%20the%20next%20pandemic.

What triggers severe COVID? Infected immune cells hold clues. Studies have revealed that infected immune cells prompt a massive inflammatory response. Nature. 6.4.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-00925-7?

Long Covid-19 may remain a chronic condition for millions. CNN. 6.4.2022. https://edition.cnn.com/2022/04/06/health/long-covid-19-what-it-is/index.html?utm_term=1649773240313cb7d3e794e8f&utm_source=cnn_04.12.22+Results+are+In&utm_medium=email&bt_ee=PEXLei5P3p%2BiG1z4Yln2Auu78mQi6iafOQnIivqIAJmUfotwGi0zJPx41Ek%2Fpfri&bt_ts=1649773240315

Exhaled CO2 as a COVID-19 Infection Risk Proxy for Different Indoor Environments and Activities. National Library of Medicine. (Environ Sci Technol Lett) 5.4.2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8043197/

Protection by a Fourth Dose of BNT162b2 against Omicron in Israel. NEJM. 5.4.2022. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2201570?query=recirc_mostViewed_railB_article

The Severity of the Co-infection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in COVID-19 Patients (COVID-19 with a concomitant M. pneumoniae infection was found to have worse outcomes and overall prognosis when compared to individuals with independent disease states. Based on retrospective data gathered from a large multicenter database, the rates of mortality, ventilatory support, and length of hospital stay were significantly worse in patients with a co-infection of SARS-CoV-2 and M. pneumoniae.). Cureus. 28.4.2022. https://assets.cureus.com/uploads/original_article/pdf/93180/20220528-7451-13plinw.pdf

Koronapotilaita on kuollut kolmessa kuukaudessa enemmän kuin koko viime vuonna – THL:n Salmisen mukaan keinot suunnan kääntämiseksi ovat vähissä. Lähes kaikki koronavirukseen kuolevat suomalaiset ovat jo valmiiksi sairaita, kertoo johtava asiantuntija Sirkka Goebeler THL:sta. (ei oikein keinoja ole, Mika Salminen THL:stä toteaa, että koronakuolemien määrä alkaa laskea viimeistään kun tapausmäärät lähtevät laskuun). Helsingin Sanomat. 4.4.2022. https://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000008723113.html

Glasses and risk of COVID-19 transmission – analysis of the Virus Watch Community Cohort study. medRxiv. 4.4.2022. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/medrxiv/early/2022/04/04/2022.03.29.22272997.full.pdf

Bars, cinemas, gyms: Belgium agrees on ‘ventilation plan’ for public places. The Brussels Times. 4.4.2022. https://www.brusselstimes.com/belgium-news/214866/bars-cinemas-gyms-belgium-agrees-on-ventilation-plan-for-public-places?s=03

Cardiac impairment in Long Covid 1-year post-SARS-CoV-2 infection. medRxiv. 4.4.2022. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.04.03.22272610v1

Prof Jeremy Nicholson: the link between Long Covid and heart disease. RNZ. 2.4.2022. https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/saturday/audio/2018836711/prof-jeremy-nicholson-the-link-between-long-covid-and-heart-disease

What Is The Omicron XE Variant And Why Are Scientists Concerned About Its Rapid Transmission Rate? Medriva. 2.4.2022. https://medriva.com/what-is-the-omicron-xe-variant-and-why-are-scientists-concerned-about-their-rapid-transmission-rates-fueling-the-uk/

What Drives Post-COVID Cognitive Changes? — New research hints at why COVID brain fog may persist. Medpage Today. 1.4.2022.  https://www.medpagetoday.com/neurology/generalneurology/97981

Projecting COVID-19 Mortality as States Relax Nonpharmacologic Interventions. JAMA Health Forum. 1.4.2022. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama-health-forum/fullarticle/2790812?

Incidence Rates and Clinical Outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 Infection With the Omicron and Delta Variants in Children Younger Than 5 Years in the US. JAMA Pediatrics. 1.4.2022. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2790793?

Analyysi: Korona yhdisti tiedemaailman, Venäjän hyökkäys rikkoi sen jälleen – tieteellä ei ole varaa uuteen kylmään sotaan. Venäjän hallitus on kieltänyt tutkijoitaan osallistumasta kansainvälisiin konferensseihin ja länsimaiset tiedeyhteisöt boikotoivat venäläisiä. Sota on monella alalla katkaissut tutkimuksen, joka luotti yhtenäiseen maailmaan, kirjoittaa toimittaja Johannes Blom. YLE-Uutiset. 1.4.2022. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12384327?

Projecting COVID-19 Mortality as States Relax Nonpharmacologic Interventions [no path to the end of the COVID-19 pandemic that avoided difficult trade-offs between prolonged NPIs and increased COVID-19 mortality]. JAMA. 1.4.2022. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama-health-forum/fullarticle/2790812

April 1 – 10

Coronavirus Hong Kong: ‘Omicron strain causes 7 times more deaths among hospitalised children than influenza’. Study from University of Hong Kong also found 15 per cent of children hospitalised with Omicron BA.2 had developed neurological complications
But research team says recorded 0.35 per cent fatality rate likely an ‘overestimate’, as many children with mild symptoms stay at home instead of going to hospital. South China Morning Post. 31.3.2022. https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3172633/coronavirus-hong-kong-omicron-strain-causes-7-times-more-deaths

Diabetes risk rises after COVID, massive study finds
Even mild SARS-CoV-2 infections can amplify a person’s chance of developing diabetes, especially for those already susceptible to the disease. Nature. 31.3.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-00912-y

How Japan survived covid-19. BMJ. 31.3.2022. https://www.bmj.com/content/376/bmj.o778

Koronakuolemia voitaisiin estää antamalla neljäs annos nopeasti myös alle 80-vuotiaille, sanovat HUSin asiantuntijat. Tehosteannokset olisivat tarpeen erityisesti 70-79-vuotiaiden ikäryhmälle. YLE_Uutiset. 31.3.2022. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12384691

SARS-CoV-2 spike protein induces cognitive deficit and anxiety-like behavior in mouse via non-cell autonomous hippocampal neuronal death. Scientific Reports. 31.3.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-09410-7

Safety, tolerability and viral kinetics during SARS-CoV-2 human challenge in young adults. Nature Medicine. 31.3.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-022-01780-9

Column: Did Sweden beat the pandemic by refusing to lock down? No, its record is disastrous (The Swedish government, they report, deliberately tried to use children to spread COVID-19 and denied care to seniors and those suffering from other conditions.

The government’s goal appeared geared to produce herd immunity — a level of infection that would create a natural barrier to the pandemic’s spread without inconveniencing middle- and upper-class citizens; the government never set forth that goal publicly, but internal government emails unearthed by the Swedish press revealed that herd immunity was the strategy behind closed doors.

Explicit or not, the effort failed. “Projected ‘natural herd-immunity’ levels are still nowhere in sight,” the researchers wrote, adding that herd immunity “does not seem within reach without widespread vaccinations” and “may be unlikely” under any circumstances.). Los Angeles Times. 31.3.2022. https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2022-03-31/sweden-covid-policy-was-a-disaster

Diabetes risk rises after COVID, massive study finds. Even mild SARS-CoV-2 infections can amplify a person’s chance of developing diabetes, especially for those already susceptible to the disease. Nature. 31.3.2022.  https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-00912-y?

Can you get Covid twice in one month? How soon you can recatch coronavirus and if you can get Omicron again. Omicron has been shown to typically cause less serious illness, but also brings with it an increased risk of reinfection. iNews/Health. 30.3.2022.  https://inews.co.uk/news/health/covid-can-get-twice-month-how-soon-catch-coronavirus-again-what-reinfection-explained-1443820

Rapid increase in SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence during the emergence of Omicron variant, Finland. medRxiv. 30.3.2022. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.03.25.22272952v1

Omikron säilyy muovipinnalla pidempään kuin muut koronavariantit, jopa 193 tuntia – Myös ihmisiholla se sinnittelee pisimpään. Kaksi tuoretta aasialaista tutkimusta vertailee koronaviruksen omikron-variantin poikkeuksellista kykyä säilyä erilaisilla pinnoilla elossa. Mediuutiset. 30.3.2022. https://www.mediuutiset.fi/uutiset/mu/1c7262b3-4ebd-43b5-bda3-fd9052f4d743?ref=newsletter:65ee&utm_source=uutiskirje%40mediuutiset.fi&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=MU-Uutiskirje-laakari

Effect of Early Treatment with Ivermectin among Patients with Covid-19. NEJM. 30.3.2022. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2115869

Asiantuntijat: Korona ei muutu ehkä koskaan tavalliseksi kausi­flunssaksi – tästä se johtuu. Asiantuntijat suhtautuvat epäillen siihen, että koronaviruksesta olisi ainakaan lähiaikoina tulossa ihmisille lievä ja vaaraton tauti. Ilta=sanomat. 30.3.2022. https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000008714148.html

Cholera, Key facts:
Most of those infected will have no or mild symptoms and can be successfully treated with oral rehydration solution.
A global strategy on cholera control, Ending Cholera: a global roadmap to 2030, with a target to reduce cholera deaths by 90% was launched in 2017.
Researchers have estimated that each year there are 1.3 to 4.0 million cases of cholera, and 21 000 to 143 000 deaths worldwide due to cholera (1)
Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal disease that can kill within hours if left untreated.
Provision of safe water and sanitation is critical to prevent and control the transmission of cholera and other waterborne diseases.
Severe cases will need rapid treatment with intravenous fluids and antibiotics.
Oral cholera vaccines should be used in conjunction with improvements in water and sanitation to control cholera outbreaks and for prevention in areas known to be high risk for cholera. WHO. 30.3.2022. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cholera

Older adults can get second coronavirus booster to strengthen waning protection. Washington Post. 29.3.2022. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/03/29/fda-authorizes-second-booster-shot/

F.D.A. Allows Second Coronavirus Boosters for Everyone 50 and Older
People in the age group can get the additional shot at least four months after their first booster. Those 12 and older with certain immune deficiencies are also eligible. New York Times. 29.3.2022. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/29/us/politics/second-coronavirus-booster-shot.html?referringSource=articleShare

White House Reverts to Air Hygiene in latest efforts to thwart coronavirus. It is pushingh strategies, such as better wir filters in schools and businesses, to help thwart the virus. Washingtonm Post. 29.3.2022. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/03/29/white-house-covid-strategy-indoor-air-quality/

Risk of SARS-CoV-2 reinfections in children: a prospective national surveillance study between January, 2020, and July, 2021, in England. Lancet. 28.3.2022. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanchi/article/PIIS2352-4642(22)00059-1/fulltext

Molecular consequences of SARS-CoV-2 liver tropism. Nature Metabolism. 28.3.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s42255-022-00552-6.

SvD: Förvirring kring Tegnells nya jobb på WHO – jobbet finns inte. HBL. 28.3.2022. https://www.hbl.fi/artikel/forvirring-kring-tegnells-nya-jobb-pa-who-jobbet-finns-inte/?

Huge Study Finds Second COVID-19 Booster is ‘Life-saving’ for Over 60s. Health Policy Watch. 28.3.2022. https://healthpolicy-watch.news/95297-2/

Fourth Vaccine Reduces Risk of Dying From COVID by 78 Percent, Israeli Study Finds. As omicron’s BA.2 variant is fueling a spike in COVID-19 infections, the latest large-scale study by an Israeli HMO suggests that a fourth dose reduces both the risk of infection and severe illness. Haaretz. 26.3.2022. https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/fourth-vaccine-reduces-risk-of-dying-from-covid-by-78-percent-israeli-study-finds-1.10700268

Antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of SARS-CoV-2 pseudoviral infection requires FcγRIIB and virus-antibody complex with bivalent interaction () nature communications / biology 24.3.2022.

What to know about flying during the COVID-19 pandemic. Medical News Today. 28.3.2022. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/flying-during-covid https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-022-03207-0

Fourth Vaccine Reduces Risk of Dying From COVID by 78 Percent, Israeli Study Finds. As omicron’s BA.2 variant is fueling a spike in COVID-19 infections, the latest large-scale study by an Israeli HMO suggests that a fourth dose reduces both the risk of infection and severe illness. Haaretz. 26.3.2022. https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/fourth-vaccine-reduces-risk-of-dying-from-covid-by-78-percent-israeli-study-finds-1.10700268

SARS-CoV-2 co-infection with influenza viruses, respiratory syncytial virus, or adenoviruses. Lancet. 25.3.2022. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22)00383-X/fulltext

Can drugs reduce the risk of long COVID? What scientists know so far
Researchers are trying to establish whether existing COVID-19 vaccines and treatments can prevent lasting symptoms. nature. 25.3.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-00823-y?fbclid=IwAR0rO3bh97jIMiIucaYJHf5yhtOTpWE7vFFDveiEUnT8dZE-CWDSS2FL3Ng

Evusheld (tiksagevimabi/silgavimabi) Yleistiedot Evusheld-valmisteesta sekä siitä, miksi se on hyväksytty EU:ssa (COVID-19 ehkäisylääke). EMA. 25.3.2022. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/overview/evusheld-epar-medicine-overview_fi.pdf

SARS-CoV-2 infects and replicates in photoreceptor and retinal ganglion cells of human retinal organoids. Stem Cell Reports. 24.3.2022. https://www.cell.com/stem-cell-reports/fulltext/S2213-6711(22)00104-7

Second Booster Vaccine and Covid-19 Mortality in Adults 60 to 100 Years Old. Research Square. 24.3.2022. https://assets.researchsquare.com/files/rs-1478439/v1/24514bba-2c9d-4add-9d8f-321f610ed199.pdf?c=1648141784

Long Covid could create a generation affected by disability, expert warns. Guardian. 23.3.2022. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2022-06-03/coronavirus-daily-covid-is-more-lethal-to-kids-than-the-flu.

Evaluation of airborne transmission risk in university towns based on IEQ surveys. National Library of Medicine. (Energy and Built Environment) 23.3.2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8942440/

Burden of PCR-Confirmed SARS-CoV-2 Reinfection in the U.S. Veterans Administration, March 2020 – January 2022. medRxiv. 23.3.2022. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.03.20.22272571v1.full.pdf

Robust, persistent adaptive immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 in the oropharyngeal lymphoid tissue of children. Research Square. 23.4.2022. https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-1276578/v1

Visual interpretation of brain hypometabolism related to neurological long COVID: a French multicentric experience. Eur  J Nucl and Molec Imag. 23.3.2022. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00259-022-05753-5

Airborne transmission: Are CO2 monitors a long term solution or “pandemic hack?” BMJ. 23.3.2022. https://www.bmj.com/content/376/bmj.o736?

Paediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome temporally associated with SARS-CoV-2 (PIMS-TS): Prospective, national surveillance, United Kingdom and Ireland, 2020. Lancet. 22.3.2022. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanepe/article/PIIS2666-7762(21)00052-1/fulltext#:~:text=There%20was%20a%20strong%20geographical,SARS%2DCoV%2D2%20antibodies

Editor’s Pick: Thromboembolic Storm in the Recovering Stage of COVID-19: A Case Report. EMJ. 22.3.2022. https://www.emjreviews.com/flagship-journal/article/eds-pick-thromboembolic-storm-in-the-recovering-stage-of-covid-19-a-case-report-j190121/

Evaluation of science advice during the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden. Nature / Humanities & Sociall Sciences Communications. 22.3.2022.  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-022-01097-5

Italian study shows ventilation can cut school COVID cases by 82%. Reuters. 22.3.2022. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/italian-study-shows-ventilation-can-cut-school-covid-cases-by-82-2022-03-22/

Effectiveness of a second BNT162b2 booster vaccine against hospitalization and death from COVID-19 in adults aged over 60 years. Nature Medicine. 22.3.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-022-01832-0_reference.pdf

Neutralizing antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant after third mRNA vaccination in health care workers and elderly subjects. Wiley Online Library. 21.3.2022. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/eji.202149785

Myocarditis and pericarditis after COVID-19 vaccination: clinical management guidance for healthcare professionals. Gov.UK. 21.3.2022. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/myocarditis-and-pericarditis-after-covid-19-vaccination/myocarditis-and-pericarditis-after-covid-19-vaccination-guidance-for-healthcare-professionals

Risks and burdens of incident diabetes in long COVID: a cohort study (Ziyad Al-Aly: …people with COVID-19 exhibited an increased risk (HR 1·40, 95% CI 1·36–1·44) and excess burden (13·46, 95% CI 12·11–14·84, per 1000 people at 12 months) of incident diabetes; and an increased risk (1·85, 1·78–1·92) and excess burden (12·35, 11·36–13·38) of incident antihyperglycaemic use. Additionally, analyses to estimate the risk of a composite endpoint of incident diabetes or antihyperglycaemic use yielded a HR of 1·46 (95% CI 1·43–1·50) and an excess burden of 18·03 (95% CI 16·59–19·51) per 1000 people at 12 months.). Lancet Diabetes & Endochrinology. 21.3.2022. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587(22)00044-4/fulltext

March 21-31

Communicable Disease Threats Report. Week 11, 12-18 March 2023. ECDC. 20.3.2023. https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/communicable-disease-threats-report-week-11-2023.pdf

Ivermectin Didn’t Reduce Covid-19 Hospitalizations in Largest Trial to Date
Patients who got the antiparasitic drug didn’t fare better than those who received a placebo. Wall Street Journal. 18.3.2022.  https://www.wsj.com/articles/ivermectin-didnt-reduce-covid-19-hospitalizations-in-largest-trial-to-date-11647601200

Omicron survives longer on some surfaces, studies find. That may help explain why it’s more contagious, but it’s no reason to panic. CNN Health. 18.3.2022. https://edition.cnn.com/2022/03/18/health/omicron-surfaces-studies/index.html?

Infektiolääkäri kirjoitti kriittisen kirjan koronan hoidosta – Rajoitukset aiheuttaneet vakavia terveysongelmia ja taloudellisia tappioita.
Uutuuskirja koronapandemiasta Suomessa: Taudin torjuntakeinot aiheuttaneet vakavia terveydellisiä ja taloudellisia haittoja. Kirjan mukaan paljossa on onnistuttu, mutta pelon lietsominen ja ylimitoitetut rajoitukset ajoittaisine täyssulkuineen ovat aiheuttaneet vakavia terveysongelmia ja taloudellisia tappioita. Mediuutiset. 17.3.2022. https://www.mediuutiset.fi/uutiset/mu/a6ea7482-cf62-4c5e-b245-c63603c7a8f7?

FACT SHEET: Biden Administration Launches Effort to Improve Ventilation and Reduce the Spread of COVID-⁠19 in Buildings. White House. 17.3.2022. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/03/17/fact-sheet-biden-administration-launches-effort-to-improve-ventilation-and-reduce-the-spread-of-covid-19-in-buildings/

‘Heartbreaking’: How long COVID is impacting children. Global News. 17.3.2022.  https://globalnews.ca/news/8688590/long-covid-symptoms-children/

America Is Zooming Through the Pandemic Panic-Neglect Cycle. All epidemics trigger the same Sisyphean cycle of panic and neglect. Even so, that cycle isn’t meant to spin this quickly. Atlantic. 17.3.2022. https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2022/03/congress-covid-spending-bill/627090/

‘Heartbreaking’: How long COVID is impacting children. Global News. 16.3.2022. https://globalnews.ca/news/8688590/long-covid-symptoms-children/

Global Prevalence of Post COVID-19 Condition or Long COVID: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review. J Infect Dis. 16.3.2022. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35429399/  COMPLETE https://watermark.silverchair.com/jiac136.pdf

1 in 4 symptomatic children get long COVID, a new study finds. What are the symptoms? EuroNewsNext. 16.3.2022. https://www.euronews.com/next/2022/03/15/long-covid-has-been-found-in-1-in-4-symptomatic-children-a-new-study-finds-what-are-the-sy

Fevers, convulsions seen more in children during omicron wave: Japan Pediatric Society. The Mainichi. 16.3.2022. https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20220316/p2a/00m/0na/006000c

Comparative analysis of the risks of hospitalisation and death associated with SARS-CoV-2 omicron (B.1.1.529) and delta (B.1.617.2) variants in England: a cohort study. Lancet. 16.3.2022. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22)00462-7/fulltext

Increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection associated with emergence of Omicron in South Africa. Science 15.3.2022. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abn4947

International Multi-Center Study Confirms Stroke Risk in Younger Healthier COVID-19 Patients. The largest study on severe stroke and COVID-19 published to date found even moderate COVID-19 infection increased risk of death in younger, healthier stroke patients. New wise. 15.3.2022. https://www.newswise.com/coronavirus/international-multi-center-study-confirms-stroke-risk-in-younger-healthier-covid-19-patients/?article_id=767147

Cognitive decline and brainstem hypometabolism in long COVID: A case series. Brain and Behaviour. 15.3.2022. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/brb3.2513

THE COLOR OF CORONAVIRUS:
COVID-19 DEATHS BY RACE AND ETHNICITY IN THE U.S. APM Research Lab. 15.3.2022. https://www.apmresearchlab.org/covid/deaths-by-race

Airborne Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Delta Variant within Tightly Monitored Isolation Facility, New Zealand (Aotearoa).  Emerging Infectious Diseases. March 2022. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2803.212318

Fatigue and cognitive impairment in Post-COVID-19 Syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Brain, Behaviour, and Immunity. March 2022.  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0889159121006516

COVID and the Heart: It Spares No One. Research now tells us that COVID doesn’t discriminate when it comes to heart problems. (…anyone infected with COVID is at higher risk for heart issues—including clots, inflammation, and arrhythmias—a risk that persists even in relatively healthy people long after the illness has passed.) Johns Hopkins. 14.3.2022. https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2022/covid-and-the-heart-it-spares-no-one

Antigenic evolution will lead to new SARS-CoV-2 variants with unpredictable severity. Nature Reviews. Microbiology. 14.3.2022. ttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41579-022-00722-z

Effect of Sotrovimab on Hospitalization or Death Among High-risk Patients With Mild to Moderate COVID-19. A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 14.3.2022. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2790246?

Long COVID in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-analyses. medRxiv. 13.3.2022.  https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.03.10.22272237v1

One-third of all US child Covid deaths occurred during Omicron surge.
Children seem to be facing increasing risks as mask mandates are abandoned and vaccination rates stall. Guardian. 11.3.2022. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/11/us-child-covid-deaths-omicron-surge?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

ACE2-independent infection of T lymphocytes by SARS-CoV-2. Nature. 11.3.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41392-022-00919-x

 

March 11-20

We cannot afford to repeat these four pandemic mistakes. BMJ. 10.3.2022. https://www.bmj.com/content/376/bmj.o631

Estimating excess mortality due to the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic analysis of COVID-19-related mortality, 2020–21. Lancet. 10.3.2022. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02796-3/fulltext

Mandatory masking in schools reduced COVID-19 cases during Delta surge. NIH-funded study compared more than 1.1 million students across nine states. NIH News Releases. 10.3.2022. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/mandatory-masking-schools-reduced-covid-19-cases-during-delta-surge?

Comparison of Seroconversion in Children and Adults With Mild COVID-19 (These findings suggest that serology may provide a less reliable marker of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection in children and support strategies to protect children against COVID-19, including vaccination). JAMA. 9.3.2022.  https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2789845

Koronan tarttuminen pinnoilta tai lentokoneesta on epätodennäköistä, rauhoittelevat asiantuntijat. Se on aina hyvä muistaa, että normaali elämä ei ole laboratorio. Turun Sanomat. 9.3.2022. https://www.ts.fi/uutiset/4886888

Perspectives: The “Wolf” Is Indeed Coming: Recombinant “Deltacron” SARS-CoV-2 Detected. CCDC Weekly. 9.3.2022. https://weekly.chinacdc.cn/en/article/doi/10.46234/ccdcw2022.054

School Masking Policies and Secondary SARS-CoV-2 Transmission. Pediatrics. 9.3.2022. https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/doi/10.1542/peds.2022-056687/185379/School-Masking-Policies-and-Secondary-SARS-CoV-2

Sveriges statsepidemiolog Anders Tegnell slutar – får jobb hos WHO. Hufvudstadsbladet. 9.3.2022. https://www.hbl.fi/artikel/sveriges-statsepidemiolog-anders-tegnell-slutar-far-jobb-hos-who/

Covid can shrink brain and damage its tissue, finds research. Worst effect on region linked to smell, while infected people typically scored lower on mental skills test () Guardian. 7.3.2022. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/07/covid-can-shrink-brain-and-damage-its-tissue-finds-research

SARS-CoV-2 is associated with changes in brain structure in UK Biobank (There is strong evidence of brain-related abnormalities in COVID-19. However, it remains unknown whether the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection can be detected in milder cases, and whether this can reveal possible mechanisms contributing to brain pathology. Here we investigated brain changes in 785 participants of UK Biobank (aged 51–81 years) who were imaged twice using magnetic resonance imaging, including 401 cases who tested positive for infection with SARS-CoV-2 between their two scans—with 141 days on average separating their diagnosis and the second scan—as well as 384 controls. The availability of pre-infection imaging data reduces the likelihood of pre-existing risk factors being misinterpreted as disease effects. We identified significant longitudinal effects when comparing the two groups, including

(1) a greater reduction in grey matter thickness and tissue contrast in the orbitofrontal cortex and parahippocampal gyrus;

(2) greater changes in markers of tissue damage in regions that are functionally connected to the primary olfactory cortex; and

(3) a greater reduction in global brain size in the SARS-CoV-2 cases.

The participants who were infected with SARS-CoV-2 also showed on average a greater cognitive decline between the two time points. Importantly, these imaging and cognitive longitudinal effects were still observed after excluding the 15 patients who had been hospitalised. These mainly limbic brain imaging results may be the in vivo hallmarks of a degenerative spread of the disease through olfactory pathways, of neuroinflammatory events, or of the loss of sensory input due to anosmia. Whether this deleterious effect can be partially reversed, or whether these effects will persist in the long term, remains to be investigated with additional follow-up.). Nature.  7.3.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-04569-5

How does COVID-19 affect patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (A previous multinational study analyzed the in-hospital mortality of 161 patients with ILD hospitalized with COVID-19 and revealed that 42.2% of patients had idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). A similar study has been conducted in the United States, which also reports that patients with ILD are more susceptible to severe COVID-19 as compared to those without ILD. Another study has shared a similar observation that COVID-19 patients with fibrotic ILD exhibited a higher mortality rate compared to non-fibrotic ILD. / There remains a limited amount of evidence on the outcome of COVID-19 patients with IPF. )? News Medical & Lie Sciences. 6.3.2022. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20220306/How-does-COVID-19-affect-patients-with-idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis.aspx

Aamulehti: Aki Lindén huolissaan koronarokotustahdin hiipumisesta.
Aki Lindén muistuttaa Aamulehdessä, että koronaa on edelleen liikkeellä. Iltalehti. 5.3.2022. https://www.iltalehti.fi/koronavirus/a/a554622b-41ec-4f0d-82ef-f64b7d73bfa8

The indirect effect of mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccination on healthcare workers’ unvaccinated household members. nature communications. 4.3.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-28825-4

The Challenge of Debunking Health Misinformation in Dynamic Social Media Conversations: Online Randomized Study of Public Masking During COVID-19. J Med Internet Res. 2.3.2022. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35156933/

The White House unveils a new Covid strategy, but it will need congressional funding. NewYork Times. 2.3.2022. https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/03/02/world/covid-19-tests-cases-vaccine?referringSource=articleShare#biden-announces-initiative-to-pair-coronavirus-tests-with-treatment

How ventilation, filtration, and humidity may prevent coronavirus transmission. Medical News Today. 2.3.2022. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-ventilation-filtration-and-humidity-may-prevent-coronavirus-transmission

Molecular imaging findings on acute and long-term effects of COVID-19 on the brain: A systematic review. JNM. 1.3.2022. https://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/early/2022/02/17/jnumed.121.263085

THL:n Mika Salminen: Koronapandemia on lähestymässä loppuaan – ”Olen optimistinen sen suhteen, että tää oli nyt tässä”. MTV Uutiset. 3.3.2022. https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/thl-n-mika-salminen-koronapandemia-on-lahestymassa-loppuaan-olen-optimistinen-sen-suhteen-etta-taa-oli-nyt-tassa/8368112

March 1 – 10 

Shared Narrative – Analysis on Finnish Socio-Educational Policy and National Broadcasting (YLE) Literacy during COVID-19 Variants 2021. Jyrki Loima. International Journal of Education and Literacy Studies. 28.2.2022. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/358263637_Shared_Narrative_-_Analysis_on_Finnish_Socio-Educational_Policy_and_National_Broadcasting_YLE_Literacy_during_COVID-19_Variants_2021

Koronapandemian alkuperä yhä varmempi: tutkimusten mukaan tartunnat lähtivät eläintorilta kahteen otteeseen, väli-isäntänä saattoi olla supikoira
Kahdessa kansainvälisessä ja yhdessä kiinalaisessa tutkimuksessa on saatu vahvaa näyttöä siitä, että SARS-CoV-2 tarttui torilla myydyistä eläimistä. Hypoteesi laboratoriosta viruksen syntypaikkana hiipuu. YLE Uutiset 28.2.2022. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12336380?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=scienceweekly&utm_content=2022-03-06

Wuhan market was epicentre of pandemic’s start, studies suggest
Report authors say that the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 jumped to people from animals sold at the market on two occasions in late 2019 — but some scientists want more definitive evidence. Nature. 27.2.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-00584-8?

Assessing the impact of SARS-CoV-2 prevention measures in Austrian schools using agent-based simulations and cluster tracing data (In conclusion, we find that different types of schools require different combinations of preventive measures. The ideal mix of mitigation measures needs to be more stringent in secondary schools than in primary schools, and needs to preferentially focus on teachers as sources of infection. Even under strict prevention measures, larger clusters in schools will still occur at regular intervals when the incidence in the general population is high enough. However, in this work we have shown that when keeping schools open during the COVID-19 pandemic a calculable risk can be achieved by a combination of stringently enforced measures which can be successively relaxed as larger portions of the population become vaccinated.). nature communications. 27.1.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-28170-6

The role of outdoor and indoor air quality in the spread of SARS-CoV-2: Overview and recommendations by the research group on COVID-19 and particulate matter (RESCOP commission). National Library of Medicine. (Environ Res) 26.2.2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8881809/

Comparative effectiveness of N95, surgical or medical, and non-medical facemasks in protection against respiratory virus infection: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. Wiley Online Library. 26.2.2022. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/rmv.2336

Slutbetänkande SOU 2022:10. Coronakommissionen.. 25.2.2022. https://coronakommissionen.com/publikationer/slutbetankande-sou-2022-10/

Sverige under pandemin. Volym 1. Samhällets, företagens och enskildas ekonomi.  Slutbetänkande av Coronakommissionen. Stockholm 2022. Statens Offentliga Uträdningar SOU 2022:10. 25.2.2022. extension://elhekieabhbkpmcefcoobjddigjcaadp/https://coronakommissionen.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/sverige-under-pandemin-volym-1_webb-slutbetankande.pdf

Sverige under pandemin. Volym 2. Förutsättningar, vägval och utvärdering.  Slutbetänkande av Coronakommissionen. Stockholm 2022. Statens Offentliga Uträdningar SOU 2022:10. 25.2.2022. extension://elhekieabhbkpmcefcoobjddigjcaadp/https://coronakommissionen.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/sverige-under-pandemin-volym-2_webb-slutbetankande.pdf

Sverige under pandemin. Summary in English. Slutbetänkande av Coronakommissionen. Stockholm 2022. Statens Offentliga Uträdningar SOU 2022:10. 25.2.2022. extension://elhekieabhbkpmcefcoobjddigjcaadp/https://coronakommissionen.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/summary_20220225.pdf

Protection of Omicron sub-lineage infection against reinfection with another Omicron sub-lineage. medRxiv. 25.2.2022. https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.02.24.22271440

Käännettä parempaan ei koronatilanteessa vielä nähdä – teho-osastolla tilanne oli perjantaina Satakunnassa koko epidemian pahin. Perjantaina hoidossa oli lyhyen ajan jopa viisi koronapotilasta yhtä aikaa. Se on enemmän kuin kertaakaan koko epidemian aikana. Satakunnan kansa. 25.2.2022. https://www.satakunnankansa.fi/koronavirus/art-2000008644315.html

Hus: Kasvo­maski­suositus jatkunee vielä kuukausia. Husin Markku Mäkijärven mukaan suojautuminen koronavirustartuntoja vastaan vain korostuu, kun rajoituksia puretaan ja ihmisten kohtaamiset lisääntyvät. Helsingin Sanomat. 25.2.2022.  https://www.hs.fi/kaupunki/art-2000008636704.html

NIH launches new initiative to study “Long COVID”. The NIH Director. 23.2.2022. https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/who-we-are/nih-director/statements/nih-launches-new-initiative-study-long-covid

Koronatartunnat ovat hidastaneet koronarokotustahtia. Koronarokotuksia annetaan nyt vain kymmenes osa siitä, mitä annettiin vuoden alussa. YLE Uutiset. 23.2.2022. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12329829

Coronavirus vaccine protection was much weaker against omicron, data shows. Washington Post. 23.2.2022. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/interactive/2022/vaccine-omicron-effectiveness/?itid=hp_pandemic

Genomic assessment of quarantine measures to prevent SARS-CoV-2 importation and transmission. Nature Communications. 23.2.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-28371-z

REVIEW ARTICLE. A central role for amyloid fibrin microclots in long COVID/PASC: origins and therapeutic implications. Biochemical Journal. 23.2.2022. https://portlandpress.com/biochemj/article/479/4/537/230829/A-central-role-for-amyloid-fibrin-microclots-in

Long-term follow-up of dynamic brain changes in patients recovered from COVID-19 without neurological manifestations (Cognitive), JCI Insight. 22.2.2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8876627/

Persisting pulmonary dysfunction in pediatric post-acute Covid-19. medRxiv. 22.2.2022. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.02.21.22270909v1

When Finland Decided to Open Up: A Behavioural Scientist’s Perspective. Matti TJ Heino. And Out Come the Systems -blog. 21.2.2022. https://mattiheino.com/2022/02/21/let-me-be-your-deja-vu/

February 21 – 28

Hemliga dokument avslöjar strategin. Svenska Dagbladet. 20.2.2022.  https://www.svd.se/hemliga-dokument-avslojar-strategin

Opinion: After the pandemic, long covid may unleash a tidal wave of health troubles. Washington Post. 20.2.2022. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/02/20/long-covid-may-unleash-health-troubles-after-pandemic/

How Long Covid Exhausts the Body. New York Times. 19.2.2022. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/02/19/science/long-covid-causes.html

We’ll Have Herd Immunity by April. Covid cases have dropped 77% in six weeks. Experts should level with the public about the good news. Wall Street Journal. 18.2.2022. https://www.wsj.com/articles/well-have-herd-immunity-by-april-11613669731

Vil at koronasyke barn skal gå på skolen. Barn som kan smitte andre med korona kan være på skolen dersom allmenntilstanden er god. Regjeringen har gjort denne lettelsen i tiltak av hensyn til barn og unge. NRK. 18.2.2022. https://www.nrk.no/norge/vil-at-koronasyke-barn-skal-ga-pa-skolen-1.15857082

Uusi koronatrendi: Lapsipotilaiden määrä sairaaloissa kasvaa Ruotsissa ja Norjassa – tutkimuksen mukaan lapset herkempiä omikronille kuin deltalle
Yhdysvaltalaistutkimuksen mukaan omikroniin sairastuneet lapset joutuivat sairaalahoitoon nelinkertaisesti deltamuunnokseen verrattuna. YLE -Uutiset. 18.2.2022. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12322753

Uusi koronatrendi: Lapsipotilaiden määrä sairaaloissa kasvaa Ruotsissa ja Norjassa – tutkimuksen mukaan lapset herkempiä omikronille kuin deltalle
Yhdysvaltalaistutkimuksen mukaan omikroniin sairastuneet lapset joutuivat sairaalahoitoon nelinkertaisesti deltamuunnokseen verrattuna. YLE Uutiset. 18.2.2022. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12322753

As BA.2 subvariant of Omicron rises, lab studies point to signs of severity. CNN Health.18.2.2022.  https://edition.cnn.com/2022/02/17/health/ba-2-covid-severity/index.html

Waning 2-Dose and 3-Dose Effectiveness of mRNA Vaccines Against COVID-19–Associated Emergency Department and Urgent Care Encounters and Hospitalizations Among Adults During Periods of Delta and Omicron Variant Predominance — VISION Network, 10 States, August 2021–January 2022. CDC MMWR. 18.2.2022. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm7107e2.htm?s_cid=mm7107e2_w

’I’m an Olympic Athlete. Due to Long COVID, Now I Struggle to Walk Up a Flight of Stairs’. For COVID-19 long haulers, recovery is slow. New research may, however, explain their suffering and point to new avenues for treatment. Everyday Health. 18.2.2022. https://www.everydayhealth.com/coronavirus/mitochondrial-dysfunction-may-be-to-blame-in-long-covid-19/

Estimates of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant Severity in Ontario, Canada. JAMA. 17.2.2022. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2789408?

US has suffered more than 1m excess deaths during pandemic, CDC finds
The latest statistic hints at the breadth of Covid-19’s impact on health in the United States. Guardian 17.2.2022. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/17/us-excess-deaths-pandemic-cdc

Estimates of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant Severity in Ontario, Canada. JAMA. 17.2.2022. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2789408

Do masks really harm kids? Here’s what the science says. As more states drop mask mandates, experts explain why keeping them on in schools is still a smart move for families and teachers. National Geographic 17.2.2022. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/do-masks-really-harm-kids-heres-what-the-science-says

Koronavirustippoja laitettiin vapaaehtoisten nenään – tulokset yllättivät. Miksi toiset ovat alttiimpia tartunnalle kuin toiset, ihmettelevät tutkijat. Ilta=sanomat. 17.2.2022. https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000008620645.html

Grafiikat näyttävät selkeän käänteen epidemian vaarallisuudessa tammi­kuussa – katso oman ikä­ryhmäsi tiedot. Vaikka tartuntojen ilmaantuvuus moninkertaistui tammikuussa, kuolemien ilmaantuvuus jopa laski joissain ryhmissä, selviää THL:n uusista tiedoista. Helsingin Sanomat. 17.2.2022. https://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000008617430.html?

Blood transcriptomics reveal persistent SARS-CoV-2 RNA and candidate biomarkers in Long COVID patients (We demonstrate systemic SARS-CoV-2 persistence for more than 2 years after acute COVID-19 infection. A 2-gene biomarker, including SARS-CoV-2 antisense RNA, correctly classifies Long COVID with 93.8% sensitivity and 91.7% specificity. Specific immune transcripts and immunometabolism score correlate to systemic viral load and patient-reported anxiety/depression, providing mechanistic links as well as therapeutic targets to tackle Long COVID.) medRxiv. 17.2.2024. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.01.14.24301293v1

STM:n ja THL:n tilannekatsaus koronavirustílanteesta. Valtioneuvosto. 17.2.2022. https://stm.fi/documents/1271139/110045675/STM+THL+VM+mediainfo17.2.22.FINAL.pdf/

Koronan jälkitaudit ovat yleistyneet – lääkärien erityinen varoitus koronan sairastaneelle
Koronainfektio voi olla eri syistä erityisen vaarallinen eri ikäisille potilaille. (Omikronaallon aikana koronan jälkitauteja on havaittu entistä enemmän. / Suurin jälkitautiriski kohdistuu heihin, joiden elimistö on syystä tai toisesta hauras. / Huonosti hoidettu lieväkin koronainfektio voi kasvattaa riskiä sydänlihastulehdukseen.) Iltalehti 16.2.2022.  https://www.iltalehti.fi/terveysuutiset/a/0118642c-849e-4a5b-85c3-3e43cb97e97e

Pandemics disable people — the history lesson that policymakers ignore
Influenza, polio and more have shown that infections can change lives even decades later. Why the complacency over possible long-term effects of COVID-19?. Nature. 16.2.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-00414-x?

The Effectiveness Of Government Masking Mandates On COVID-19 County-Level Case Incidence Across The United States, 2020 (…observational study of matched cohorts from 412 US counties between March 21 and October 20, 2020, we estimated the association between county-level public masking mandates and daily COVID-19 case incidence. On average, the daily case incidence per 100,000 people in masked counties compared with unmasked counties declined by 25 percent at four weeks, 35 percent at six weeks, and 18 percent across six weeks postintervention. The beneficial effect varied across regions of different population densities and political leanings. The most concentrated effects of masking mandates were seen in urban counties; the benefit of the mandates was potentially stronger within Republican-leaning counties. Although benefits were not equally distributed in all regions, masking mandates conferred benefit in reducing community case incidence during an early period of the COVID-19 pandemic.). Health Affairs. 16.2.2022.  https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2021.01072

Risks of mental health outcomes in people with covid-19: cohort study. BMJ. 16.2.2022. https://www.bmj.com/content/376/bmj-2021-068993?

Modeling the Transmission of COVID-19: Impact of Mitigation Strategies in Prekindergarten-Grade 12 Public Schools, United States, 2021 (Based on our model, layering mitigation strategies and contact tracing can limit the number of cases that may occur from transmission in schools. Schools in communities with substantial levels of community spread will need to be more vigilant to ensure adherence of mitigation strategies to minimize transmission. Our results show that for school administrators, teachers, and parents to provide the safest environment, it is important to utilize multiple mitigation strategies and contract tracing that reduce SARS CoV-2 transmission by at least 69%. This will require training, reinforcement, and vigilance to ensure that the highest level of adherence is maintained over the entire school term.). Journal of Public Health Management and Practice. Jan/Feb. 2022. https://journals.lww.com/jphmp/abstract/2022/01000/modeling_the_transmission_of_covid_19__impact_of.7.aspx

Mass testing to end the COVID-19 public health threat (While the world awaits and hopes for new and more effective vaccines, we need tools in the toolbox that can effectively control transmission of rapidly spreading new variants, especially if more pathogenic. Otherwise, we may face significant disruptions and enormous costs due to repeated waves of illness, with each wave increasing the numbers of workers thrown out of the workforce from long term health effects. Lockdowns, due to their social restrictions and high short-term economic costs, are no longer the best available option. We here point out that mass testing (regular asymptomatic screening of the general population) is an alternative approach that can dramatically reduce cases and quickly restore economic and social activity.). Lancet Regional Health Europe. Feb.2023. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666776222002708

Mask Effectiveness for Preventing Secondary Cases of COVID-19, Johnson County, Iowa, USA. CDC Emerging Infectious Diseases. Feb 2022. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/28/1/21-1591_article

Increased Potency and Breadth of SARS-CoV-2 Neutralizing Antibodies After a Third mRNA Vaccine Dose. bioRxiv. 15.2.2022. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.02.14.480394v1

”Det mest anständiga är att åtalet läggs ner”. Jag var en av dem som erbjöds förmånen att bli testad, skriver Sven Britton, professor emeritus, om att åtal väckts för en testning för bestämning av antikroppar mot sars-cov-2. (1 kommentar). Dagens Medicin. 15.2.2022. https://www.dagensmedicin.se/opinion/debatt/det-mest-anstandiga-ar-att-atalet-laggs-ner/

Persistent SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Protein Presence in the Intestinal Epithelium of a Pediatric Patient 3 Months After Acute Infection. JPGN Reports. Feb.2022. https://journals.lww.com/jpgnr/fulltext/2022/02000/persistent_sars_cov_2_nucleocapsid_protein.9.aspx

Ilmahygienia suojaa koronatartunnoilta. Ilmavälitteisen tartunnan riskiä voidaan vähentää tieteen ja teknologian tuomien ratkaisujen avulla. Lääkärilehti. 14.2.2022. https://www.laakarilehti.fi/kliininen-tyo/ilmahygienia-suojaa-koronatartunnoilta/?public=c118ba0e51b2a0f8429a4b19c5e7a7df

CDC: COVID-19 Booster Effectiveness Wanes After Four Months.
The agency also finds that third shots prevented hospitalizations during the Omicron wave.The Scientist. 14.2.2022. https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/cdc-covid-19-booster-effectiveness-wanes-after-four-months-69703?

FEATURE: Reduced brain function, immune disorder a possibility of ”long COVID”. Kyodo News. 14.2.2022. https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/02/263518f1cd8b-feature-reduced-brain-function-immune-disorder-a-possibility-of-long-covid.html

Persistence, prevalence, and polymorphism of sequelae after COVID-19 in young adults. [testosterone] medRxiv. 13.2.2022. https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.02.11.22270836

Tutkijat varoittavat pandemian jälkeisestä sydänpommista: Riskit koholla vielä vuosi infektion jälkeen. MTV-Uutiset 12.2.2021. https://www.msn.com/fi-fi/terveysjafitness/hyvinvointi/tutkijat-varoittavat-pandemian-j%C3%A4lkeisest%C3%A4-syd%C3%A4npommista-riskit-koholla-viel%C3%A4-vuosi-infektion-j%C3%A4lkeen/ar-AATJ1uJ?ocid=winp-sf

COVID-19: the case for aerosol transmission (The COVID-19 pandemic is the most severe pandemic caused by a respiratory virus since the 1918 influenza pandemic. As is the case with other respiratory viruses, three modes of transmission have been invoked: contact (direct and through fomites), large droplets and aerosols. This narrative review makes the case that aerosol transmission is an important mode for COVID-19, through reviewing studies about bioaerosol physiology, detection of infectious SARS-CoV-2 in exhaled bioaerosols, prolonged SARS-CoV-2 infectivity persistence in aerosols created in the laboratory, detection of SARS-CoV-2 in air samples, investigation of outbreaks with manifest involvement of aerosols, and animal model experiments. SARS-CoV-2 joins influenza A virus as a virus with proven pandemic capacity that can be spread by the aerosol route. This has profound implications for the control of the current pandemic and for future pandemic preparedness.). The Royal Society. 11.2.2022. https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsfs.2021.0072

Effectiveness of Face Mask or Respirator Use in Indoor Public Settings for Prevention of SARS-CoV-2 Infection — California, February–December 2021 (Face masks or respirators (N95/KN95s) effectively filter virus-sized particles in laboratory settings. The real-world effectiveness of face coverings to prevent acquisition of SARS-CoV-2 infection has not been widely studied. Consistent use of a face mask or respirator in indoor public settings was associated with lower odds of a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result (adjusted odds ratio = 0.44). Use of respirators with higher filtration capacity was associated with the most protection, compared with no mask use.). CDC MMWR. 11.2.2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8830622/

Desinfioivaa UV-valaistusta voidaan käyttää myös ihmisten läsnä ollessa. Covid-19-pandemia on vauhdittanut UV-valoon perustuvan desinfiointiteknologian kehitystä ja käyttöönottoa. Mediuutiset. 11.2.2022. https://www.mediuutiset.fi/uutiset/mu/50a72e39-7b3c-402b-8d5a-92170a0ebcc5?

Huolestuttava tieto: Koronan uskotaan lisänneen huomattavasti lasten 1. tyypin diabetesta Suomessa – ”Mitään vastaavaa ei ole nähty”. MTV Uutiset. 11.2.2022. https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/lasten-diabetes-tapaukset-lisaantyneet-lahes-kolmanneksella-asiantuntija-voidaan-ajatella-etta-covid-jouduttaisi-tautiprosessin-etenemista/8353508

Academics: Viral Evolution Scenarios, 10 February 2022. Gov.UK. 11.2.2022. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/academics-viral-evolution-scenarios-10-february-2022

THL: Koronastrategiaan muutos – Neljäs annos ensisijaisesti vain riskiryhmille. Neljäs rokoteannos ei toisi merkittävää lisähyötyä koko väestölle. Suoja vakavalta taudilta säilyy hyvänä kolmannen annoksen jälkeen myös omikrontartunnoissa. Sosiaali- ja terveydenhuollon henkilöstön rokotukset ovat yhä lääketieteellisesti perusteltuja. Mediuutiset. 11.2.2022. https://www.mediuutiset.fi/uutiset/thl-koronastrategiaan-muutos-neljas-annos-ensisijaisesti-vain-riskiryhmille/c1ff347d-76fc-40c8-b79b-e11ea5bcf9db

February 11 – 20

In unvaccinated pregnant women, Covid can cause deadly harm to babies. Though rare, Covid during pregnancy can increase a woman’s risk of stillbirth (“We have never seen this level of destruction from an infectious illness before. It rendered the placenta unfit to carry out its duties,” said Dr. David Schwartz, a perinatal pathologist in private practice in Atlanta, who led the study. “These fetuses and newborns died from asphyxiation due to lack of oxygen.”). NBC News. 10.2.2023.  https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/covid-stillbirths-coronavirus-can-severely-damage-placenta-pregnant-wo-rcna15534

Efficacy and Safety of NVX-CoV2373 in Adults in the United States and Mexico. (Novavax NVX-CoV2373 was safe and effective for the prevention of Covid-19. Most breakthrough cases were caused by contemporary variant strains.) N Engl J Med. 10.2.2022.

How well do vaccines protect against Omicron? What the data shows. Gov.UK. 10.2.2022. https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2022/02/10/how-well-do-vaccines-protect-against-omicron-what-the-data-shows/

Weekly death statistics [31 European Countries]. Eurostat. 10.2.2021.  https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Weekly_death_statistics#Data_sources

Heart-disease risk soars after COVID — even with a mild case
Massive study shows a long-term, substantial rise in risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke, after a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Nature. 10.2.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-00403-0

Risk of persistent and new clinical sequelae among adults aged 65 years and older during the post-acute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection: retrospective cohort study. BMJ. 9.2.2022. https://www.bmj.com/content/376/bmj-2021-068414

Long COVID Might be Taking Toll on Health Care Workforce (Long COVID appears to be worsening the labor shortage in the United States, and the health care industry—which has lost 20% of workers over the pandemic—could be particularly hard hit.). Infection Control Today. 9.2.2022. https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/long-covid-might-be-taking-toll-on-health-care-workforce

Omicron Has Been Found in Deer—That Should Worry Us. TIME. 9.2.2022. https://time.com/6146253/omicron-deer-covid-19/

Analyysi: Nämä 10 ristiriitaa ovat hiertäneet THL:n ja STM:n välejä
Kreeta Karvala. THL ja STM ovat olleet eri linjoilla useista keskeisistä koronatoimista yli kaksi vuotta jatkuneen koronakriisin aikana, kirjoittaa Iltalehden Kreeta Karvala. Iltalehti 8.2.2022. https://www.iltalehti.fi/politiikka/a/20a69937-d9c9-47b4-9c33-c6b420fe1ea6

Perspective SARS-CoV-2 infections in children: Understanding diverse outcomes. Immunity (Cell). 8.2.2022. https://www.cell.com/action/showPdf?pii=S1074-7613%2822%2900043-7

Tyypin 1 diabetes on lisääntynyt korona-aikana Helsingissäkin. Syy on epäselvä ja vaatii lisätutkimuksia, mutta koronapandemiaan on ajallinen yhteys. Lääkärilehti. 8.2.2022. https://www.laakarilehti.fi/tieteessa/tyypin-1-diabetes-on-lisaantynyt-korona-aikana-helsingissakin/?

Estimating the effect of non-pharmaceutical interventions to mitigate COVID-19 spread in Saudi Arabia (The IBM-KSA results scenarios showed the high effectiveness of mask-wearing, physical distancing, and contact tracing in controlling the spread of the disease. Without NPIs, the KSA could have reported 4,824,065 (95% CI: 3,673,775–6,335,423) cases by June 2021. The IBM-KSA showed that mandatory mask-wearing and physical distancing saved 39,452 lives (95% CI: 26,641–44,494). In-person education without personal protection during teaching would have resulted in a high surge of COVID-19 cases. Compared to scenarios with no personal protection, enforcing mask-wearing and physical distancing in schools reduced cases, hospitalizations, and deaths by 25% and 50%, when adherence to these NPIs was set to 50% and 70%, respectively. The IBM-KSA also showed that a quarantine imposed on international travelers reduced the probability of outbreaks in the country.). BMC Medicive. 7.2.2022. https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-022-02232-4

Long-term cardiovascular outcomes of COVID-19. Nature Medicine. 7.2.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-022-01689-3

Host genomes for the unique SARS-CoV-2 variant leaked into Antarctic soil metagenomic sequencing data. Research Square. 7.2.2022. https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-1330800/v1

Antihistamines for Postacute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners. 7.2.2022. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S155541552100547X

Rapid and ultrasensitive electromechanical detection of ions, biomolecules and SARS-CoV-2 RNA in unamplified samples, Nature Biomedical Engineering. 7.2.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41551-021-00833-7?

Päivittyvä seuranta: Sairaanhoitopiirit tyrmäävät koululaisten säännöllisen kotitestauksen | Australia avaa rajansa helmikuun lopulla | Turkin presidentillä koronatartunta
Kerromme uusimmat tiedot koronaviruksesta tässä artikkelissa. YLE-Uutiset. 7.2.2022. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-11942036?utm_source=social-media-share&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ylefiapp

Brief incubation, high viral shedding: COVID-19 human challenge trial results. Medical News Today. 4.2.2022. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/brief-incubation-high-viral-shedding-covid-19-human-challenge-trial-results?

Effectiveness of Face Mask or Respirator Use in Indoor Public Settings for Prevention of SARS-CoV-2 Infection — California, February–December 2021. CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 4.2.2022. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm7106e1.htm

Alzheimer’s-like changes found in COVID patients’ brains; flu shot, mRNA booster safe together. Reuters. 4.2.2022. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/alzheimers-like-changes-found-covid-patients-brains-flu-shot-mrna-booster-safe-2022-02-04/

How a nondescript box has been saving lives during the pandemic – and revealing the power of grassroots innovation. The Conversation 3.2.2022. https://theconversation.com/how-a-nondescript-box-has-been-saving-lives-during-the-pandemic-and-revealing-the-power-of-grassroots-innovation-176779?

Complications Following SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Victoria, Australia: A Record Linkage Study. SSRN (Lancet). 3.2.2022. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4025054

SARS-CoV-2 Infections in Close Contacts of Positive Cases in the Olympic and Paralympic Village at the 2021 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. JAMA. 3.2.2022. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2788895?

Pre-infection 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels and association with severity of COVID-19 illness. OLOS One. 3.2.2022. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0263069

Tutkimus: Koronavirus voi tarttua yhdestä pisarasta. Tutkijoiden mukaan kokeiden perusteella tehtiin rohkaisevia havaintoja. Iltalehti. 3.2.2022. [ep’äeettinen tutkimus] https://www.iltalehti.fi/ulkomaat/a/4db7f55f-75d2-401b-9fab-bed077f38095

Prevalence of ongoing symptoms following coronavirus (COVID-19) infection in the UK. ONS. 3.2.2021. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditionsanddiseases/datasets/alldatarelatingtoprevalenceofongoingsymptomsfollowingcoronaviruscovid19infectionintheuk?s=09

Fungal Diseases and COVID-19 (The most commonly reported fungal infections in patients with COVID-19 include aspergillosis, invasive candidiasis, and mucormycosis (sometimes called by the misnomer ”black fungusexternal icon.” Fungal infections resistant to antifungal treatment have also been described in patients with severe COVID-19). CDC. 2.3.2023. https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/covid-fungal.html

Miksi rajoituksia puretaan, vaikka korona­kuolemia kirjataan yhä kymmeniä viikossa? – ”Ei voida ajatella, että kukaan ei saa Suomessa koskaan kuolla mihinkään”, sanoo THL:n Salminen. Yhä pienempi osa koronatartunnan saaneista kuolee tautiin. Aamulehti. 2.2.2022. https://www.aamulehti.fi/koronavirus/art-2000008583714.html

Safety, tolerability and viral kinetics during SARS-CoV-2 human challenge. [Alexander van Assendelft: an unethical human experiment] Research Square. 1.2.2022. https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-1121993/v1

Model-Estimated Association Between Simulated US Elementary School-Related SARS-CoV-2 Transmission, Mitigation Interventions, and Vaccine Coverage Across Local Incidence Levels. JAMA. 1.2.2022. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35157056/

Moni uskoo, että Suomessa on tiukemmat koronarajoitukset kuin muualla – tarkistimme faktat, ja asia on lähes päinvastoin. Tämä juttu kertoo, miten Suomen tämänhetkiset rajoitukset vertautuvat Tanskaan, Saksaan, Englantiin ja Italiaan. Tällä hetkellä yhteiskuntaa avataan osassa Euroopan maita Suomea rivakammin. YLE-Uutiset. 1.2.2022. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12297246?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsdaily&utm_content=2022-02-02

Koronakuolemien määrä kasvaa nopeasti – kysyimme, miksi THL laskee lukuihin muitakin kuin selkeitä koronataudin aiheuttamia kuolemia. Koronaan liittyvien kuolemien määrä ylittää pian 2 000:n rajapyykin. Suurin kuolleisuus on iäkkäillä rokottamattomilla. THL kirjaa koronakuolemiksi kuolemat, jotka ovat tapahtuneet 30 vuorokauden aikana tartunnasta. YLE-Uutiset. 1.2.2022. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12296560?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsdaily&utm_content=2022-02-02

High Rates of Rapid Antigen Test Positivity After 5 days of Isolation for COVID-19. medRxiv. 1.2.2022. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.02.01.22269931v1.full.pdf

Safety, tolerability and viral kinetics during SARS-CoV-2 human challenge. In Review.1.2.2022. https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-1121993/v1

February 1 – 10

It’s a delusion to think mass spread of Omicron will end the pandemic.Globe and Mail. 31.1.2022. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-its-a-delusion-to-think-mass-spread-of-omicron-will-end-the-pandemic/

RNA SARS-CoV-2 Persistence in the Lung of Severe COVID-19 Patients: A Case Series of Autopsies (We detected gRNA in the lung of all but one patient, including those with longer disease duration. SgRNA was detected in 11 out of 17 patients (64.7%) with illness duration up to 6 weeks and in 3 out of 9 patients (33.3%) with more than 6 weeks of disease progression.). Front Microbiol. 31.1.2022. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.824967/full

Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron VOC subvariants BA.1 and BA.2: Evidence from Danish Households. medRxiv. 30.1.2022. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.01.28.22270044v1.full

Russia Sees Record Population Decline As Excess Deaths Hit 1M. Russia experienced its largest population decline in 2021 since the end of the Soviet Union. Moscow Times. 29.1.2022. https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/01/28/russias-pandemic-excess-death-toll-almost-1m-a76194

37,000 People Already Received 4th Vaccination in Hungary. Hungary today. 28.1.2022. https://hungarytoday.hu/coronavirus-covid-19-vaccines-fourth-dose-jab-booster/

Covid-19: Antibody “signature” could predict risk of long covid. BMJ. 28.1.2022. https://www.bmj.com/content/376/bmj.o245?

The COVID Project: Coronavirus in Kids Tracking and Education Project. 28.1.2022. https://www.covkidproject.org/

Nämä keinot ovat vanhentuneet koronan torjunnassa, professori sanoo – tässä pätevät
Moni lotraa edelleen käsidesin kanssa, vaikka oleellisempaa omikronin leviämisen ehkäisemisessä olisi maskin käyttäminen oikein. Iltalehti. 28.1.2022. https://www.iltalehti.fi/terveysuutiset/a/4beeae55-439a-4367-8762-24239d61be4a?

Coronaviruset hänger ofta kvar i inomhusluften – forskare uppmanar oss att vrida upp luftkonditioneringen och att använda luftrenare. Svenska YLE. 28.1.2022. https://svenska.yle.fi/a/7-10012085

Läkare med postcovid: Jag saknar den jag var. Detta är min berättelse om postcovid och den är varken unik eller allmängiltig, skriver läkaren Lisa Norén som har postcovid och är aktiv i nätverket Läkare till läkare. Hon tar upp Hanne Kjöllers uppmärksammade artiklar om postcovid och avfärdar att det är en kultursjukdom. Hon menar att sjukdomen är komplex och därför krävs det läkare med postcovidkompetens. Kvartal. 27.1.2022. https://kvartal.se/artiklar/lakare-med-postcovid-jag-saknar-den-jag-var/

THL:n Mika Salminen pohjoiselle valmiustoimikunnalle: Alueelliset toimijat ovat onnistuneet torjumaan koronaa hyvin. Pohjois-Suomen alueellinen valmiustoimikunta kokoontui alkuviikolla uudistuneessa kokoonpanossa ylijohtaja Terttu Savolaisen johdolla. Asiantuntijavieraana oli THL:n terveysturvallisuusosaston johtaja, professori Mika Salminen, joka kiitti alueellisia toimijoita erinomaisesta onnistumisesta koronapandemian torjunnassa. Mun Oulu. 27.1.2022. https://www.munoulu.fi/artikkeli/-/id/thl-n-mika-salminen-pohjoiselle-valmiustoimikunnalle-alueelliset-toimijat-ovat-onnistuneet-torjumaan-koronaa-hyvin

Uusi normaali koittaa kesään mennessä, sanoo THL:n Mika Salminen – tätä se tarkoittaa. Kaikki merkit viittaavat siihen, että uusi normaali on kulman takana: se tarkoittaa ensi kesänä suurten ja perinteisten kesäfestivaalien paluuta. Iltalehti. 27.1.2022. https://www.iltalehti.fi/koronavirus/a/cd4b87e6-19e4-4f0e-8603-5b4f727c372a

Asiantuntijan mukaan olemme koronapandemian loppuvaiheilla, mutta sinänsä korona ei koskaan lopu. Koronapandemia päättyy eri paikoissa eri aikaan, mutta epidemiologi Jussi Sanen mukaan pandemiassa ollaan jo loppuvaiheilla. HUSin apulaisylilääkäri Eeva Ruotsalainen ei kuitenkaan halua olla ylioptimistinen.YLE-Uutiset. 27.1.2022. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12288922?

 

Turkulainen hammastahna-suuvesi covid-19-infektiota vastaan sai patentin Yhdysvalloissa.
Yhtiön mukaan koronaa vastaan toimiva hammastahna-suuvesi perustuu elimistön oman kemiallisen puolustusmekanismin vahvistamiseen. Mediuutiset. 27.1.2022. https://www.mediuutiset.fi/uutiset/mu/8f2511e1-86f7-499e-8195-d9c95ea05583?

The Covid Resilience Ranking. The Best and Worst Places to Be as We Learn to Live With Covid. Bloomberg. 27.1.2022. https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/covid-resilience-ranking/?

Implication of COVID-19 on Erythrocytes Functionality: Red Blood Cell Biochemical Implications and Morpho-Functional Aspects. Int J Mol Sci. 27.1.2022. https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/4/2171/htm

A second version of omicron is spreading. Here’s why scientists are on alert. NPR. 27.1.2022. https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2022/01/27/1076123109/new-covid-variant-omicron-ba-2

Satasairaalan henkilöstöllä todettu runsaasti koronatartuntoja – Leikkauksia joudutaan perumaan. Kiireelliset toimenpiteet ja päivystysleikkaukset toteutetaan poikkeustilanteesta huolimatta normaalisti. Satakunnan Kansa. 26.1.2022.  https://www.satakunnankansa.fi/koronainfo/art-2000008569067.html

Neutralizing immunity in vaccine breakthrough infections from the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron and Delta 2 variants. medRxiv. 26.1.2022. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.01.25.22269794v1.full.pdf

When will the COVID-19 pandemic end? 4 essential reads on past pandemics and what the future could bring. The Conversation. 26.1.2022. https://theconversation.com/when-will-the-covid-19-pandemic-end-4-essential-reads-on-past-pandemics-and-what-the-future-could-bring-175587?

Alueelliset toimijat ovat onnistuneet torjumaan koronaa, totesi Mika Salminen Pohjois-Suomen alueellisessa valmiustoimikunnassa.
Pohjois-Suomen alueellinen valmiustoimikunta kokoontui 25.1.2022 uudistuneessa kokoonpanossa ylijohtaja Terttu Savolaisen johdolla. Asiantuntijavieraana oli Terveyden ja hyvinvoinnin laitoksen terveysturvallisuusosaston johtaja, professori Mika Salminen, joka kiitti alueellisia toimijoita erinomaisesta onnistumisesta koronapandemian torjunnassa. Aluehallintovirasto. 25.1.2022. https://www.sttinfo.fi/tiedote/alueelliset-toimijat-ovat-onnistuneet-torjumaan-koronaa-totesi-mika-salminen-pohjois-suomen-alueellisessa-valmiustoimikunnassa?publisherId=69818103&releaseId=69930577

The Real-time Assessment of Community Transmission (REACT) programme is one of the largest, most significant pieces of research looking at how the COVID-19 pandemic is progressing in England. Imperial College. 25.1.2022. https://www.imperial.ac.uk/medicine/research-and-impact/groups/react-study/real-time-assessment-of-community-transmission-findings/

The study is being carried out by a world-class team of scientists, clinicians and researchers at Imperial College London, in partnership with Ipsos MORI, and was commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Care. Explore our study’s findings below.

Neutralizing immunity in vaccine breakthrough infections from the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron and Delta variants. medRxiv. 25.1.2022. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.01.25.22269794v1.full.pdf

Close relatives of MERS-CoV in bats use ACE2 as their functional receptors, bioRxiv.25.1.2022. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.01.24.477490v1.full.pdf

COVID-19: endemic doesn’t mean harmless. Rosy assumptions endanger public health — policymakers must act now to shape the years to come. Nature. 24.1.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-00155-x

Parties may lead to his downfall, but is this the worst of what Johnson has done? BMJ. 24.1.2022. https://www.bmj.com/content/376/bmj.o196?

Multiple early factors anticipate post-acute COVID-19 sequelae. Cell. 24.1.2022. https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(22)00072-1#figs1

Disease severity during SARS-COV-2 reinfection: a nationwide study. J of Infection. 24.1.2022. https://www.journalofinfection.com/article/S0163-4453(22)00010-X/fulltext

COVID-19: endemic doesn’t mean harmless. Rosy assumptions endanger public health — policymakers must act now to shape the years to come. Nature. 24.1.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-00155-x

 

T cell apoptosis characterizes severe Covid-19 disease. Cell death and differentiation. 22.1.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41418-022-00936-x

Variation in excess all-cause mortality by age, sex, and province during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy. Scientific Reports. 20.1.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-04993-7

Functional evaluation of the P681H mutation on the proteolytic activation of the SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.1.7 (Alpha) spike. iScience. 21.1.2022. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004221015595?

“Hengitysilma paremmaksi ja FFP2-maskit kasvoille” – fysiikka ei erehdy, koronan torjunnassa on otettava uusi askel. Pandemian alkuvaiheessa monet asiantuntijat ja poliitikot uskoivat vahvasti myyttiin, etteivät virukset leviä ensisijaisesti hengitysilmassa vaan kosketustartunnan kautta. Fyysikot toivat kuitenkin jo pandemian alkuvaiheessa esille, että korona leviää voimakkaimmin nimenomaan hengitysilmassa. Virusta täytyykin jatkossa torjua rokotusten ohella ennen kaikkea hengitysilman laatuun keskittymällä, kirjoittaa apulaisprofessori Ville Vuorinen. MustRead. 21.1.2022. https://www.mustread.fi/artikkelit/hengitysilma-paremmaksi-ja-ffp2-maskit-kasvoille-fysiikka-ei-erehdy-koronan-torjunnassa-on-otettava-uusi-askel/?

Ville Vuorinen: Hengitysilman parantaminen on avain pandemian torjuntaan. Korona leviää ilmateitse, ja siksi sitä ei pysäytetä käsien pesulla, sanoo apulaisprofessori Ville Vuorinen. Paukut pitäisi pistää ilmahygieniaan, ja siinä tarvitaan sekä tehokasta ilmanvaihtoa että oikeanlaisia maskeja.  A” Uutiset 21.1.2022. https://www.aalto.fi/fi/uutiset/ville-vuorinen-hengitysilman-parantaminen-on-avain-pandemian-torjuntaan

January 21 – 31

Nervous system consequences of COVID-19. Neurological symptoms highlight the need to understand pathophysiologic mechanisms (With millions of individuals affected, nervous system complications pose public health challenges for rehabilitation and recovery and for disruptions in the workforce due to loss of functional capacity. There is an urgent need to understand the pathophysiology of these disorders and develop disease-modifying therapies.). Science. 20.1.2022. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abm2052

Outpatient treatment of Covid-19 and the development of Long Covid over 10 months: A
2 multi-center, quadruple-blind, parallel group randomized phase 3 trial. SSEN. 20.1.2022. https://deliverypdf.ssrn.com/delivery.php?ID=767068083087001028017106089075000103054050034080045061126006095094000092113122092124011002034032054015113005121112075072068114107041047029074101005084064101099029104051055083096082005015113108088014082123075109010030097096020093084111010090066083127102&EXT=pdf&INDEX=TRUE

From pandemic to endemic? What 2022 might mean for COVID-19. World Economic Forum. 19.1.2022. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/01/covid-19-pandemic-2022-what-next-expert-voices-from-davos/

Rapid vigilance and episodic memory decrements in COVID-19 survivors. Brain Communications. 19.1.2022. https://academic.oup.com/braincomms/article/4/1/fcab295/6511053?login=false

Ilmanvaihto-ohjeistus varhaiskasvatuksen, opetuksen ja koulutuksen tilojen käytöstä vastaaville. THL. 19.1.2021. https://thl.fi/fi/web/ymparistoterveys/sisailma/koronavirus-ja-sisailman-turvallisuus/ilmanvaihto-ohjeistus-varhaiskasvatuksen-opetuksen-ja-koulutuksen-tilojen-kaytosta-vastaaville

Differences in environmental stability among SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern: Omicron has higher stability. bioRxiv. 19.1.2022. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.01.18.476607v1.full

SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections elicit potent, broad, and durable neutralizing antibody responses. Cell. 19.1.2022. https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(22)00069-1#relatedArticles

Biden Will Give Away Free N95 Masks at Pharmacies and Health Centers. TIME. 19.1.2022. https://time.com/6140223/biden-free-n95-masks/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=sfmc&utm_campaign=newsletter+coronavirus+default+ac&utm_content=+++20220119+++body&et_rid=149179605&lctg=149179605

Respiratory viruses that hijack immune mechanisms may have Achilles’ heel. Phys.org. 18.1.2022. https://phys.org/news/2022-01-respiratory-viruses-hijack-immune-mechanisms.html

Incidence of Type 1 Diabetes in Children and Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Germany: Results From the DPV Registry. Diabetes Care. 17.1.2022. https://diabetesjournals.org/care/article-abstract/doi/10.2337/dc21-0969/139385/Incidence-of-Type-1-Diabetes-in-Children-and?redirectedFrom=fulltext

Israel Finds Fourth COVID Booster is only ‘Partially Effective,’ Vast Majority of Hospitalised Omicron Patients Are Unvaccinated.  Health Policy Watch. 17.1.2022. https://healthpolicy-watch.news/israel-fourth-covid-booster-ineffective/

Tamperelaisyritys sai luvan koronakeksinnölleen: puhallustesteri antaa alle minuutissa tiedon koronatartunnasta. Suomessa kehitetty puhallustesteri mittaa uloshengityksestä koronainfektion aiheuttamia yhdisteitä. YLE-Uutiset. 17.1.2022. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12273307?

Kannanotto: Valmiuslaki ei takaa terveydenhuollon kantokykyä. Nuorten Lääkärien Yhdistys. 17.1.2022. https://www.nly.fi/kannanotto-valmiuslaki-ei-takaa-terveydenhuollon-kantokykya/

Time to upgrade from cloth and surgical masks to respirators? Your questions answered. The Converesation. 17.1.2022. https://theconversation.com/time-to-upgrade-from-cloth-and-surgical-masks-to-respirators-your-questions-answered-174877

Hen­gi­tys­suo­jai­met toi­mi­vat, vaikka jotkut muuta väit­tä­vät­kin [Ari Laaksonen]. Kaleva. 16.1.2022.  https://www.kaleva.fi/hengityssuojaimet-toimivat-vaikka-jotkut-muuta-vai/4249701

Excess mortality in 2020-2021 % change compared with 2016-2019 average. Eurostat Statistics explained. January 2022. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=File:Excess_Mortality_Update_DEC2021GIF.gif

Risk factors and disease profile of post-vaccination SARS-CoV-2 infection in UK users of the COVID Symptom Study app: a prospective, community-based, nested, case-control study. Lancet Infectious Diseases. January 2022. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1473309921004606

With COVID-19, Air Is Both the Problem and the Solution. SARS-CoV-2 can linger in the air. Dealing with it can be relatively easy, but first, we have to admit we have a problem McGill. 15.1.2022. https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/covid-19/covid-19-air-both-problem-and-solution

One in nine recent virus cases in Israel are reinfections — report. High proportion of those who recovered and were then reinfected were at least partially vaccinated; officials believe confirmed daily cases will reach 100,000 in coming days. Times of Israel. 15.1.2022. https://www.timesofisrael.com/one-in-nine-recent-virus-cases-in-israel-are-reinfections-report/

Public School Access or Stay-at-Home Partner: Factors Mitigating the. Adverse Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Academic Parents. Jan 2022. https://secureservercdn.net/104.238.71.33/0zv.ccf.myftpupload.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Deryugina_Shurchkov_Stearns_2022.pdf

A LITERATURE REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECTS OF LOCKDOWNS ON COVID-19 MORTALITY. Studies in Applied Economics. NN.1.2022. extension://elhekieabhbkpmcefcoobjddigjcaadp/https://sites.krieger.jhu.edu/iae/files/2022/01/A-Literature-Review-and-Meta-Analysis-of-the-Effects-of-Lockdowns-on-COVID-19-Mortality.pdf

Immune boosting by B.1.1.529 (Omicron) depends on previous SARS-CoV-2 exposure. Science 14.1.2022. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abq1841

Risk for Newly Diagnosed Diabetes >30 Days After SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Persons Aged <18 Years — United States, March 1, 2020–June 28, 2021 (SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with worsening of diabetes symptoms, and persons with diabetes are at increased risk for severe COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 infection might also induce newly diagnosed diabetes. Persons aged <18 years with COVID-19 were more likely to receive a new diabetes diagnosis >30 days after infection than were those without COVID-19 and those with prepandemic acute respiratory infections. Non–SARS-CoV-2 respiratory infection was not associated with an increased risk for diabetes.). CDC MMWR. 14.1.2022. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm7102e2.htm

Weekly epidemiological update: Omicron variant of concern (VOC) – week 2 (data as of 13 January 2022) EU/EEA. ECDC. 14.1.2022. https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/news-events/weekly-epidemiological-update-omicron-variant-concern-voc-week-2-data-13-january-2022

COVID-19 starkly increases pregnancy complications, including stillbirths, among the unvaccinated, Scottish study shows. Separate study finds timing of infection during pregnancy predicts prematurity. Science. 14.1.2022. https://www.science.org/content/article/covid-19-starkly-increases-pregnancy-complications-including-stillbirths-among?

Immunological dysfunction persists for 8 months following initial mild-to-moderate SARS-CoV-2 infection (Combinations of the inflammatory mediators IFN-β, PTX3, IFN-γ, IFN-λ2/3 and IL-6 associated with LC with 78.5–81.6% accuracy.). nature immunology. 13.1.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41590-021-01113-x

Covid-19: Peak of viral shedding is later with omicron variant, Japanese data suggest. BMJ. 13.1.2022. https://www.bmj.com/content/376/bmj.o89

Comparison of serum neurodegenerative biomarkers among hospitalized COVID-19 patients versus non-COVID subjects with normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment, or Alzheimer’s dementia. Alzheimer’s Association. 13.1.2022. https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/alz.12556

Covid-19: Peak of viral shedding is later with omicron variant, Japanese data suggest. BMJ. 13.1.2022. https://www.bmj.com/content/376/bmj.o89

Immunological dysfunction persists for 8 months following initial mild-to-moderate SARS-CoV-2 infection. Nature Immunology. 13.1.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41590-021-01113-x

Hospital length of stay for COVID-19 patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis (Length of Stay, LoS, in Hospital. Europe 15.31 (9.03-21.59) days). Multidiscip Respir Med. 12.1.2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9472334/

The effectiveness of vaccination against long COVID. A rapid evidence briefing. UK Health Security Agency. 12.1.2022. https://ukhsa.koha-ptfs.co.uk/cgi-bin/koha/opac-retrieve-file.pl?id=fe4f10cd3cd509fe045ad4f72ae0dfff

Covid-19 control measures and common paediatric infections. BMJ. 12.1.2022.  https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n3093

Analyzing natural herd immunity media discourse in the United Kingdom and the United States. [Great Barrington Declaration, False balance in media coverage]. PLOS Global Public Health. 12.1.2022. https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0000078

Indirect effects of the covid-19 pandemic on childhood infection in England: population based observational study. BMJ. 12.1.2022. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2021-067519

Why we need to wear better masks. [Risk of COVID-19 infection between infected and non-infected individuals with different mask combinations – N95 ]  AXIOS. 11.1.2022. https://www.axios.com/2022/01/11/n95-mask-protection-covid

The stench of eugenics at the White House (...the suggestion [by CDC Director Rochelle Walensky] that the “overwhelming number of deaths” occur among the elderly and those with preexisting conditions (comorbidities) is “encouraging news” is shocking in its implications. / Walensky’s comments were broadly condemned by doctors, scientists and advocates for the disabled as an embrace of eugenics by the Biden administration. / “This is eugenicist,” lawyer and disability activist Matthew Cortland, who is chronically ill, wrote on Twitter. “The problem is that the people running @CDCgov, including @CDCDirector, **fundamentally believe** it’s ‘encouraging’ if disabled and chronically ill people die. And all of their decisions are informed by, and enact, that belief.” ). World Socialist WebSite. 10.1.2022. https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2022/01/10/pers-j10.html.

Mild respiratory SARS-CoV-2 infection can cause multi-lineage cellular dysregulation and myelin loss in the brain. bioRxiv. 10.1.2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8764721/

Slow the Spread? Speeding It May Be Safer. Tamping down on Omicron may increase the risk of an ‘antigenic shift’ to a far deadlier supervariant. Wall Street Journal. 10.1.2022. https://www.wsj.com/articles/speeding-it-may-be-safer-omicron-mandates-antigenic-drift-shift-covid-supervariant-mask-social-distancing-lockdown-vaccine-11641847062

The Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 Infectivity with Changes in Aerosol. Microenvironment.  medRxiv. 10.1.2022. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.01.08.22268944v1.full.pdf

Covid loses 90% of ability to infect within 20 minutes in air – study
Exclusive: Findings highlight importance of short-range Covid transmission. The Guardian. 11.1.2022. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/11/covid-loses-90-of-ability-to-infect-within-five-minutes-in-air-study

WHO: Jatkuvissa tehosterokotuksissa ei järkeä. Maailman terveysjärjestön mukaan tarvitaan rokote, joka ehkäisee tartuntoja. Iltalehti. 11.1.2022. https://www.iltalehti.fi/ulkomaat/a/5ca307c8-7c15-4476-a361-b544d3b9e77e?

“Mass formation” #1 – A concept invented by Freud in 1921. This concept has recently surfaced and I thought I’d have a quick look at its origin. There seems to be no standard book on this topic but this 1988 article has a discussion (the purpose of psychoanalysis is not to provide answers but to open, or re-open, questions. This at least has the virtue of reminding us that these answers are in vain unless we do maintain the wish to know what gave rise to the question, i.e. if they do not leave enough space for further questioning) Sanjeev Sabhok’s blog. 11.1.2022. https://www.sabhlokcity.com/2022/01/mass-formation-1-a-concept-invented-by-freud-in-1921/

January 11 – 20 

The stench of eugenics at the White House (...the suggestion [by CDC Director Rochelle Walensky] that the “overwhelming number of deaths” occur among the elderly and those with preexisting conditions (comorbidities) is “encouraging news” is shocking in its implications. / Walensky’s comments were broadly condemned by doctors, scientists and advocates for the disabled as an embrace of eugenics by the Biden administration. / “This is eugenicist,” lawyer and disability activist Matthew Cortland, who is chronically ill, wrote on Twitter. “The problem is that the people running @CDCgov, including @CDCDirector, **fundamentally believe** it’s ‘encouraging’ if disabled and chronically ill people die. And all of their decisions are informed by, and enact, that belief.” ). World Socialist WebSite. 10.1.2022. https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2022/01/10/pers-j10.html.

Mild respiratory SARS-CoV-2 infection can cause multi-lineage cellular dysregulation and myelin loss in the brain. bioRxiv. 10.1.2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8764721/

Slow the Spread? Speeding It May Be Safer. Tamping down on Omicron may increase the risk of an ‘antigenic shift’ to a far deadlier supervariant. Wall Street Journal. 10.1.2022. https://www.wsj.com/articles/speeding-it-may-be-safer-omicron-mandates-antigenic-drift-shift-covid-supervariant-mask-social-distancing-lockdown-vaccine-11641847062

The Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 Infectivity with Changes in Aerosol. Microenvironment.  medRxiv. 10.1.2022. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.01.08.22268944v1.full.pdf

Slow the Spread? Speeding It May Be Safer. Tamping down on Omicron may increase the risk of an ‘antigenic shift’ to a far deadlier supervariant. WSJ Opinnon. 10.1.2022. https://www.wsj.com/articles/speeding-it-may-be-safer-omicron-mandates-antigenic-drift-shift-covid-supervariant-mask-social-distancing-lockdown-vaccine-11641847062

The Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 Infectivity with Changes in Aerosol Microenvironment. medRxiv. 10.1.2022.  https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.01.08.22268944v1

Infectious viral load in unvaccinated and vaccinated patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 WT, Delta and Omicron. MedRxiv. 10.1.2022. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.01.10.22269010v1

Liikuntaväki huolissaan lasten harrastusten rajoituksista – THL:n Tervahauta: Hyödyt vähäiset, haitat suuret. Viranomaisten toimia pidetään poukkoilevana ja rajoituskaavailuja epäreiluina lasten ja nuorten kannalta. Lajiliittojen johtajat pelkäävät koko ikäluokan menettämistä. YLE-Uutiset. 8.1.2022. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12263002?

Mild respiratory SARS-CoV-2 infection can cause multi-lineage cellular dysregulation and myelin loss in the brain. bioRxiv. 10.1.2022. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.01.07.475453v1.full

Premature mortality attributable to COVID-19: potential years of life lost in 17 countries around the world, January–August 2020 (PYLL. The average PYLL per death was 8.7 years, with substantial variation ranging from 2.7 years in Australia to 19.3 PYLL in Ukraine. North and South American countries as well as England & Wales, Scotland and Sweden experienced the highest PYLL per 100,000 population; whereas Australia, Slovenia and Georgia experienced the lowest.). BMC Public Health. 9.1.2022. https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-021-12377-1

For elite footballers, the effects of covid-19 linger for months. Long after infection, players play fewer minutes and complete fewer passes The Economist. 8.1.2022. https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2022/01/08/for-elite-footballers-the-effects-of-covid-19-linger-for-months

Efficacy of face masks, neck gaiters and face shields for reducing the expulsion of simulated cough-generated aerosols. Aerosol Science & Technology. 7.1.2022. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02786826.2020.1862409

Hospitals Are in Serious Trouble. Omicron is inundating a health-care system that was already buckling under the cumulative toll of every previous surge. Atlantic. 7.1.2022. https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2022/01/omicron-mild-hospital-strain-health-care-workers/621193/

STM:n asiantuntija­ryhmä: Korona voi ilmetä pitkäkestoisena joka toisella aikuisella – HS seurasi tiedotus­tilaisuutta. Uupumus, hengenahdistus ja kognitiiviset häiriöt yleisiä oireita. Helsingin Sanomat. 7.1.2022. https://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000008523531.html

Immunity against Omicron from breakthrough infection could be a matter of timing. Laboratory studies hint that a longer interval between vaccination and infection is better than a shorter one. Nature. 7.1.2022.  https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-00004-x?

Risk Factors for Severe COVID-19 Outcomes Among Persons Aged ≥18 Years Who Completed a Primary COVID-19 Vaccination Series — 465 Health Care Facilities, United States, December 2020–October 2021. CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 7.1.2022. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm7101a4.htm

How to Think About Covid Data Right Now. New York Times. 7.1.2022. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/01/07/us/covid-data-explained.html

Higher viral load and infectivity increase risk of aerosol transmission for Delta and Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2. Swiss Medical Weekly. 6.1.2021. https://smw.ch/article/doi/smw.2022.w30133

Virologian professori: Maskien käyttö on nyt tärkeämpää kuin koskaan – Tilanne pääkaupunkiseudulla ”kuin Lontoossa”.  Uusi Suomi. 6.1.2022.  https://www.uusisuomi.fi/uutiset/virologian-professori-maskien-kaytto-on-nyt-tarkeampaa-kuin-koskaan-tilanne-paakaupunkiseudulla-kuin-lontoossa/488a3898-2b85-4b5a-ab09-edb16d5ad59f

Comprehensive Chemosensory Psychophysical Evaluation of Self-reported Gustatory Dysfunction in Patients With Long-term COVID-19. A Cross-sectional Study. JAMA Network. 6.1.2022. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaotolaryngology/fullarticle/2787787?

A National Strategy for the “New Normal” of Life With COVID. JAMA Network. 6.1.2022.  https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2787944

Gut microbiota dynamics in a prospective cohort of patients with post-acute COVID-19 syndrome. BMJ / Gut. 5.1.2022. https://gut.bmj.com/content/early/2022/01/05/gutjnl-2021-325989

South African scientist thinks she may have solved the mystery of long COVID-19, which afflicts 100M people. A recent study by Resia Pretorius and her team at Stellenbosch University in South Africa suggests that long COVID-19 may be triggered by microclots. The Hill. 5.1.2022. https://thehill.com/changing-america/well-being/medical-advances/588443-south-african-scientist-thinks-she-may-have

Association between vaccination status and reported incidence of post-acute COVID-19 symptoms in Israel: a cross-sectional study of patients tested between March 2020 and November 2021. medRxiv. 5.1.2022. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.01.05.22268800v2

Practical Indicators for Risk of Airborne Transmission in Shared Indoor Environments and Their Application to COVID-19 Outbreaks. Environmental Science & Technology. 5.1.2022. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c06531

Residual SARS-CoV-2 viral antigens detected in GI and hepatic tissues from five recovered patients with COVID-19. @IanRicksecker, A Duke pathology study in Singapore “detected SARS-CoV-2 .. in the colon, appendix, ileum, haemorrhoid, liver, gallbladder and lymph nodes .. suggesting widespread multiorgan involvement of the viral infection.” The same study found “evidence of residual virus in .. tissues during the convalescent phase, up to 6 months after recovery, in a non-postmortem setting,” suggesting that “a negative swab result might not necessarily indicate complete viral clearance from the body.” Gut. 5.1.2022.  gut.bmj/content/gutjnl-2021-324280.full.pdf

Discordant SARS-CoV-2 PCR and Rapid Antigen Test Results. When Infectious: A December 2021 Occupational Case Series. medRxiv. 5.1.2022. Discordant SARS-CoV-2 PCR and Rapid Antigen Test Results When Infectious: A December 2021 Occupational Case Series (medrxiv.org)

By wearing face masks in schools, students protect their learning, families and long-term health. Flawed or unrepresentative studies promote the view that masks are ineffective or harmful. But at times when Covid case rates are high, they’re one of our best options. iNews. 5.1.2022. https://inews.co.uk/opinion/by-wearing-face-masks-in-schools-students-protect-their-learning-families-and-long-term-health-1381627

Practical Indicators for Risk of Airborne Transmission in Shared Indoor Environments and Their Application to COVID-19 Outbreaks. Environ Sci Technol. 5.1.2022. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.1c06531

Early Israeli findings show fivefold boost from fourth COVID vaccine dose. CIDRAP, University of Minnesota. 4.1.2022. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2022/01/early-israeli-findings-show-fivefold-boost-fourth-covid-vaccine-dose

Viikoittaiset tilastot kuolleista julkaistaan jatkossa kerran kuukaudessa. Tilastokeskus. 4.1.2022. https://www.stat.fi/uutinen/viikoittaiset-tilastot-kuolleista-julkaistaan-jatkossa-kerran-kuukaudessa

Long Covid: why do some people have symptoms months after infection? Researchers say more than 100m suffer ill effects for at least 12 weeks. Financial Times. 4.1.2022. https://www.ft.com/content/ed89cad2-6f82-44f0-b01d-c4490e4a7372?shareType=nongift

A framework for reconstructing SARS-CoV-2 transmission dynamics using excess mortality data. (Iran) medRxiv. 4.1.2022. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.10.04.21264540v2.full.pdf

Mapping the antigenic diversification of SARS-CoV-2. medRxiv. 3.1.2022. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.01.03.21268582v1

Covid-19: An urgent call for global “vaccines-plus” action. BMJ. 3.1.2022. https://www.bmj.com/content/376/bmj.o1

Superspreading: Insufficient ventilation led to a probable long-range airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 on two buses. Buiding and Environment. NN.1.2022. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360132321008118?via%3Dihub

The hyper-transmissible SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant exhibits significant antigenic change, vaccine escape and a switch in cell entry mechanism.  @IanRicksecker, Luckily, the University of Glasgow found that “Whilst Delta is optimised for fusion at the cell surface, Omicron .. achieves entry through endosomal fusion. This switch .. offers [an] explanation for [its] reduced syncytia formation.”1.1.2022. https://t.co/lsAwufl6dl

What is an N95 respirator? N95DECON Publications. 2022. https://www.n95decon.org/publications

Satunnaistetut, pragmaattiset monikeskustutkimukset ovat parantaneet COVID-19-taudin hoitoa.  Duodecim. Jan 2022. https://www.duodecimlehti.fi/duo16524

2022 January 1 – 10

Tutkija HS:lle: Tällainen on koronan “superimmuniteetti”
Rokotetutkimuskeskuksen johtajan  (Mikko Rämet) mukaan immuniteetti voi vaikuttaa jopa koko elämän ajan. Verkkouutiset. 31.12.2021. https://www.verkkouutiset.fi/a/tutkija-hslle-tallainen-on-koronan-superimmuniteetti/#8abf9fd5

 

Are People Optimistically Biased about the Risk of COVID-19 Infection? Lessons from the First Wave of the Pandemic in Europe. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 31.12.2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8744599/

Studies suggest why omicron is less severe: It spares the lungs. The Seattle Times. 31.12.2021. https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/studies-suggest-why-omicron-is-less-severe-it-spares-the-lungs/

Travelers infected one another across hallway in Covid-19 quarantine facility, New Zealand research shows. CNN Travel. 31.12.2021. https://edition.cnn.com/2021/12/30/health/new-zealand-covid-facility-transmission/index.html

Paradoxical sex-specific patterns of autoantibody response to SARS-CoV-2 infection. @IanRicksecker, Those warnings have since been proven by discovery of autoimmune features. This study of 177 Los Angeles healthcare workers found that all had persistent self-attacking antibodies at least 6 months after infection, regardless of illness severity. J Translational Medicine. 30.12.2021. https://translational-medicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12967-021-03184-8

Covid-19: Is it safe to reduce the self-isolation period? BMJ. 30.12.2021. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n3164?

Fatigue and cognitive impairment in Post-COVID-19 Syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis (The fatigue meta-analysis comprised 68 studies, the cognitive impairment meta-analysis comprised 43 studies, and 48 studies were included in the narrative synthesis. Meta-analysis revealed that the proportion of individuals experiencing fatigue 12 or more weeks following COVID-19 diagnosis was 0.32 (95% CI, 0.27, 0.37; p < 0.001; n = 25,268; I2 = 99.1%). The proportion of individuals exhibiting cognitive impairment was 0.22 (95% CI, 0.17, 0.28; p < 0.001; n = 13,232; I2 = 98.0). Moreover, narrative synthesis revealed elevations in proinflammatory markers and considerable functional impairment in a subset of individuals.). Brain Behav Immun. 29.12.2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8715665/

Taiwan rejects US CDC guidance on 5-day quarantine. Some Omicron cases still infectious up to 12 days after testing positive. Taiwan News. 30.12.2021. https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4393548

Rekord bei Corona-Neuinfektionen. Die Pandemie erreicht in der Schweiz und weltweit einen neuen Höhepunkt. Mehr als 17’600 Ansteckungen innert 24 Stunden – und das dürfte erst der Anfang einer riesigen Welle in der Schweiz sein. Welche Länder ebenfalls stark betroffen sind. BaZ. 29.12.2021. https://www.bazonline.ch/die-pandemie-erreicht-in-der-schweiz-und-weltweit-einen-neuen-hoehepunkt-318445720632?

The SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.529 Omicron virus causes attenuated infection and disease in mice and hamsters. Research Square. 29.12.2021. https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-1211792/v1

Omikron voi todella olla lievempi – Tutkija: Ihan huippua. Akatemiatutkijan mukaan uusi virusmuunnos ei ilmeisesti pääse leviämään yhtä tuhoisasti keuhkoissa kuin aiempi delta. Verkkouutiset. 29.12.2021. https://www.verkkouutiset.fi/omikron-voi-todella-olla-lievempi-tutkija-ihan-huippua/#773fc543

HUSin ylilääkäri ehdottaa erillisten koronasairaaloiden perustamista Suomeen. Ylilääkäri Eero Hirvensalon mukaan sairaalat olisi mahdollista perustaa terveydenhuollon niukoista resursseista huolimatta, jos mukana olisi useita toimijoita ja soveltuvilta osin yksityinen terveydenhuolto. YLE Uutiset. 29.12.2021. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12248864?

Can COVID-19 alter your personality? Here’s what brain research shows. Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and traumatic brain injury can cause changes in behavior by altering brain anatomy. Now it seems the coronavirus can too. National Geographic. 29.12.2021. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/can-covid-19-alter-your-personality-heres-what-brain-research-shows?cmpid=org=ngp::mc=social::src=twitter::cmp=editorial::add=tw20211229science-sciencecovidpersonalitydisorder&linkId=146317189

CDC shortens recommended Covid-19 isolation and quarantine time. CNN Health. 28.12.2021. https://edition.cnn.com/2021/12/27/health/cdc-covid-quarantine-isolation-shortened-recommendation/index.html?

Intranasal inhibitor blocks omicron and other variants of SARS-CoV-2. Research Square. 28.12.2021. https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-1196079/v1

Going viral: How Covid changed science forever – The perfect storm (2021)
Jonathan Van-Tam is joined by leading experts to reveal the secrets of contagion and the mathematics of disease. The Royal Institution. 28.12.2021. https://www.rigb.org/explore-science/explore/video/going-viral-how-covid-changed-science-forever-invisible-enemy-2021

Combined triple treatment of fibrin amyloid microclots and platelet pathology in individuals with Long COVID/ Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) can resolve their persistent symptoms. @IanRicksecker, [COVID-19] also causes microclots: “Fibrin(ogen) amyloid microclots and platelet hyperactivation [were] observed in [Long COVID] patients,” in this work by Stellenbosch University of South Africa, which also explored potential treatments. Research Square.  28.12.2021. https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-1205453/v1

Risk of Cardiovascular Events after Covid-19: a double-cohort study. (@IanRicksecker) Oregon Health & Science University found that “symptomatic or asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with increased risk of [fatal] cardiovascular outcomes and has causal effect on all-cause mortality.” medRxiv. 27.12.2021. https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.12.27.21268448

Omicron infection enhances neutralizing immunity against the Delta variant. medRxiv. 27.12.2021.  https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.12.27.21268439v1.full

Emeritusprofessori: Visiiri suojaa koronalta kuin aurinkolasit HIV:lta. Verkkouutiset. 27.12.2021. https://www.verkkouutiset.fi/emeritusprofessori-visiiri-suojaa-koronalta-yhta-hyvin-kuin-aurinkolasit-hivlta/#773fc543

Characterizing Long COVID in an International Cohort: 7 Months of Symptoms and Their Impact. medRxiv. 27.12.2021. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.12.24.20248802v2

Coronavirus Can Persist for Months After Traversing Body. BloombergQuint. 26.12.2021. https://www.bloombergquint.com/coronavirus-outbreak/coronavirus-can-persist-for-months-after-traversing-entire-body.

The omicron (B.1.1.529) SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern does not readily infect Syrian hamsters. bioRxiv. 26.12.2021.  https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.12.24.474086v1

Aerosol generation during general anesthesia is comparable to coughing: An observational clinical study. Acta Anesthesiologica Scandinavica. 24.12.2021.  https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/aas.1402

SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and variants under investigation in England. Technical briefing 33. UK Health Security Agency. 23.12.2021. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1043807/technical-briefing-33.pdf

Covid-19: Early studies give hope omicron is milder than other variants. BMJ. 23.12.2021. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n3144?

Helsinki GSE:n Tilannehuoneen selvitys: Rokotukset suojaavat lapsia tehokkaasti tartunnoilta – 11-vuotiailla jopa kaksinkertainen määrä tartuntoja 12-vuotiaisiin verrattuna.  Helsinki Graduate School of Economics. 23.12.2021. https://www.helsinkigse.fi/corona/helsinki-gsen-tilannehuoneen-selvitys-rokotukset-suojaavat-lapsia-tehokkaasti-tartunnoilta-11-vuotiailla-jopa-kaksinkertainen-maara-tartuntoja-12-vuotiaisiin-verrattuna/

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): How is it transmitted? How does COVID-19 spread between people? WHO. 23.12.2021. https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/coronavirus-disease-covid-19-how-is-it-transmitted

APOE ε4 associates with increased risk of severe COVID-19, cerebral microhaemorrhages and post-COVID mental fatigue: a Finnish biobank, autopsy and clinical study (In conclusion, the present data on Finns suggests that APOE4 is a risk factor for severe COVID-19 and post-COVID mental fatigue and provides the first indication that some of this effect could be mediated via increased cerebrovascular damage. ) Acta Neuropathologica Communications. 23.12.2021. https://actaneurocomms.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40478-021-01302-7

How The Koch Network Hijacked The War On COVID. As Omicron surges, a shadowy institute filled with fringe doctors appears to be part of big business’ two-year strategy to legitimize attacks on pandemic interventions.The Lever. 22.12.2021. https://www.levernews.com/how-the-koch-network-hijacked-the-war-on-covid/

Medical technologies have been central to US pandemic response – but social behaviors matter just as much. The Conversation. 22.12.2021. https://theconversation.com/medical-technologies-have-been-central-to-us-pandemic-response-but-social-behaviors-matter-just-as-much-171587?

Kannattaako oireettoman tehdä koti­testi? Pitääkö lapset testata ennen iso­vanhempien tapaamista? 10 kysymystä ja vastausta toisesta koronajoulusta. Turun yliopiston virusopin professori Ilkka Julkusen mukaan kotitestejä voi hyvin käyttää lieväoireisessa taudissa. Kotitestistä saatuun negatiiviseen tulokseen pitää kuitenkin suhtautua pienellä varauksella. Helsingin Sanomat. 22.12.2021. https://www.hs.fi/hyvinvointi/art-2000008492207.html

11 Early Signs of Dementia. healthline. 22.12.2021. https://www.healthline.com/health/dementia/early-warning-signs

How The Koch Network Hijacked The War On Covid [As Omicron surges, a shadowy institute filled with fringe doctors appears to be part of big business’ two-year strategy to legitimize attacks on pandemic interventions.GBD, Trump]. CMD. 22.12.2021. https://www.exposedbycmd.org/2021/12/22/how-the-koch-network-hijacked-the-war-on-covid/

What now for Sweden and covid-19? BMJ. 22.12.2021. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n3081?

Covid News: What the U.S. Vaccination Campaign Looks Like One Year On. Pfizer said a combination of pills reduced the risk of hospitalization and death by 89 percent if given within three days of the onset of symptoms. New York Times. 21.12.2021. https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/12/14/world/covid-omicron-vaccines#pfizer-covid-pill-paxlovid

WHO:n suomalaisasiantuntija kutsui omikronia ”mahdollisesti jopa evoluution joululahjaksi” – selittää nyt sanojaan (– Kaikki toistaiseksi olemassa oleva tosielämän data (ei mallit) eri maista vahvistaa mitä E-Afrikasta kuultiin aiemmin. Omikron ei ole katastrofi, mahdollisesti jopa evoluution joululahja. Jos nyt aikuiset taas kiusaa lapsia ja mm. sulkee kouluja niin tuleepahan varsinainen jälkipeli, Jussi Sane tviittasi.).Iltalehti. 21.12.2021. https://www.iltalehti.fi/kotimaa/a/06ef60d0-03b7-4b82-a9af-dc70c75d9e84

In world first, Israel set to give 4th COVID shot to over 60s, at-risk groups. Hailing recommendation by panel of health experts, Bennett orders swift roll-out of extra vaccine booster for people over 60, immunocompromised and health care workers. The Times of Israel. 21.12.2021. https://www.timesofisrael.com/health-ministry-panel-recommends-fourth-covid-shot-for-at-risk-groups/?

Viranomainen määräsi yleisötilaisuudet säppiin – Kirkko vetää omaa linjaa: joulukirkot järjestetään. ”Älytön päätös tässä vaiheessa.” Salon seurakunnassa kritisoidaan tuomiokapitulin ohjetta. Kirkon mukaan uskonnon harjoittaminen auttaa ihmisiä jaksamaan pandemiassa. Suomen Kuvalehti. 21.12.2021. https://suomenkuvalehti.fi/jutut/kotimaa/viranomainen-maarasi-yleisotilaisuudet-sappiin-kirkko-vetaa-omaa-linjaa-joulukirkot-jarjestetaan/?

Koronarajoitukset kiristymässä. Useat alueet ovat tiedottaneet rajoitussuosituksista. Lääkärilehti. 21.12.2021. https://www.laakarilehti.fi/ajassa/ajankohtaista/koronarajoitukset-kiristymassa/?public

December 21 – 31 

SARS-CoV-2 infection and persistence throughout the human body and brain. Research Square. 20.12.2021. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-1139035/v1

Avoin kirje päättäjille: Omikronin torjunta vaatii kiireellisiä rajoitustoimia. Eroonkoronasta. 20.12.2021. https://www.eroonkoronasta.fi/avoin-kirje-paeaettaejille-omikronin-torjunta-vaatii-kiireellisiae-rajoitustoimia/#s_allekirjoittajat

SARS-CoV-2 infection and persistence throughout the human body and brain. Research Square. 20.12.2021. https://assets.researchsquare.com/files/rs-1139035/v1_covered.pdf?c=1640020576

Teholla 63 koronapotilasta – tehohoidon koordinaattorit: Hallituksen tehtävä rajuja päätöksiä ja heti. Professori Matti Reinikainen arvioi, että Suomeen vasta tuloaan tekevä omikron työllistää sairaaloita arvioitua enemmän. Etelä-Afrikassa virus on jyllännyt nuorten keskuudessa. YLE-Uutiset. 20.12.2021. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12239558?

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children by COVID-19 Vaccination Status of Adolescents in France. JAMA Network. 20.12.2021. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2787495

Multifactorial seroprofiling dissects the contribution of pre-existing human coronaviruses responses to SARS-CoV-2 immunity. nature. 18.12.2021. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-27040-x

Ministeri Krista Kiuru: Hätä­jarrusta on päätettävä jo ensi viikolla ja rajoitus­toimia on lisättävä merkittävästi. Kiuru toivoo, että Italian tapaan Suomi alkaa vaatia myös eurooppalaisilta ennen maahan tuloa otettua koronatestitodistusta. Perhe- ja peruspalveluministeri Krista Kiurulla (sd) on tapana varoitella korona­tilanteesta, mutta tällä kertaa hän on jopa Kiuru-mittarilla tarkasteltuna äärimmäisen huolestunuta. Helsingin Sanomat. 18.12.2021. https://www.hs.fi/politiikka/art-2000008474448.html

Status på omikron-varianten (B.1.1.529) pr. Statens Serum Institut finder et stadigt stigende antal omikron tilfælde i Danmark. Samlet er der nu fundet 11.559 tilfælde af smitte med virus-varianten omikron. Alle fakta om forekomsten af omikron i Danmark udsendes nu i en daglig rapport. Statens SerumInstitut. 17.12.2021. https://www.ssi.dk/aktuelt/nyheder/2021/status-pa-omikron-varianten-b11529-pr-171221

Omicron largely evades immunity from past infection or two vaccine doses. Imperial College. 17.12.2021. https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/232698/omicron-largely-evades-immunity-from-past/

How Omicron Evades Natural Immunity, Vaccination, And Monoclonal Antibody Treatments. Forbes. 17.12.2021. https://www.forbes.com/sites/williamhaseltine/2021/12/17/how-omicron-evades-natural-immunity-vaccination-and-monoclonal-antibody-treatments/?sh=d4e595f60e08

CDC recommends Pfizer, Moderna vaccines over J&J’s. CNN Health. 17.12.2021. https://edition.cnn.com/2021/12/16/health/johnson-vaccine-acip-recommendation-mrna-preferred/index.html

Vaccine inequality may undermine the booster programme. BMJ. 17.12.2021. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n3118

Why Paxlovid is a Just-in-Time Breakthrough. The first potent anti-Covid pill will be a big help. Ground truths. 16.12.2023. https://erictopol.substack.com/p/why-paxlovid-is-a-just-in-time-breakthrough

Maskien käyttö tepsi: alle 12-vuotiaiden koronatartunnat tippuivat Turun kouluissa puoleen viikossa.  (Turun tartuntataudeista vastaava ylilääkäri Jutta Peltoniemi) Turun Sanomat. 16.12.2021. https://www.ts.fi/uutiset/5513872

Huonossa sisäilmassa koronatartunnan voi saada minuuteissa – tehokas tuuletus laskee riskiä luultua enemmän, kertoo VTT:n tuore tutkimus. Mitä enemmän huonetilassa on viruksia, sitä suurempi on riski taudin leviämisestä. Tuulettamalla viruspitoisuudet tippuvat tutkijoiden mukaan jopa 90 prosenttia. YLE-Uutiset. 16.12.2021. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12231997?

Report 48 – The value of vaccine booster doses to mitigate the global impact of the Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant. Imperial College. 16.12.2021. https://www.imperial.ac.uk/mrc-global-infectious-disease-analysis/covid-19/report-48-global-omicron/

The S1 protein of SARS-CoV-2 crosses the blood-brain barrier in mice. @IanRicksecker The virus appears to be able to cross the blood-brain barrier and cause significant neurological damage. The ability of the spike protein to cross the blood-brain barrier was demonstrated in mice at the University of Washington. Nature Neuroscience. 16.12.2021.  https://doi:10.1038/s41593-020-00771-8.

Report 49 – Growth, population distribution and immune escape of Omicron in England. Imperial College. 16.12.2021. https://www.imperial.ac.uk/mrc-global-infectious-disease-analysis/covid-19/report-49-Omicron/

Missed shots: Science revisits its 2020 Breakthrough of the Year. The COVID-19 vaccine rollout was a spectacular success—and a stunning tragedy. Science. 16.12.2021. https://www.science.org/content/article/missed-shots-science-revisits-its-2020-breakthrough-year?

Impacts of K-12 school reopening on the COVID-19 epidemic in Indiana, USA (There is now a growing body of evidence that school closures contributed to mitigating the first wave of the epidemic  and, as we have shown, may have contributed to the resurgence of SARS-CoV-2 during fall 2020. Our study adds to this evidence, and suggests an even greater impact of school reopening than several other studies. This is due in part to our assumption that asymptomatic and symptomatic infections contribute similarly to transmission, and in part to our model’s ability to capture chains of transmission within schools and extending out into the community. Our study echoes several modeling studies in emphasizing the importance of reducing school operating capacity to impede transmission. As schools grapple with COVID-19 going forward, results such as these provide an important basis for motivating the adoption and sustainment of reduced school operating capacity and adherence to face-mask requirements in schools. As we demonstrated, these actions are highly consequential for those directly linked to schools and for the communities in which they are embedded.). Epidemics. December. 2021. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1755436521000396?via%3Dihub

A tantalizing clue to why omicron is spreading so quickly. NPR. 15.12.2021. https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2021/12/15/1064597592/a-tantalizing-clue-to-why-omicron-is-spreading-so-quickly

HKUMed finds Omicron SARS-CoV-2 can infect faster and better than Delta in human bronchus but with less severe infection in lung. HKU Faculty of Medicine News. 15.12.2021. https://www.med.hku.hk/en/news/press/20211215-omicron-sars-cov-2-infection

Covid-19: Long covid symptoms among hospital inpatients show little improvement after a year, data suggest. BMJ. 15.12.2021. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n3092?=&utm_source=adestra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=usage&utm_content=daily&utm_term=text

U.S. study suggests vaccines may be ineffective against Omicron without booster. Reuters. 15.12.2021. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-study-suggests-covid-19-vaccines-may-be-ineffective-against-omicron-without-2021-12-14/?

Assessment of the further emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron VOC in the context of the ongoing Delta VOC transmission in the EU/EEA, 18th update. ECDC. 15.12.2021. https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/covid-19-assessment-further-emergence-omicron-18th-risk-assessment

Pohjois-Pohjanmaalla tahallista koronalle altistumista: ”Liittyy luultavasti koronapassiin”. Kallion kuntayhtymä kertoo huolestuttavasta koronailmiöstä. Iltalehti. 15.12.2021. https://www.iltalehti.fi/koronavirus/a/8ec31170-683e-470c-a3db-091fbc205f23?

THL haluaa rajoille kireämmän linjan kuin hallitus suunnittelee – Ruotsikin on omikronin riskimaa. Valtioneuvosto on päättämässä huomenna torstaina matkustusrajoitusten kiristämisestä. Sisäministeri Mikkonen sanoo, että hallituksessa on keskusteltu myös sisärajatarkastusten palauttamisesta. YLE-Uutiset. 15.12.2021. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12231096

REVIEW: How Common is Long COVID in Children and Adolescents? Pediat Incfext Dis J. Dec.2021. https://journals.lww.com/pidj/fulltext/2021/12000/how_common_is_long_covid_in_children_and.20.aspx

Evidence for a mouse origin of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. Journal of Genetics and Genomics. Dec.2021. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1673852721003738

Final data on pills to treat Covid-19 holds strong against hospitalization and death, Pfizer says. CNN Health. 14.12.2021. https://edition.cnn.com/2021/12/14/health/pfizer-paxlovid-pills-covid-treatment/index.html?

Pfizer’s Covid Pill Works Well, Company Confirms in Final Analysis. The treatment, called Paxlovid, is likely to work against Omicron and could be available in the United States before the end of the year. New York Times. 14.12.2021.  https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/14/health/pfizer-covid-19-pill-paxlovid.html?

Sairaalapomot eivät näe hätäjarrulle tarvetta hoidon kuormituksen takia – johtajalääkäri: ”vaikuttavin toimi olisi puuttuminen ravintoloiden aukioloihin”
Koronan omikronmuunnoksen tulevaa vaikutusta sairaaloiden kuormitukseen ei vielä tiedetä. Sosiaali- ja terveysministeriö valmistautuu rajoitusten tiukentamiseen, mutta kahden sairaanhoitopiirin johtajat arvioivat, että toistaiseksi hätäjarrun käytölle ei ole tarvetta. YLE-Uutiset. 14.12.2021. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12229385

Pääministeri Marin: Kolmansien rokotusten antamista vauhditettava – ”Työterveyden­huoltoa voitaisiin hyödyntää laajemmin”. Hallitus käsittelee koronatilannetta neuvottelussaan ensi viikon tiistaina 21. joulukuuta. Ilta=sanomat. 14.12.2021. https://www.is.fi/politiikka/art-2000008474610.html

Ministeri Kiuru: Maahantulorajoitukset kiristyvät – kolmansiin rokotuksiin on pyydetty apua puolustusvoimilta
Tänään kokoontunut sote-ministeriryhmä on tehnyt hallitukselle esityksen rajatoimien kiristämisestä sekä lisäavusta kunnille rokotusten järjestämistä varten. YLE-Uutiset. 14.12.2021. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12230314

Hollanti sulkee koulut etuajassa koronan takia. Hollannissa koululaiset pääsevät joululomalle viikkoa aiemmin heikentyneen koronatilanteen takia.Iltalehti. 14.12.2021. https://www.iltalehti.fi/ulkomaat/a/e41dd356-07b6-4a15-810a-93921e9794bb

Covid-19: Almost 100 ICU staff from Malaga hospital test positive after Christmas lunch. BMJ. 14.12.2021. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n3085?

Why do Covid boosters offer greater protection against Omicron? Studies show three jabs are more effective than two as manufacturers work on variant-specific vaccines. Financial Times. 14.12.2021. https://www.ft.com/content/8a6a0ec8-fd07-49cd-a3f5-386a06269a5c

Merck’s COVID pill loses its lustre: what that means for the pandemic. Molnupiravir was initially heralded by public-health officials as a game-changer for COVID-19, but full clinical-trial data showed lower-than-expected efficacy. Nature. 13.12.2021. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03667-0?

Christopher Ruhm Summarizes the COVID-19 Pandemic’s Impact on US Mortality. NBER 13..12.2021. https://www.nber.org/affiliated-scholars/researchspotlight/christopher-ruhm-summarizes-covid-19-pandemics-impact-us-mortality

Meet the Vaccine Scientists: TIME’s Heroes of the Year. TIME. 13.12.2021. https://view.newsletters.time.com/?

Where I Live, No One Cares About COVID. Outside the world inhabited by the professional classes in a handful of major metropolitan areas, many Americans are leading their lives as if COVID is over. Atlantic. 13.12.2021. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/12/where-i-live-no-one-cares-about-covid/620958/

COVID-19-tutkimuskatsaus 13/2021. Valtioneuvosto. 13.12.2021. https://julkaisut.valtioneuvosto.fi/handle/10024/163688

Risikovurdering af omikron. Statens Seruminstitut. 12.12.2021. https://covid19.ssi.dk/-/media/arkiv/subsites/covid19/risikovurderinger/risikovurdering_omikron_121221_ssi.pdf?la=da

HUS: Neljä kymmenestä teho-osastolla hoidetuista koronapotilaista ei ollut palannut työhön tai harrastukseen kolme kuukautta kotiutumisen jälkeen. Teho-osastolle joutuneiden koronapotilaiden keski-ikä on koko epidemian ajalta 57 vuotta. Nuorempien ikäryhmien osuus tehohoidossa olevista koronapotilaista on kasvanut. YLE Uutiset. 11.12.2021. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12225995

Modelling the potential consequences of the Omicron. SARS-CoV-2 variant in England. 11.12.2021. https://cmmid.github.io/topics/covid19/reports/omicron_england/report_11_dec_2021.pdf

 

December 11 – 20 

South Africa: early data suggest Omicron is more transmissible but less severe. The Conversation. 10.12.2021. https://theconversation.com/south-africa-early-data-suggest-omicron-is-more-transmissible-but-less-severe-173517?

Uusi tutkimus: tässä ajassa kaksi koronarokotetta ottaneiden suoja tartuntaa vastaan heikkenee. Koronarokotteiden teho hiipuu kolmen kuukauden jälkeen. Ilta=sanomat. 10.12.2021. https://www.is.fi/terveys/art-2000008464942.html?

Lopettaako Suomi rokotteiden tilaamisen? Hallitukselta vaaditaan vastauksia. Kokoomuksen Terhi Koulumies kysyy, aikooko Suomi todellakin peruuttaa rokotetilauksiaan. Verkkouutiset. 10.12.2021. https://www.verkkouutiset.fi/lopettaako-suomi-rokotteiden-tilaamisen-hallitukselta-vaaditaan-vastauksia/#773fc543

The Hunt for a Single Shot to Defeat Omicron and All Coronaviruses. While the science is still in its early stages, the hardest part about developing a super-vaccine for all coronaviruses could be finding a way to pay for it. Bloomberg. 9.12.2021. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2021-12-09/could-a-one-shot-coronavirus-vaccine-protect-you-from-all-variants

Alarm as almost 20% of South Africa’s healthcare workers contract Covid. Mail&Guardian. 9.12.2021. https://mg.co.za/coronavirus-essentials/2021-12-09-alarm-as-almost-20-of-south-africas-healthcare-workers-contract-covid/

16- and 17-year-olds are now eligible for a Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine booster. CNN Health. 9.12.2021. https://edition.cnn.com/2021/12/09/health/covid-booster-adolescents-fda-authorization/index.html?

STM huolestui Suomen kouluista ja lasten tartuntojen noususta – vetoomus THL:lle. WHO kehotti koronatoimiin peruskouluissa. STM huolestui Suomen tilanteesta ja vetoaa nyt THL:ään. Uusi Suomi. 9.12.2021. https://www.uusisuomi.fi/uutiset/stm-huolestui-suomen-kouluista-ja-lasten-tartuntojen-noususta-vetoomus-thllle/c1dd0e38-6941-44ca-a929-381ca8b4f7ea

Corona infections and air quality. More infections in poorly ventilated classrooms. Indoor air quality has an influence on how many corona virus infections occur there. This has now been shown for the first time in a pilot project involving Empa researchers in 150 primary school classrooms in Graubünden. The analysis also showed that the air quality in many classrooms is poor. The study concluded that regular ventilation of classrooms is therefore very important, even in winter months. EMPA. 9.12.2021. https://www.empa.ch/web/s604/covid-and-co2

Study shows benefit of regular classroom ventilation classroom. A Swiss study has found that poorly ventilated school classrooms record up to six times as many Covid-19 cases compared with those which are regularly aired. SwissInfo. 9.12.2021. https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/society/study-shows-benefit-of-regular-classroom-ventilation/47179498

Iota-Carrageenan Inhibits Replication of SARS-CoV-2 and the Respective Variants of Concern Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta (In this study, we investigated the antiviral effect of iota-, lambda- and kappa-carrageenan, sulfated polysaccharides extracted from red seaweed, on SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan type and the spreading variants of concern (VOCs) Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta. Carrageenans as part of broadly used nasal and mouth sprays as well as lozenges have the potential of first line defense to inhibit the infection and transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Here, we demonstrate by using a SARS-CoV-2 spike pseudotyped lentivirus particles (SSPL) system and patient-isolated SARS-CoV-2 VOCs to infect transgenic A549ACE2/TMPRSS2 and Calu-3 human lung cells that all three carrageenan types exert antiviral activity. Iota-carrageenan exhibits antiviral activity with comparable IC50 values against the SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan type and the VOCs. Altogether, these results indicate that iota-carrageenan might be effective for prophylaxis and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infections independent of the present and potentially future variants.) Int J Mol Sci. 8.12.2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8709357/

Taltekan toimitusjohtaja Ilkka Salo: ”Miksi ilmahygienia loistaa päättäjien koronaviestinnässä poissaolollaan?”. Talotekniikka, 8.12.2021. https://talotekniikka-lehti.fi/taltekan-toimitusjohtaja-ilkka-salo-miksi-ilmahygienia-loistaa-paattajien-koronaviestinnassa-poissaolollaan/

Ensimmäiset merkit omikronin kyvystä väistää rokotussuoja ilmi – Melatoniinista ja D-vitamiinista nyt apu pandemian hallintaan? (Mikko Paunio). Uusi Suomi. 8.12.2021. https://puheenvuoro.uusisuomi.fi/mikkopaunio/ensimmaiset-merkit-omikronin-kyvysta-vaistaa-rokotussuoja-ilmi-melatoniinista-ja-d-vitamiinista-nyt-apu-pandemian-hallintaan/

Pfizer antoi ensimmäisen arvion koronarokotteensa tehosta omikronmuunnosta vastaan. Kolmas annos Comirnaty-rokotetta herättää alustavien tulosten mukaan lupaavan paljon vasta-aineita omikronvarianttia vastaan. Mediuutiset. 8.12.2021. https://www.mediuutiset.fi/uutiset/mu/a4697e4f-84b6-45c1-8c32-dd112e1b581e?ref=newsletter:66d0&utm

Pfizer, BioNTech vaccine neutralises Omicron with three shots.  Reuters. 8.12.2021. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/biontech-pfizer-say-test-shows-3-doses-vaccine-neutralise-omicron-2021-12-08/

PFIZER AND BIONTECH PROVIDE UPDATE ON OMICRON VARIANT. Pfizer. 8.12.2021. https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/pfizer-and-biontech-provide-update-omicron-variant

Scientists Discover Harder-to-Detect Version of Omicron. Bloomberg. 8.12.2021. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-12-08/australia-finds-new-omicron-lineage-in-arrival-from-south-africa?cmpid=BBD120821_BIZ&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_term=211208&utm_campaign=bloombergdaily

Tanska sulkee koulut. Aiemmin Tanska kertoi, että omikron leviää koko yhteiskunnassa. Iltalehti. 8.12.2021. https://www.iltalehti.fi/ulkomaat/a/55748a61-25a4-4f07-ade8-c03eb3c64d3d

Tallinnan-laivalta pääsi kävelemään suoraan Helsinkiin, vaikka kuulutus varoitti koronapassin tarkastuksesta. Katajanokan terminaalissa Helsingissä ei tarkastettu koronapasseja matkustajilta vaan jaettiin vanhentunutta ohjetta koronatestiin menemisestä. HS. 8.12.2021. https://www.hs.fi/kaupunki/art-2000008460200.html?share=583b747344b857ca56a08ac8b1522f47

COVID-19 Community Response Framework v4.0. New Zealand Government. 8.12.2021. https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/documents/pages/covid-19_community_protection_framework_v4.0_8_dec_2021.pdf

Omicron coronavirus variant partly evades Pfizer vaccine’s protection, study shows. CNN Health. 8.12.2021. https://edition.cnn.com/2021/12/07/health/omicron-variant-pfizer-vaccine-south-africa-study/index.html

Omikronin vakavat tapaukset lisääntyvät räjähdysmäisesti. Verkkouutiset. 8.12.2021. https://www.verkkouutiset.fi/omikronin-vakavat-tapaukset-lisaantyvat-rajahdysmaisesti/#7e9b2b60

Reduced Neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant by Vaccine Sera and monoclonal antibodies. medRxiv. 8.12.2021.  https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.12.07.21267432v1.full.pdf

Soomest sisse toodud haigusjuhtude arv kasvab. 8.12.2021. https://www.err.ee/1608429296/soomest-sisse-toodud-haigusjuhtude-arv-kasvab

Omikron paljasti leviämisensä saloja: Se on lainannut geneettistä koodia tavalliselta flunssalta.  Koronan sairastaminen näyttää suojaavaan uudelta koronatartunnalta kolme kertaa huonommin, jos tartuttaja on deltamuunnoksen sijasta omikron. Mediuutiset. 8.12.2021. https://www.mediuutiset.fi/uutiset/mu/82024ba4-be86-433f-ad9d-c7783cbb8bad

Frequency of Neurologic Manifestations in COVID-19. A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Neurology. 7.12.2022. https://n.neurology.org/content/97/23/e2269

Persistence of clinically relevant levels of SARS-CoV2 envelope gene subgenomic RNAs in non-immunocompromised individuals. International Journal of Infectious Diseases. 7.12.2021. https://www.ijidonline.com/article/S1201-9712(21)01206-6/fulltext

An upper bound on one-to-one exposure to infectious human respiratory particles. PLOS One. 7.12.2021. https://www.pnas.org/content/118/49/e2110117118

Anders Tegnell svarade på läsarnas frågor om corona. Expressen. 7.12.2021. https://www.expressen.se/nyheter/anders-tegnell-svarar-pa-dina-fragor-om-corona-/

Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 harbors a unique insertion mutation of putative viral or human genomic origin. OSF Preprints. 7.12.2021. https://osf.io/f7txy/

FHI: Alvorlig situasjon, men lite sannsynlig at omikron gir mer alvorlig sykdom. Det er ingen sikre tegn på at smittesituasjonen er i ferd med å snu. Folkehelseinstituttet (FHI) forventer en betydelig forverring for sykehusene selv om omikron trolig ikke gir mer alvorlig sykdom.NRK 7.12.2021. https://www.nrk.no/norge/fhi_-alvorlig-situasjon_-men-lite-sannsynlig-at-omikron-gir-mer-alvorlig-sykdom-1.15761037

Monet maat antavat jo keppiä rokottamattomille – Tässä lista 11 valtion käyttämistä kovista keinoista. Useat maat iskevät rokottamattomille sanktioita, kertoo uutistoimisto Bloomberg. Kovien keinojen joukossa ovat esimerkiksi lihavat sakot ja lomautukset. Mediuutiset. 7.12.2021. https://www.mediuutiset.fi/uutiset/monet-maat-antavat-jo-keppia-rokottamattomille-tassa-lista-11-valtion-kayttamista-kovista-keinoista/aed61f0a-b5ea-43d5-b1af-d9724675ff2c

Science Brief: Community Use of Masks to Control the Spread of SARS-CoV-2. CDC. 6.12.2021. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/science-briefs/masking-science-sars-cov2.html#anchor_1634654779910

Sollen auch Geimpfte und Genesene Maske tragen? Vielerorts gilt wieder Maskenpflicht. Eine neue Studie zeigt: FFP2-Masken schützen weit besser als medizinische Masken. Was Sie dazu wissen sollten. BaZ. 6.12.2021. https://www.bazonline.ch/sollen-auch-geimpfte-und-genesene-maske-tragen-447605008512

Use of Masks to Control the Spread. CDC COVID-10. 6.12.2021. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/science-briefs/masking-science-sars-cov2.html

Omicron can reset the World’s Covid Strategy. Bloomberg. 5.12.2021. https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2021-12-05/omicron-is-unavoidable-but-it-s-not-time-to-give-in-to-covid-panic

Prognosis. Initial Hospital Data in Omicron Epicenter Shows Milder Disease. Most patients in Covid wards have not been oxygen dependent. This seems different from earlier waves where fewer vaccinated. Bloomberg. 5.12.2021.  https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-12-05/initial-hospital-data-in-omicron-epicenter-shows-milder-disease?cmpid=BBD120621_MKT&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_term=211206&utm_campaign=markets

Tshwane District Omicron Variant Patient Profile – Early Features. SAMRC. 4.12.2021. https://www.samrc.ac.za/news/tshwane-district-omicron-variant-patient-profile-early-features

Covid-19: Antibody boost after third dose varies greatly by vaccine, study finds.  BMJ. 3.12.2021. doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n3011

NHS forecasts 230,000 extra cases of PTSD in England due to Covid. Post-traumatic stress disorder diagnoses likely be among domestic abuse victims, care workers and the bereaved. Guardian. 3.12.2021.  https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/dec/03/nhs-forecasts-230000-extra-cases-of-ptsd-in-england-due-to-covid?utm_term=Autofeed&CMP=twt_gu&utm_medium&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1638513650

COVID-19: Omicron has ’substantial’ ability to evade immunity from previous coronavirus infection. Researchers at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) warn their finding has important public health implications. Sky News. 3.12.2021. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-omicron-has-substantial-ability-to-evade-immunity-from-previous-coronavirus-infection-12484840

Disorders of Consciousness Associated With COVID-19
A Prospective Multimodal Study of Recovery and Brain Connectivity. Neurology. 3.12.2021. https://n.neurology.org/content/98/3/e315.long

KORONAVIRUS ON TAPPANUT KAHDEN VUODEN AIKANA JO YLI VIISI MILJOONAA IHMISTÄ. MUTTA MITEN SE SAI ALKUNSA? VASTA NYT SUURI SALAISUUS ALKAA RATKETA. HS Kuukausiliite.12. 3.12.2021. https://www.hs.fi/kuukausiliite/art-2000008369960.html?share=6e9bd8e471f70562f7ded6e3bbcaff37

Disorders of Consciousness Associated With COVID-19. A Prospective Multimodal Study of Recovery and Brain Connectivity (Cognitive). Neurology. 3.12.2021.  https://n.neurology.org/content/98/3/e315

Koronavirus leviää ilmateitse – onko sillä merkitystä?
On hämmästyttävää, miten vähän on varmaa tietoa siitä, millä lailla yleiset ylähengitysteiden tartuntataudit tarttuvat. Lyhyessä ajassa on käynyt selväksi, että aiemmin tunnettujen kosketus- ja pisaratartuntamekanismien lisäksi aerosolivälitteinen leviäminen on yleistä (1,2). Usein näiden reittien erottaminen ei ole helppoa. Infektoitunut voi tartuttaa vieressä seisovan terveen henkilön kaikilla kolmella tavalla. Kaukana tartunnan saaneesta olevat eivät voi saada tartuntatautia kosketus- tai pisaratartuntana – jäljelle jää siis aerosolitartunta.Lääkärilehti. 3.12.2021. https://www.laakarilehti.fi/ajassa/paakirjoitukset-tiede/koronavirus-leviaa-ilmateitse-ndash-onko-silla-merkitysta/?utm_medium=newsletter&utm_source=uk&utm_campaign=uk48pe-2021&m=NDA3NDYsZjg0YjM5MTczMzZhYWI4MDQ1YWIyMzMxOGU3YTcwNmM%3D

COVID-19 vaccine surveillance report. Week 48. UK Health Security Agency. 3.12.2021. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1037987/Vaccine-surveillance-report-week-48.pdf

An upper bound on one-to-one exposure to infectious human respiratory particles. PNAS. 2.12.2021. https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2110117118

Impact of community masking on COVID-19: A cluster-randomized trial in Bangladesh (Even in places where it is obligatory, people tend to optimistically overstate their compliance for mask wearing. How then can we persuade more of the population at large to act for the greater good? Abaluck et al. undertook a large, cluster-randomized trial in Bangladesh involving hundreds of thousands of people (although mostly men) over a 2-month period. Colored masks of various construction were handed out free of charge, accompanied by a range of mask-wearing promotional activities inspired by marketing research. Using a grassroots network of volunteers to help conduct the study and gather data, the authors discovered that mask wearing averaged 13.3% in villages where no interventions took place but increased to 42.3% in villages where in-person interventions were introduced. Villages where in-person reinforcement of mask wearing occurred also showed a reduction in reporting COVID-like illness, particularly in high-risk individuals. ). Science. 2.12.2021. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abi9069

Covid: Trigger of rare blood clots with AstraZeneca jab found by scientists. BBC. 2.12.2021. https://www.bbc.com/news/health-59418123

Prevalence of ongoing symptoms following coronavirus (COVID-19) infection in the UK : 2 December 2021
Estimates of the prevalence of self-reported long COVID and associated activity limitation, using UK Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey data. ONS. 2.12.2021.  https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditionsanddiseases/bulletins/prevalenceofongoingsymptomsfollowingcoronaviruscovid19infectionintheuk/2december2021

THL: Kolmas koronarokote annetaan kaikille täysi-ikäisille – Osa saa Comirnatyn, osa Spikevaxin. ”Koska kaksi koronarokotetta ei täysin estä tartuntoja, kolmansilla annoksilla saadaan edelleen ehkäistyä tartuntojen leviämistä myös nuoremmissa ikäryhmissä.” Mediuutiset. 2.12.2021. https://www.mediuutiset.fi/uutiset/thl-kolmas-koronarokote-annetaan-kaikille-taysi-ikaisille-osa-saa-comirnatyn-osa-spikevaxin/c412884b-f0b8-4060-9cb5-e5c0eadbeecf

Safety and immunogenicity of seven COVID-19 vaccines as a third dose (booster) following two doses of ChAdOx1 nCov-19 or BNT162b2 in the UK (COV-BOOST): a blinded, multicentre, randomised, controlled, phase 2 trial. 2.12.2021. Lancet.  https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02717-3/fulltext

How bad is Omicron? What scientists know so far
COVID researchers are working at breakneck speed to learn about the variant’s transmissibility, severity and ability to evade vaccines. Nature 2.12.2021.  https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03614-z?fbclid=IwAR3j_uqwpXhvx6W2afVU10mL0yqbhL6SxymfsWqooYj9FLdQpVKHpu8GUJY

THL suosittelee, että kolmansia koronarokoteannoksia aletaan tarjota kaikille 18 vuotta täyttäneille 5–6 kuukautta toisesta annoksesta. THL. 2.12.2021. https://thl.fi/-/thl-suosittelee-etta-kolmansia-koronarokoteannoksia-aletaan-tarjota-kaikille-18-vuotta-tayttaneille-5-6-kuukautta-toisesta-annoksesta

Aikuisista yli 99 % täysrokotettuja, mutta korona ryöpsähti silti – Gibraltarin tapaus ihmetyttää, mutta nyt ”tehosterokote todella toimii”. Pienen Gibraltarin koronatilanne nousee tällä hetkellä toistuvasti esiin rokotekeskusteluissa, koska maa on täysin rokotettu mutta tartunnat lähtivät silti eksponentiaaliseen kasvuun. Mediuutiset. 2.12.2021. https://www.mediuutiset.fi/uutiset/mu/b186ff7e-3f3e-421e-831e-e443b38ea80c/

Tässä on THL:n uusi suositus – kaikki 3. rokotukseen: ”Varastossa 1,5 miljoonaa annosta”. (THL suosittelee kolmansia koronarokoteannoksia tarjottavaksi kaikille 18 vuotta täyttäneille 5–6 kuukautta toisen annoksen jälkeen. Tehosteannoksia suositellaan otettavaksi niin ikään 5–6 kuukautta toisen rokoteannoksen jälkeen niille ryhmille, joille THL on jo aiemmin suositellut kolmatta rokoteannosta. Voimakkaasti immuunipuutteisille kolmatta annosta suositellaan otettavaksi jo kaksi kuukautta toisen annoksen jälkeen.

– Suosituksen perusteena on koronavirusinfektioiden määrän vähentäminen ja tartuntojen leviämisen estäminen. Kolmas rokoteannos vähentää viruksen kiertoa väestössä ja parantaa suojaa vakavaa tautimuotoa vastaan, sanoo THL:n ylilääkäri Hanna Nohynek tiedotteessa.

– [Mia] Kontio lisää, että toisen annoksen osalta rokotekattavuus laahaa pahasti perässä. Tulevaisuudessa ei Kontion mukaan välttämättä kuitenkaan tarvita useita rokotuskierroksia, ainakaan perusterveiden kohdalla.). Iltalehti. 2.12.2021. https://www.iltalehti.fi/kotimaa/a/d6e61a05-94b9-47ed-a3db-6bdf5adec882

Miten hallitus suhtautuu asiantuntijoiden riippumattomuuuteen? SDP:n edustaja kuuli kriittisen THL-lausunnon ensi kertaa suorassa lähetyksessä (Iltalehti uutisoi viime viikolla nimettömiin hallituslähteisiin vedoten, että hallituksessa ollaan tyytymättömiä Kansallisen rokotusasiantuntijaryhmän (KRAR) ja THL:n vitkutteluun kolmannen koronarokotekierroksen aloittamisessa. / Lehden silloisten tietojen mukaan hallituksessa olisi jopa haluja vaihtaa ylilääkäri Hanna Nohynek pois asiantuntijaryhmän sihteerin paikalta. / – Haluaisimme kyllä vaihtaa Nohynekin KRARin johdosta, mutta THL:n pääjohtajan Markku Tervahaudan pitäisi se tehdä. Siitäkin on puhuttu, onko Tervahauta enää tehtäviensä tasalla pandemian tässä vaiheessa, hallituslähde kertoi Iltalehdelle.). mtv-uutiset. 2.12.2021. https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/miten-hallitus-suhtautuu-asiantuntijoiden-riippumattomuuuteen-sdp-n-edustaja-kuuli-kriittisen-thl-lausunnon-ensi-kertaa-suorassa-lahetyksessa/8302836#gs.i7ci2q

Omicron will likely ‘dominate and overwhelm’ the world in 3-6 months, doctor says. “Frankly, omicron will dominate and overwhelm the whole world in three to six months,” Singapore doctor Leong Hoe Nam told CNBC’s “Street Signs Asia.”
New vaccines targeting omicron are a “nice idea” but won’t be practical because of the transmissibility of the strain, he said.
Experts don’t know exactly how contagious the highly mutated omicron variant is, but the virus’ spike protein — which binds to human cells — has mutations associated with higher transmission and a decrease in antibody protection. CNBC. 2.12.2021. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/02/omicron-to-dominate-and-overwhelm-the-world-in-3-6-months-doctor-says.html

Sotrovimab: New COVID drug which cuts risk of hospitalisation and death by 79% approved for use in UK in people aged 12 years and older. Xevundy, also known as sotrovimab, has been approved for anyone aged 12 and over, who weighs more than 40kg. It is authorised for use in people who have a mild or moderate COVID infection and who are at risk of developing severe illness, Sky News. 2.12.2021. https://news.sky.com/story/sotrovimab-new-covid-drug-which-cuts-risk-of-hospitalisation-and-death-by-79-approved-for-use-in-uk-in-people-aged-12-years-and-older-12484329

Vanhojen näytteiden analyysi paljasti: omikron kiersi jo lokakuussa – kolme teoriaa muunnoksen synnystä. Omikron ei ole kehittynyt deltamuunnoksesta. Iltalehti. 1.12.2021. https://www.iltalehti.fi/ulkomaat/a/a02107be-f1ba-4201-b21f-68ed088ea524?utm_source=iltalehti.fi&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email_il_uutiskirje

Visualising SARS-CoV-2 transmission routes and mitigations. BMJ. 1.12.2021. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj-2021-065312

Expert elicitation on the relative importance of possible SARS-CoV-2 transmission routes and the effectiveness of mitigations. BMJ. 1.12.2021. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e050869

The Coronavirus in a Tiny Drop. NYT. 1.12.2021.  https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/12/01/science/coronavirus-aerosol-simulation.html

ChAdOx1 interacts with CAR and PF4 with implications for thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome. Science. 1.12.2021. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abl8213

COVID-19 Post-acute Sequelae Among Adults: 12 Month Mortality Risk. Frontiers in Medicine. 1.12.2021. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2021.778434/full

Airborne infection with Covid-19? A historical look at a current controversy. Microbes and Infection. Nov-Dec. 2021. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1286457921000733

1 – 10. Joulukuuta

Misinformation Kills. Learn How to Counter It. University of Toronto. 30.11.2021. https://temertymedicine.utoronto.ca/event/misinformation-kills-learn-how-counter-it

Sukujouluja ei ole peruttu, sanoo THL:n Mika Salminen. Jos on rokotettu ja perusterve, voi viettää joulua niin kuin muutenkin viettäisi, sanoo Mika Salminen (Vaikka tautitilanne on monissa sairaanhoitopiireissä heikentynyt nopeasti ja esimerkiksi pääkaupunkiseudulla korona­koordinaatio­ryhmä palautti viime viikolla etätyö- ja maskisuosituksen, voivat rokotetut Salmisen mukaan näillä näkymin kokoontua oman harkintansa mukaan oman lähipiirinsä kanssa.”Yhdessä sitten otetaan huomioon, jos perheessä tai lähipiirissä on riskiryhmään kuuluvia tai heikkokuntoisempia iäkkäitä läheisiä”,…60 vuotta täyttäneille ja riskiryhmään kuuluville on jo jonkin aikaa suositettu kolmatta rokoteannosta. ”Jos sen on saanut, voi olla varsin rauhallinen”, Salminen sanoo). Helsingin Sanomat. 30.11.2021.  https://www.hs.fi/hyvinvointi/art-2000008424519.html

Health Department-Reported Cases of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) in the United States. @IanRicksecker You may think, at least our children are safe. They are not. The CDC is tracking incidence of a life-threatening multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children following an acute COVID-19 infection, with 5,973 cases as of November 30, 2021. CDC Covid Data Tracker.  updated 30.11.2021. https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#mis-national-surveillance

Ilmanvaihto-ohjeistus varhaiskasvatuksen, opetuksen ja koulutuksen tilojen käytöstä vastaaville. THL. 30.11.2021. https://thl.fi/fi/web/ymparistoterveys/sisailma/koronavirus-ja-sisailman-turvallisuus/ilmanvaihto-ohjeistus-varhaiskasvatuksen-opetuksen-ja-koulutuksen-tilojen-kaytosta-vastaaville

Omicron variant found in two previous test samples. RIVM has found the Omicron variant in test samples taken in the Netherlands earlier in November. These samples were taken in the GGD test lanes on 19 and 23 November 2021. Saltro, the lab that analysed the tests, submitted the samples when requested by RIVM. RIVM. 30.11.2021. https://www.rivm.nl/en/news/omicron-variant-found-in-two-previous-test-samples?utm_source=Sailthru%20Email&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=newsAlerts&utm_term=coronavirus&utm_content=2021-12-01&apid=35182891&rvid=36e7b8c23c4809c80789f33a578dd1ee1d782a7186ca0f4d83fca8b14a1a75e7

COVID-19: Why the Omicron variant has scientists worried.
Scientists have detected cases of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2, which is the virus that causes COVID-19, in a number of countries. Omicron (B.1.1.529) has an unprecedentedly large number of mutations in the part of its genome that encodes a key section of its spike protein, which the virus uses to infect host cells. This suggests that Omicron may be able to evade some of the immune protection afforded by vaccines, many of which are based on the original spike protein, and past infections. Medical News Today. 29.11.2021. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/covid-19-why-the-omicron-variant-has-scientists-worried?utm_source=Sailthru%20Email&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=newsAlerts&utm_term=coronavirus&utm_content=2021-11-29&apid=35182891&rvid=36e7b8c23c4809c80789f33a578dd1ee1d782a7186ca0f4d83fca8b14a1a75e7

Why WHO skipped two letters of the Greek alphabet in naming Omicron. CNN Health. 29.11.2021. https://edition.cnn.com/2021/11/29/health/omicron-covid-variant-naming-cec/index.html

WHO Director-General’s opening remarks at the Special Session of the World Health Assembly – 29 November 2021. WHO. 29.11.2021. https://www.who.int/director-general/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-special-session-of-the-world-health-assembly—29-november-2021

Det svenska coronaexperimentet. Den negativa uppmärksamhet som statsepidemiolog Anders Tegnell, eller den svenska strategin över huvud taget, fick möta berodde till övervägande del på dödsfallen inom äldrevården. När många europeiska länder förbereder sig för att återinföra coronarestriktioner är läget i Sverige förhållandevis lugnt: Den svenske journalisten Johan Anderberg beskriver i en uppmärksammad bok hur den omdiskuterade svenska strategin föddes. HBL 29.11.2021. https://www.hbl.fi/artikel/det-svenska-coronaexperimentet/?utm_source=HBL%3As+nyhetsbrev&utm_campaign=25221686e9-veckans_kulturplock&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_6233309afd-25221686e9-323144264

Professorit vetosivat sunnuntaina kolmannen koronarokotuksen kiirehtimiseksi. Iltalehden mukaan THL ja Kansallinen rokotusasiantuntijaryhmä (Krar) eivät ole noudattaneet hallituksen pyyntöjä nopeuttaa kolmannen koronarokotuskierroksen aloittamista alle 60-vuotiaiden keskuudessa. Mediuutiset. 29.11.2021. https://www.mediuutiset.fi/uutiset/mu/38fd6be0-71d9-48be-ad6d-59a8ed59356b?ref=newsletter:30ac&utm_source=uutiskirje%40mediuutiset.fi&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=MU-Uutiskirje-laakari

Asiantuntijat vaativat HS:n mielipide­kirjoituksessa kiirehtimään kolmansia rokotuksia – näkevät merkittävän ongelman THL:n Nohynekin arviossa. Lasse Lehtonen, Tuuli Lappalainen, Marjukka Myllärniemi ja Mark Daly kommentoivat THL:n Hanna Nohynekin sanomisia HS:n mielipidekirjoituksessa. Ilta=Sanomat. 29.11.2021. https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000008438117.html

Peruspalveluministeri Krista Kiuru (sd) on esittänyt toiveen THL:lle ja KRARille, jotta nämä lausuisivat nopeasti kolmannesta rokotteesta. (THL:n ylilääkäri Hanna Nohynek on KRARin sihteeri. Hallituslähteet kertovat Iltalehdelle, että THL ja Kansallinen rokotusasiantuntijaryhmä (KRAR) eivät ole noudattaneet hallituksen pyyntöjä nopeuttaa kolmannen koronarokotuskierroksen aloittamista alle 60-vuotiaiden keskuudessa.). Iltalehti. 28.11.2021. https://www.iltalehti.fi/politiikka/a/0541d1ca-f803-4de0-8c0a-5ba10b07820e

IL:n tiedot: Kolmatta rokotekierrosta ei ole nopeutettu, vaikka hallitus vaatii. ”Kansallisen rokoteasiantuntijaryhmän (KRAR) sihteeri Hanna Nohynek on ollut laumasuoja-ajattelun vallassa, eikä ole halunnut aloittaa kolmatta rokotuskierrosta”, hallituslähde sanoo Iltalehdelle (Peruspalveluministeri Krista Kiuru (sd) on esittänyt toiveen THL:lle ja KRARille, jotta nämä lausuisivat nopeasti kolmannesta rokotteesta. THL:n ylilääkäri Hanna Nohynek on KRARin sihteeri.). Iltalehti. 28.11.2021. https://www.iltalehti.fi/politiikka/a/0541d1ca-f803-4de0-8c0a-5ba10b07820e

 

Soininvaara. 28.11.2021.

Neljäs aalto on pysäytettävä

DAILY HOSPITAL SURVEILLANCE (DATCOV) REPORT. Dept of Health, Govt of South Africa. 28.11.2021. https://www.nicd.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Datcov-National-Report-20211128.pdf

DAILY HOSPITAL SURVEILLANCE (DATCOV) REPORT

 

IS:n tiedot: Hallitus kaavailee rajoitus­toimia ”kohtalaisen riskin” tilaisuuksiin – pöydällä valta­kunnallinen etä­työ­suositus. THL:n ympärillä pyörivä keskustelu kiristää tunnelmia hallituksen sisällä. Yksi hallituslähde kritisoi THL:n suhtautumista kolmanteen rokotuskierrokseen. Toinen hallituslähde ihmettelee, miksi ”koronan hoidon ammattilaisten” uskottavuutta halutaan nakertaa. Ilta=Sanomat. 28.11.2021. https://www.is.fi/politiikka/art-2000008438790.html

South African doctor who raised alarm about omicron variant says symptoms are ‘unusual but mild’. Dr Angelique Coetzee noticed otherwise healthy patients showing unusual symptoms and worries how the new variant might hurt the elderly. The Telegraph. 27.11.2021. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/south-african-doctor-raised-alarm-omicron-variant-says-symptoms/

A wind speed threshold for increased outdoor transmission of coronavirus: an ecological study. BMC Infectious Diseases. 27.11.2021. https://bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12879-021-06796-z

Tutkijat havaitsivat Etelä-Afrikassa huolestuttavan koronamuunnoksen, jota vastaan rokotteet eivät välttämättä suojaa tehokkaasti. Britannia ja Israel keskeyttävät muunnoksen vuoksi kaikki lennot eteläisen Afrikan maista. YLE Uutiset 26.11.-2021. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12204926

What We Know So Far About the New Variant of COVID-19 Raising Alarms Globally. TIME Health. 26.11.2021.  https://time.com/6124074/covid-19-new-variant-europe/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=sfmc&utm_campaign=newsletter+coronavirus+default+ac&utm_content=+++20211129+++body&et_rid=95369053&lctg=95369053

Why don’t we just open windows. BMJ. 26.11.2021. doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n2895

Koronan pikatestejä myydään nyt enemmän kuin koskaan aiemmin – infektiolääkäri (Irma Koivula, KYS): Oireettomalle pikkujoulujuhlijalle se ei ole vaihtoehto. Koronan pikatestien saatavuudessa on tällä hetkellä jonkin verran ongelmia. Apteekeista ja marketeista saatavat kotitestit ovat luotettavia, mutta oireettomien on turha käyttää niitä. YLE Uutiset. 26.11.2021. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12205306

Elapsed time since BNT162b2 vaccine and risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection: test negative design study. BMJ. 25.11.2021. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2021-067873

COVID-19 vaccine weekly surveillance reports (weeks 39 to 47). Data on the real-world effectiveness and impact of the COVID-19 vaccines. Gov.UK. 25.11.2021. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccine-weekly-surveillance-reports

Headlines play down the gravity of covid-19 in children. BMJ. 25.11.2021. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2826

Jos sulkee silmät, törmää seinään. Tuomas Aivelo, TIEDE. 25.11.2021. https://www.tiede.fi/blogit/kaiken-takana-loinen/jos-sulkee-silmat-tormaa-seinaa

Covid Conspiracy theorists: A spotters’ guide. Categorising Covid conspiracy theorists. You can do this at Thanksgiving, but don’t tell your antivax relatives. The Hat Tip. 25.11.2021. https://arieh.substack.com/p/covid-conspiracy-theorists-a-spotters

Scientists warn of new Covid variant with high number of mutations. The B.1.1.529 [Omicron] variant was first spotted in Botswana and six cases have been found in South Africa. Guardian. 24.11.2021. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/24/scientists-warn-of-new-covid-variant-with-high-number-of-mutations

Koronarokotusten annosväli taas esillä, kun kolmansien annosten jakelu etenee – asiantuntija: kaikki riippuu siitä, mitä rokotusohjelmalla halutaan saada aikaan
Koronapandemian alkaessa harva tiesi RNA-rokotteista tai siitä, millaisella annosvälillä rokotteet tulisi antaa parhaan mahdollisen suojan varmistamiseksi. Siksi käytännöt ovat vaihdelleet eri puolilla maailmaa. YLE-Uutiset. 24.11.2021. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12199445?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsdaily&utm_content=2021-11-24

Do vaccines protect against long COVID? What the data say. Vaccines reduce the risk of developing COVID-19 — but studies disagree on their protective effect against long COVID. Nature. 23.11.2021. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03495-2

Assessment of Sequelae of COVID-19 Nearly 1 Year After Diagnosis. Frontiers in Medicine. 23.11.2021. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2021.717194/full

Immune correlates analysis of the mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine efficacy clinical trial.  Science. 23.11.2021. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abm3425

Tyksin teho­hoidon yli­lääkärillä on selkeä viesti rokote­keskusteluun: ”Jos yhteis­kunta unohtaa tärkeimmän periaatteensa, ollaan matkalla kohti jotain aivan muuta kuin demokratiaa”
Tyksin tehohoidon ylilääkäri Mika Valtonen on huomannut, että etenkin nuoret lääkärit kokevat toisinaan voimakasta turhautumista hoitaessaan rokottamattomia potilaita. Helsingin Sanomat. 22.11.2021.  https://www.hs.fi/hyvinvointi/art-2000008400399.html

COVID in Israel: Booster Shot Much More Effective Than First Two Shots, Officials Believe
Meanwhile, Israel’s pandemic advisory panel recommended a COVID booster shot to be administered to teens. Haaretz. 22.11.2021. https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/covid-in-israel-booster-shot-much-more-effective-than-first-two-shots-1.10404207

Kuusamon ja Suomen koronatilanne ja käytännön ratkaisuvaihtoehdot. Koronatilanteesta keskustelemassa muun muassa ympäristöterveyden tutkimusprofessori emeritus Matti Jantunen, keuhkosairauksien professori Marjukka Myllärniemi, empiirisen makrotaloustieteen professori Antti Ripatti ja taloustieteen ja terveystaloustieteen tutkijatohtori Liisa T. Laine. 22.11.2021. https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Za6SpkoJvdwF_A3VaXSeIwlf82IlGRq2pFweB-69a78/edit#slide=id.g1026011fdb7_1_18

Israel testasi varautumista koronaviruksen ”tuomiopäivän-varianttiin” – nämä heikkoudet Omega-harjoitus paljasti. MTV Uutiset. 21.11.2021. https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/israel-testasi-varautumista-koronaviruksen-tuomiopaivan-varianttiin-nama-heikkoudet-omega-harjoitus-paljasti/8294924/

November 21 – 30

Persistent symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infection amongst children and young people: A meta-analysis of controlled and uncontrolled studies. Journal of Infection. 19.11.2021. https://www.journalofinfection.com/article/S0163-4453(21)00555-7/fulltext#%20

CDC recommends Covid-19 boosters for all adults. CNN Health. 19.11.2021. https://edition.cnn.com/2021/11/19/health/covid-vaccine-boosters-fda-cdc/index.html?

The epidemiological relevance of the COVID-19-vaccinated population is increasing, Lancet. 19.11.2021. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanepe/article/PIIS2666-7762(21)00258-1/fulltext

Effectiveness of public health measures in reducing the incidence of covid-19, SARS-CoV-2 transmission, and covid-19 mortality: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ. 18.11.2021.  https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj-2021-068302

Public health measures for covid-19. BMJ. 19.11.2021. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2729

Counting the neurological cost of COVID-19. nature reviews neurology. 18.11.2021. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41582-021-00593-7?s=03

Dissecting the early COVID-19 cases in Wuhan. Science. 18.11.2021. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abm4454?

Mapping how the 100 billion cells in the brain all fit together is the brave new world of neuroscience. The Conversation. 18.11.2021. https://theconversation.com/mapping-how-the-100-billion-cells-in-the-brain-all-fit-together-is-the-brave-new-world-of-neuroscience-170182

New analyses of two AZD7442 COVID-19 Phase III trials in high-risk populations confirm robust efficacy and long-term prevention. AstraZeneca. 18.11.2021. https://www.astrazeneca.com/content/astraz/media-centre/press-releases/2021/new-analyses-of-two-azd7442-covid-19-phase-iii-trials-in-high-risk-populations-confirm-robust-efficacy-and-long-term-prevention.html?utm_source=Sailthru%20Email&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=newsAlerts&utm_term=coronavirus&utm_content=2021-11-19&apid=35182891&rvid=36e7b8c23c4809c80789f33a578dd1ee1d782a7186ca0f4d83fca8b14a1a75e7

Multifactorial seroprofiling dissects the contribution of pre-existing human coronaviruses responses to SARS-CoV-2 immunity. Nature. 18.11.2021. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-27040-x

Do childhood colds help the body respond to COVID?
A mechanism known as ‘original antigenic sin’ protects some people from flu; whether it helps immune reactions to coronaviruses is still unclear.  Nature. 18.11.2021. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03087-0?fbclid=IwAR2vyBm4igzgZihWRgE_P3C-Q_SjOW544TPr9itRss8dPsQFZSM9GR0T6F4

Effectiveness of public health measures in reducing the incidence of covid-19, SARS-CoV-2 transmission, and covid-19 mortality: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ. 18.11.2021. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj-2021-068302

Results of COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness Studies: An Ongoing Systematic Review. Weekly Summary Tables. International Vaccine Access Center,
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health andWorld Health Organization. 18.11.2021. https://view-hub.org/sites/default/files/2021-11/COVID19%20Vaccine%20Effectiveness%20Transmission%20Impact%20Studies%20-%20Summary%20Tables_20211118_0.pdf

US vaccine rollout was close to optimal at reducing deaths and infections, according to a model comparing 17.5 million alternative approaches. The Conversation. 17.11.2021. https://theconversation.com/us-vaccine-rollout-was-close-to-optimal-at-reducing-deaths-and-infections-according-to-a-model-comparing-17-5-million-alternative-approaches-171656

Covid-19 transmission in fitness centers in Norway – a randomized trial. National Library of Medicine. (BMC Public Health). 16.11.2021. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34789188/

PD-1 blockade counteracts post–COVID-19 immune abnormalities and stimulates the anti–SARS-CoV-2 immune response. JCI Insight. 16.11.2021.  https://insight.jci.org/articles/view/146701/figure/4

Efficacy of FFP3 respirators for prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection in healthcare workers (Respiratory protective equipment that is recommended in the UK for health-care workers caring for COVID-19 patients comprises a fluid resistant surgical mask (FRSM), and in case of procedures that generate aerosols FFP3 respirators are to be used. In this study, health-care workers using FRSMs, while working on COVID-19 wards faced an approximately 31-fold increased risk of ward-based SARS CoV-2 infection. After changing to FFP3 respirators, this risk was significantly reduced. Thus, FFP3 respirators seem to provide more protection than FRSMs for health-care workers caring for patients with COVID-19.). eLife. 16.11.2021. https://elifesciences.org/articles/71131

Cleaner air could have saved at least 178,000 lives across the EU in 2019 (Air pollution continued to cause a significant burden of premature death and disease in Europe in 2019. A European Environment Agency (EEA) analysis, published today, shows that improving air quality to the levels recently recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) could prevent more than half of the premature deaths caused by exposure to fine particulate matter.). European Environmental Agency, EEA. 15.11.2021. https://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/cleaner-air-could-have-saved

Kidney Outcomes in Long COVID. JASN. Nov.2021. https://jasn.asnjournals.org/content/32/11/2851

Neutralising antibody titres as predictors of protection against SARS-CoV-2 variants and the impact of boosting: a meta-analysis. Lancet. 15.11.2021.  https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(21)00267-6/fulltext

SARS-CoV-2 inhibits induction of the MHC class I pathway by targeting the STAT1-IRF1-NLRC5 axis. Nature Communications. 15.11.2021. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-26910-8.epdf?

Lehdistötiedote. Valtakunnallinen #TaasMennään-joukkoliikennekampanja siirtyy heikentyneen epidemiatilanteen takia.  12.11.2021. https://www.lvm.fi/-/valtakunnallinen-taasmennaan-joukkoliikenne-kampanja-siirtyy-heikentyneen-epidemiatilanteen-takia-1575633

Increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection associated with emergence of the Omicron variant in South Africa. medRxiv. 11.11.2021. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.11.11.21266068v2

November 11 – 20

COVID-19 tests: Does accuracy vary throughout the day? Medical News Today. 10.11.2021. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/covid-19-tests-does-accuracy-vary-throughout-the-day?utm_source=Sailthru%20Email&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=newsAlerts&utm_term=coronavirus&utm_content=2021-11-10&apid=35182891&rvid=36e7b8c23c4809c80789f33a578dd1ee1d782a7186ca0f4d83fca8b14a1a75e7

Modeling COVID-19 Mortality Across 44 Countries: Face Covering May Reduce Deaths. AJPM. 10.11.2021. https://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(21)00557-2/fulltext#%20

Immunologist Dr. Anthony Leonardi speaks on Long COVID and the dangers posed by SARS-CoV-2 (Dr. Anthony Leonardi, Ph.D., a T-cell immunologist who studied at Johns Hopkins University, co-authored an important scientific report published in October in the journal Pathogens. Dr. Deepti Gurdasani, an epidemiologist and outspoken advocate for Zero COVID, was also one of the co-authors. / “Although COVID-19 has been described as a respiratory syndrome, evidence supports the involvement of multiple organ systems, with fibrosis, and inflammation in the lung, heart, kidneys, central nervous system (CNS), liver, adrenal glands, bone marrow, lymph nodes, and gastrointestinal tract. SARS-CoV-2 infection has also been associated with serious thrombotic complications, including strokes, pulmonary embolism, and cardiac injury.”) World Socialist Web Site. 10.11.2021. https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2021/11/10/leon-n10.html

Covid-19: Pandemic reduced life expectancy in most developed countries, study finds. BMJ. 10.11.2021. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2750

Covid vaccination to be mandatory for NHS staff in England from spring 2021. BMJ. 10.11.2021.  https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2733?=&utm_source=adestra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=usage&utm_content=daily&utm_term=text

COVID-19 tests: Does accuracy vary throughout the day?. Medical News Today. 10.11.2021.  https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/covid-19-tests-does-accuracy-vary-throughout-the-day/

Modeling COVID-19 Mortality Across 44 Countries: Face Covering May Reduce Deaths. AJPM. 10.11.2021. https://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(21)00557-2/fulltext

Israel aloitti kolmannet koronarokotukset ensimmäisenä maailmassa – näin tautitilanne muuttui. Yli neljä miljoonaa israelilaista on saanut jo kolmannen koronapiikin, ja maan koronatilanne näyttää taas hyvältä. IL. 10.11.2020. https://www.iltalehti.fi/ulkomaat/a/c7b6a42f-c101-4133-8e13-7b5a94a9249b?utm_source=iltalehti.fi&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email_il_uutiskirje

Unvaccinated Texans 40 times as likely to die of covid as those fully vaccinated in 2021, study says. WP. 9.11.2021.   https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/11/09/texas-unvaccinated-deaths-higher-covid/?fbclid=IwAR1NX9H-oGUUHSsZCzmk-XeE3hRWd5ifZ7E3_sCItv2X9tRBOuSMl6zr9gU

Six-month sequelae of post-vaccination SARS-CoV-2 infection: a retrospective cohort study of 10,024 breakthrough infections.  @IanRicksecker, In the words of the study authors, “vaccination does not appear to be protective against .. long-COVID features, arrhythmia, joint pain, type 2 diabetes, liver disease, sleep disorders, and mood and anxiety disorders.” medRxiv. 8.11.2021.  https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.10.26.21265508

COVID-19 Cases and Deaths by Vaccination Status. Texas Department of State Health Services. 8.11.2021. https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:85395206-6268-4cb8-8259-7dc12a039bcb#pageNum=1

Cohort study of Covid-19 vaccine effectiveness among healthcare workers in Finland, December 2020 – October 2021. medRxiv.  8.11.2021.  https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.11.03.21265791v2

Coronavirus (COVID-19) booster vaccine. NHS. 8.11.2021. ttps://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/coronavirus-booster-vaccine/

 

18F-FDG-PET Imaging for Post-COVID-19 Brain and Skeletal Muscle Alterations (Cognitive). MDPI. 2.10.2021. https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/13/11/2283

Krista Kiuru IS haasatattelussa: ”Olemme päätyneet sellaisten maiden joukkoon, joissa epidemia ei ole hallinnassa.” (Perhe- ja peruspalveluministeri Krista Kiuru (sd) pitää ydinongelmana sitä, että Suomessa on yhä lähes 700 000 rokottamatonta. Kiuru patistaa viranomaisia koronatoimiin ja tähdentää, että rajoitustoimet kohdistuisivat nimenomaan rokottamattomiin.). ilta=sanomat. 5.11.2021. https://www.is.fi/politiikka/art-2000008379846.html

Researchers uncover gene that doubles risk of death from COVID-19. University of Oxford. 5.11.2021. https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2021-11-05-researchers-uncover-gene-doubles-risk-death-covid-19

Pfizer antiviral slashes COVID-19 hospitalizations. Given early in infection, experimental pill prevents severe disease, trial suggests. Science. 5.11.2021.  https://www.science.org/content/article/pfizer-antiviral-slashes-covid-19-hospitalizations/

SARS-CoV-2 vaccine protection and deaths among US veterans during 2021. Science. 4.11.2021. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abm0620

Pfizerin koronalääke osoittautui erittäin tehokkaaksi – Lupahakemus lähtee Yhdysvaltain lääkeviranomaisille.
Yhtiö hakee lääkkeelle erikoislupaa jo ennen kolmannen vaiheen suurta ihmistutkimusta. Mediuutiset. 5.11.2021. https://www.mediuutiset.fi/uutiset/mu/15b7065f-2fb6-4ffb-afc7-0beb1821b71f/

Remdesivir, Get Out Of The Way: Pfizer’s Antiviral Shines. American Council on Sciences and Health. 5.11.2021. https://www.acsh.org/news/2021/11/05/remdesivir-get-out-way-pfizers-antiviral-shines-15923/

WHO varoittaa: Eurooppaan ”tautien talvi” – koronaennätyksiä rikotaan nyt monessa maassa. WHO:n mukaan Eurooppa on pandemian keskus. Iltalehti. 4.11.2021. https://www.iltalehti.fi/ulkomaat/a/e87e81bf-d34e-43f5-95ed-91254d26490c

Rapid assessment of SARS-CoV-2 evolved variants using virus-like particles. Science. 4.11.2021.  https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abl6184

Prevalence of ongoing symptoms following coronavirus (COVID-19) infection in the UK: 4 November 2021. Estimates of the prevalence of self-reported long COVID and associated activity limitation, using UK Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey data. Office for National Statistics. 4.11.2021. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditionsanddiseases/bulletins/prevalenceofongoingsymptomsfollowingcoronaviruscovid19infectionintheuk/4november2021

THL:n Mika Salminen: Uusi arvio paluusta normaaliin elämään
Vaikka 80 prosentin rokotuskattavuus saavutetaan tällä viikolla, paluu normaaliin ei voi alkaa. THL:n Terveysturvallisuusosaston johtaja Mika Salminen kertoo nyt kaiken siitä, miltä Suomen tulevaisuus näyttää. Ilta=Sanomet. 3.11.2021. https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000008374234.html

Are vaccine passports and covid passes a valid alternative to lockdown? BMJ. 3.11.2021. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2571

Kansalaispulssi – 28. kierros. Verkkokysely 27.10.–1.11.2021
15–74-vuotiaat mannersuomalaiset. VNK Strategiaosasto.
3.11.2021. https://valtioneuvosto.fi/documents/10184/49252202/Kansalaispulssi+3.11.2021.pdf/d202b3a1-53a3-6e95-37ee-7461c5bd5154/Kansalaispulssi+3.11.2021.pdf?version=1.1&t=1636110644012&download=true

Russia’s vaccine disinformation has let down its own people
Poor handling has intensified an enduring distrust of state authorities. FT. 3.11.2021. https://www.ft.com/content/dcf6e11c-28f7-4541-b8d9-f91d4825da8a

COVID-19: Antidepressant cuts risk of hospitalization, death by 32%. Medical News Today. 2.11.2021. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/covid-19-antidepressant-cuts-risk-of-hospitalization-death-by-32/

Nur Spanische Grippe und Aids tödlicher als Corona
Fünf Millionen Menschen sind bislang durch Sars-CoV-2 gestorben, so die offizielle Zahl. Ein Vergleich der Virus-Epidemien unserer Zeit. BaZ. 2.11.2021.  https://www.bazonline.ch/nur-spanische-grippe-und-aids-toedlicher-als-corona-682150625606/

A Review and Autopsy of Two COVID Immunity Studies. Brownstone Institute. 2.11.2021. https://brownstone.org/articles/a-review-and-autopsy-of-two-covid-immunity-studies/?s=03

Covid-19: Researcher blows the whistle on data integrity issues in Pfizer’s vaccine trial. BMJ 2.11.2021. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2635

Risk factors for developing COVID-19: a population-based longitudinal study (COVIDENCE UK). BMJ Thorax. 2.11.2021. https://thorax.bmj.com/content/early/2021/11/02/thoraxjnl-2021-217487

Global Covid-19 deaths surpass five million. CNN Workd. 1.11.2021. https://edition.cnn.com/2021/11/01/world/covid-19-5-million-deaths-globally-intl-hnk/index.html

COVID-19 diagnosis raises risk of heart attack, stroke. Harvard Health Publishing. 1.11.2021. https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/covid-19-diagnosis-raises-risk-of-heart-attack-stroke

Deaths involving COVID-19 by vaccination status, England: deaths occurring between 2 January and 24 September 2021. Weekly age-standardised mortality rates and age-specific rates for deaths involving COVID-19 by vaccination status; deaths occurring between 2 January and 24 September 2021 in England. Office for National SStatistics. 1.11.2021. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsinvolvingcovid19byvaccinationstatusengland/deathsoccurringbetween2januaryand24september2021?fbclid=IwAR0RhDFqc3NYS4NulNhe1Y43fLQaFCNxxJ_3ravBHIEYdbKTByjuvEE8xYU

November 1-10

Taloustieteilijät: Ilman koronasulkuja taloudellisia tappioita ja kuolleita olisi tullut paljon enemmän. Suurin osa kulutuksen laskusta on tullut ihmisten varovaisuudesta, ei yhteiskunnan suluista, Ylen haastattelemat koronatutkimukseen perehtyneet taloustieteilijät arvioivat. Norjassa tehdyn tutkimuksen mukaan kuolleita olisi kymmenkertainen määrä Ruotsin kaltaisella koronapolitiikalla. YLE Uutiset. 31.10.2021. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12165691

THL ehdottaa koronapassia sote-työntekijöille – näin kommentoivat kansanedustajat terveysalalta
Iltalehti kysyi kolmelta sote-taustaiselta kansanedustajalta, mitä mieltä he ovat THL:n ehdotuksesta käyttää koronapassia sote-alan työntekijöihin. Iltalehti. 31.10.2021. https://www.iltalehti.fi/politiikka/a/34c3f822-cbe5-48f5-9cd6-f929ef16507e?utm_source=iltalehti.fi&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email_il_uutiskirje

The Removal of Airborne Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Other Microbial Bioaerosols by Air Filtration on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Surge Units [Kun hepa-ilmanpuhdistimet olivat päällä, ilmasta ei voitu tunnistaa koronavirusta. Kun ne sammutettiin, virusta löytyi taas ilmasta]. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 30.10.2021. https://academic.oup.com/cid/advance-article/doi/10.1093/cid/ciab933/6414657?login=false

RKI warnt vor Superspreading: 8-Punkte-Check zeigt, wann das Risiko besonders hoch ist. Das Robert-Koch-Institut warnt vor weiter steigenden Corona-Zahlen – vor allem durch Kontakte in Innenräumen. Um besser einschätzen zu können, wie hoch das Risiko in welcher Umgebung ist, hat Virologe Hendrik Streeck gemeinsam mit Aerosol-Forschern und Lungenmediziner den ”Lufthygiene”-Guide veröffentlicht. Focus. 30.10.2021. https://m.focus.de/gesundheit/coronavirus/virologe-streeck-und-aerosol-experten-lufthygiene-check-wo-die-corona-gefahr-hoch-ist-und-wo-nicht_id_24340093.html

Vaaran paikka. Virustutkimus auttaa suojelemaan terveyttä. Joskus virukset karkaavat laboratorio-onnettomuuden seurauksena. Wuhanissa Kiinassa suunniteltiin riskialtista koetta, jolla olisi voinut olla vakavia seurauksia. YLE-Uutiset. 30.10.2021. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12156805

The Removal of Airborne Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Other Microbial Bioaerosols by Air Filtration on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Surge Units ( Aerosols: Airborne severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was detected in a coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) ward before activation of HEPA-air filtration but not during filter operation; SARS-CoV-2 was again detected following filter deactivation. Airborne SARS-CoV-2 was infrequently detected in a COVID-19 intensive care unit. Bioaerosol was also effectively filtered). Clinical Infectious Diseases. 30.1.2021. https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/75/1/e97/6414657

Suomessa ensimmäiset Delta plus -löydökset – tämä aiempaa tartuttavammasta koronamuunnoksesta tiedetään.
Terveyden ja hyvinvoinnin laitoksen tietojen mukaan ensimmäiset löydökset Delta plus -variantista tulivat jo elokuussa. Viranomaiset eivät kerro yksilönsuojan takia paikkakuntia, kun tartuntoja on alle viisi. MTV-Uutiset. 29.10.2021. https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/suomessa-ensimmaiset-delta-plus-loydokset-tama-aiempaa-tartuttavammasta-koronamuunnoksesta-tiedetaan/8276114#gs.io00h0

Direct SARS-CoV-2 infection of the human inner ear may underlie COVID-19-associated audiovestibular dysfunction. Scientific Reports. 29.10.2021. https://www.nature.com/articles/s43856-021-00044-w

Community transmission and viral load kinetics of the SARS-CoV-2 delta (B.1.617.2) variant in vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals in the UK: a prospective, longitudinal, cohort study. Lancet Infectious Diseases. 29.10.2021. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00648-4/fulltext

Contact and SARS-CoV-2 Infections Among College Football Athletes in the Southeastern Conference During the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA. 29.10.2021. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2785602?utm_source=For_The_Media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_term=102921

Effectiveness of a third dose of the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine for preventing severe outcomes in Israel: an observational study. Lancet. 29.10.2021. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)02249-2

Suomessa ensimmäiset Delta plus -löydökset – tämä aiempaa tartuttavammasta koronamuunnoksesta tiedetään. Terveyden ja hyvinvoinnin laitoksen tietojen mukaan ensimmäiset löydökset Delta plus -variantista tulivat jo elokuussa. Viranomaiset eivät kerro yksilönsuojan takia paikkakuntia, kun tartuntoja on alle viisi. MTV. 29.10.2021.  https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/suomessa-ensimmaiset-delta-plus-loydokset-tama-aiempaa-tartuttavammasta-koronamuunnoksesta-tiedetaan/8276114#gs.eosbkn

The plexiglass barrier problem. Justin Ling: Vaccines, masks and ventilation are working. So why do governments keep doubling-down on the measures that don’t effectively stop COVID? MacLean’s 29.10.2021. https://www.macleans.ca/society/health/the-plexiglass-barrier-problem/

We must call out childism in covid-19 policies. BMJ. 29.10.2021. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2641

Community transmission and viral load kinetics of the SARS-CoV-2 delta (B.1.617.2) variant in vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals in the UK: a prospective, longitudinal, cohort study. Lancet. 29.10.2021.  https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00648-4/fulltext#%20

Pandemic Eugenics: Discrimination, Disability, & Detention during COVID-19 (The hidden blueprint of eugenics continues to shape the treatment of captive and vulnerable populations throughout the recent pandemic. Though nominally discredited, eugenic thinking continues to guide our twenty-first-century incarceration policies and our discriminatory treatment of detained, disabled, and neglected populations. During COVID-19, this unrecognized reliance on eugenics has been at the root of a cascade of disasters: disregard for the welfare of the incarcerated, who have fought COVID-19 without supplies, social distancing ability, or compassionate release; hospital rationing policies limiting use of ventilators, hospital beds, and other medical devices by disabled and elderly individuals; the skyrocketing death toll in nursing and long-term care homes; and the profound neglect of group home residents, including children in foster care and the cognitively and developmentally disabled. / These inequitable practices follow a pattern consistent with the philosophy of eugenics. Our society has isolated a class of “unfit” and “unvalued” people, whose lives and dignity are treated as less worthy than others. This Article reveals the hidden eugenic thinking supporting our mistreatment of disabled, captive, and vulnerable individuals during the pandemic, and proposes broad and longer-lasting solutions to this legacy of discrimination.). 67 Loyola Law Review 101. 29.10.2021. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3801194

Long-COVID: Cognitive deficits (brain fog) and brain lesions in non–hospitalized patients. Presse Med. 28.10.2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8552626/

 

C-reactive protein and white matter microstructural changes in COVID-19 patients with encephalopathy (Brain, Cognitive). J Neural Transmission. 28.10.2021. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00702-021-02429-6

Did ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ increase COVID-19 cases in England? Medical News Today. 28.10.2021. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/did-eat-out-to-help-out-increase-covid-19-cases-in-england?

Yökoulusta levinneet koronatartunnat hätkähdyttivät ihmisoikeusjuristin – Martin Scheinin: ”Pidän aiheellisena, että asiassa tehdään tutkintapyyntö”
Ihmisoikeusjuristi Martin Scheininin mukaan viranomaisten mahdolliset laiminlyönnit tartuntatautilain noudattamisessa on syytä punnita oikeudessa. Lappajärvellä Etelä-Pohjanmaalla koronatartunnat levisivät alakoululaisten yökoulussa. YLE Uutiset. 27.10.2021. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12162621

Immunocompromised may need a fourth Covid-19 shot, CDC says. CNN Health. 27.10.2021. https://edition.cnn.com/2021/10/26/health/covid-19-fourth-dose-for-the-immunocompromised/index.html

Noin 20-vuotiaat rokottamattomat nuoret joutuneet koronan takia keskussairaalaan – keuhkot huonossa kunnossa. Ilkka-Pohjalainen kertoo, että Seinäjoen keskussairaalassa on tällä viikolla hoidettu muutamaa vasta noin 20-vuotiasta koronapotilasta, joiden keuhkot ovat huonossa kunnossa. IS. 27.10.2021. https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000008350962.html

Breakthrough infections can lead to long COVID; genes may explain critical illness in young, healthy adults. Reuters. 27.10.2021. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/breakthrough-infections-can-lead-long-covid-genes-may-explain-critical-illness-2021-10-27/

Finland’s Success in Combating Covid-19: Mastery, Miracle or Mirage? SSERN. 27.10.2021. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3909237#

F.D.A. Panel Recommends Covid Shots for Children 5 to 11
Covid-19 was “the eighth-highest killer of kids in this age group over the past year,” said a C.D.C. official in favor of broader authorization. NYT. 26.10.2021. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/26/us/fda-pfizer-covid-vaccine-kids.html?smid=tw-share

Ansiktsskydd behövs fortfarande. HBL. 26.10.2021. https://www.hbl.fi/artikel/ansiktsskydd-behovs-fortfarande/

Type of ultraviolet light most effective at killing coronavirus is also the safest to use around people. The Conversation. 26.10.2021. https://theconversation.com/type-of-ultraviolet-light-most-effective-at-killing-coronavirus-is-also-the-safest-to-use-around-people-169602?utm

Terveyden­huollon työnantajalla tulisi olla oikeus tietää työntekijän rokotus­suojasta, vaatii Lääkäri­liitto – ”Olisi helpompaa, jos tiedon näkisi kysymättä”, sanoo Husin Ruotsalainen. Husin apulaisylilääkäri Eeva Ruotsalaisen mukaan on selvä potilasturvallisuusriski, jos esimerkiksi rokottamaton työntekijä tuo tartuntoja hoivakotiin. HE. 25.10.2021. https://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000008356424.html?share=661dc8d4856bafc4d6eaff0d8f33925b

Professori varoittaa keskustelun kärjistymisestä: Nykyinen puhetapa voi lisätä rokotus­vastaisuutta. Rokotusta vaille jääminen ei ole aina tietoisen harkinnan tulos, sanoo professori Nelli Hankonen. HS. 25.10.2021.  https://www.hs.fi/hyvinvointi/art-2000008349588.html?share=3f242d9d3e6a5400d076f918969a2de2

Evaluation of the relative virulence of novel SARS-CoV-2 variants: a retrospective cohort study in Ontario, Canada. CMAJ. 25.10.2021. https://www.cmaj.ca/content/193/42/E1619

Effectiveness of Covid-19 Vaccination Against Risk of Symptomatic Infection, Hospitalization, and Death Up to 9 Months: A Swedish Total-Population Cohort Study. Lancet. 25.10.2021. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3949410

SARS-CoV-2 infects human adipose tissue and elicits an inflammatory response consistent with severe COVID-19, BioRxiv. 24.10.2021.  https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.10.24.465626v1

Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose-Based Nasal Sprays Effectively Inhibit In Vitro SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Spread (HPMC, e.g., VirX.  We found that virus release from cells previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 was inhibited by the gel matrix product in a dose-dependent manner, with virus levels reduced by >99.99% over a 72 h period at a dose of 6.4 mg/3.5 cm2. We also show that the pre-treatment of cells with product inhibited SARS-CoV-2 infection, independent of the virus variant. The primary mechanism of action appears to be via the formation of a physical, passive barrier. However, the addition of wild garlic provided additional direct antiviral properties in some formulations.). Viruses. 23.11.2021. DOI: 10.3390/v13122345 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34960612/

Health leaders accuse ministers of bungling rollout of UK Covid booster jab
Vaccine drive described as ‘fragmented’ with half the people eligible for third dose yet to come forward. FT. 22.10.2021.  https://amp.ft.com/content/1f57838a-24d2-40d5-b314-2d8345a6e001?__twitter_impression=true

Suomi purki koronarajoituksia, vaikka THL:n käyrät varoittivat uhkaavista seurauksista – tautiekologi: ”Masentavinta, että meni juuri niin kuin ajateltiin”.  THL mallinsi elokuussa, miten sairaalahoito kuormittuisi, jos rajoituksia purettaisiin 80 prosentin rokotekattavuuden koittaessa. Hoidon tarve olisi noussut merkittävästi. Rajoitukset purettiin, kun kattavuus oli vielä selvästi vähemmän, noin 70 prosenttia. YLE-Uutiset. 22.10.2021. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12155829?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsdaily&utm_content=2021-10-23

Orthodoxy, illusio, and playing the scientific game: a Bourdieusian analysis of infection control science in the COVID-19 pandemic [The hegemonic grip of medical infection control discourse remains strong. Exit from the pandemic depends on science and policy finding a way to renegotiate what Bourdieu called the ‘rules of the scientific game’—what counts as evidence, quality, and rigour.]. Wellcome Open Research. 22.10.2021. https://wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/6-126

Safe traveling in public transport amid COVID-19. Science. 22.10.2021. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abg3691?utm_campaign=SciMag&utm_source=Social&utm_medium=Twitter

Assessment of Cognitive Function in Patients After COVID-19 Infection. JAMA.  22.10.2021. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2785388?utm_source=For_The_Media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_term=102221

The SARS-CoV-2 main protease Mpro causes microvascular brain pathology by cleaving NEMO in brain endothelial cells. Nature Neuroscience. 21.10.2021.  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-021-00926-1

Pfizer boosters show 95.6% efficacy against Covid, study finds. Results hailed as ‘important’ but duration of protection still unknown. FT. 21.10.2021.  https://amp.ft.com/content/d4e58d38-37d6-40cd-9d72-6b9bfd0a3683?

PFIZER AND BIONTECH ANNOUNCE PHASE 3 TRIAL DATA SHOWING HIGH EFFICACY OF A BOOSTER DOSE OF THEIR COVID-19 VACCINE. Pfizer. 21.11.2021. https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/pfizer-and-biontech-announce-phase-3-trial-data-showing

The American founders didn’t believe your sacred freedom means you can do whatever you want – not even when it comes to vaccines and your own body. The Conversation. 21.10.2021. https://theconversation.com/the-american-founders-didnt-believe-your-sacred-freedom-means-you-can-do-whatever-you-want-not-even-when-it-comes-to-vaccines-and-your-own-body-169924?utm

Voisiko Suomeen tulla rokotepakko? Oikeusoppineet hämmästelevät, miksi kissa ei ole jo pöydällä. Rokotepakko on vaikeampi asia poliittisesti kuin juridisesti. Rokotevelvoitteen käyttöönotto vaatisi lääketieteellistä arviointia ja poliittista keskustelua.  Iltalehti. 21.10.2021. https://www.iltalehti.fi/kotimaa/a/ea67d28e-2250-4cd3-b6a4-303cdd357acb?utm

October 21-31

 

Moscow orders unvaccinated over-60s to stay home for 4 months as Russia’s Covid-19 crisis deepens. CNN World. 20.10.2021. https://edition.cnn.com/2021/10/20/europe/russia-elderly-stay-home-order-record-deaths-intl/index.html?utm

Koulu pantiin jatkuviin koronatesteihin: Yllätys lasten tartunnoissa. Tutkimuksen perusteella lasten rooli taudin levittäjinä voi olla oletettua suurempi. Verkkouutiset. 20.10.2021. https://www.verkkouutiset.fi/koulu-pantiin-jatkuviin-koronatesteihin-yllatys-lasten-tartunnoissa/#53d13ff6

COVID-19 pandemic drove flu to historic lows, and may have eliminated one virus type completely. ABC Science News. 20.10.2021.  https://amp.abc.net.au/article/100546836?__twitter_impression=true

Miten koronan torjuntaa pitäisi mitata? Professorin (Lillrank) laskelman mukaan pelastetut elinvuodet ovat maksaneet kymmeniä kertoja kohtuuhintaa enemmän. Koronaa on torjuttu kohtuuttomalla hinnalla, kun käyttöön otettiin laajat sulkutoimet, professori Paul Lillrank sanoo. Koronan kustannusten mittaaminen on kuitenkin vaikeaa, koska emme tiedä mitä olisi tapahtunut, jos olisimme tehneet toisin. YLE-Uutiset. 20.10.2021. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12150546?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ylefi&utm_content=2021-10-20

Covid-19-tapaukset lisääntyvät koulujen avautuessa – Etenkin silloin, kun opettajat ja oppilaat eivät käytä maskeja. Koulut lisäävät yhteisön tartuntoja, mutta hyvä uutinen on, että suhteellisen yksinkertaiset lieventävät toimenpiteet voivat tehdä kouluista paljon turvallisempia paikkoja, kirjoittaa Tutkijalta-palstalla epidemiologi ja biostatistikko Zoë Hyde Länsi-Australian yliopistosta. TM. 20.10.2021. https://tekniikanmaailma.fi/covid-19-tapaukset-lisaantyvat-koulujen-avautuessa-etenkin-silloin-kun-opettajat-ja-oppilaat-eivat-kayta-maskeja/

HS: Teho-osaston lääkäriltä lohduton arvio tulevasta koronatilanteesta – ”Jos meininki jatkuu tällaisena…” Turun yliopistollisen sairaalan osastonlääkäri Jussi Heiro antaa Helsingin Sanomissa lohduttoman arvionsa tulevasta koronatilanteesta. IS. 20.10.2021. https://www.is.fi/turun-seutu/art-2000008345611.html

The association of opening K–12 schools with the spread of COVID-19 in the United States: County-level panel data analysis. PNAS. 19.10.2021. https://www.pnas.org/content/118/42/e2103420118

Without Covid-19 jab, ‘reinfection may occur every 16 months’
Reports grow of repeat infection as experts warn prevalence among school pupils puts older people at risk. Guardian. 19.10.2021. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/19/without-covid-19-jab-reinfection-may-occur-every-16-months-say-scientists

Piispa Teemu Laajasalo kannusti ihmisiä ottamaan rokotteen – yli 200 ihmistä erosi kirkosta. Eilen kirkosta erosi 242 ihmistä. Iltalehti. 19.10.2021. https://www.iltalehti.fi/kotimaa/a/ce2d6484-f917-41bb-af07-6b7cdf4b9245?utm

Covid-19: Silencing health workers, researchers, and journalists caused unnecessary deaths, says Amnesty. 19.10.2021. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2552?=&utm_source=adestra&utm_medium=email&utm

Excess risk and clusters of symptoms after COVID-19 in a large Norwegian cohort. medRxiv. 18.10.2021. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.10.15.21265038v1.full.pdf

swedish study shows covid vaccines drop below zero efficacy on spread by about 200 days. protection from severe covid dropped as well. bad cattitude. 18.10.2021. https://boriquagato.substack.com/p/swedish-study-shows-covid-vaccines

Nelli Hankonen blog: Albertan koronasyksy 2021. 18.10.2021. https://blogs.helsinki.fi/nhankone/2021/10/18/albertan-koronasyksy-2021/

Emeritusprofessori esittää Suomeen Italian ja Ranskan tyylistä ’de facto’ rokotuspakkoa. Käytännössä rokotuspakko voidaan Matti Jantusen mukaan toteuttaa samalla mallilla kuin esimerkiksi Italiassa ja Ranskassa. Mediuutiset. 18.10.2021. https://www.mediuutiset.fi/uutiset/mu/4646944e-c239-436d-8ce6-b5bf63cc436e?ref=newsletter:434f&utm

Mask-wearing linked to 53% cut in Covid incidence, global study finds. Researchers said results highlight the need to continue with face coverings, social distancing and handwashing alongside vaccine programmes. Guardian. 17.10.2021. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/17/wearing-masks-single-most-effective-way-to-tackle-covid-study-finds?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

TERVEYSPSYKOLOGIA: Koronataistelu muuttuu sissisodaksi. Matti TJ Heino blog. 17.10.2021. https://mattiheino.com/2021/10/17/sissisota/

Nyt puhuu teho­hoito­lääkäri: ”Emme jaksa enää”. Tehohoitolääkärin mukaan hoitohenkilökunta on aivan loppu.
THL on julkaissut rokotekampanjavideoita – kehottavat ihmisiä hakemaan rokotteen. Iltalehti. 17.10.2021. https://www.iltalehti.fi/koronavirus/a/35a746af-e1df-4212-8680-2a26e4636375

Victoria and NSW schools are reopening amid Covid outbreaks – what can be learned from overseas? In Victoria, once the lockdown is lifted, all children in year 3 and above will be required to wear masks indoors. Experts say there are important lessons for Australia in order to reduce the rate of transmission and hospitalisation. Guardian. 16.10.2021.  https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/oct/17/victoria-and-nsw-schools-are-reopening-amid-covid-outbreaks-what-can-be-learnt-from-overseas?utm_term=Autofeed&CMP=twt_gu&utm_medium&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1634411450

Asiantuntija ryöpyttää Suomen päättäjiä: ”Onko meillä siis tyhmempi kansa josta osa ansaitseekin sairastaa ja kuolla?” Tuuli Lappalaisen mukaan sekä viranomaiset että poliitikot ovat antaneet ennenaikaisia ja ylioptimistisia lupauksia, ja niiden peruminen nyt tekee kipeää. Uusi Suomi. 16.10.2021.  https://www.uusisuomi.fi/uutiset/us/b0aaf526-55e4-485c-af62-0e83d3d04b13?ref=twitter:286d

Lääkäriltä suorat sanat: Kohta nämä hoidetaan itkun kanssa. Tutkijalääkäri sanoo olevansa äärimmäisen pettynyt poliittiseen johtamiseen.Verkkouutiset. 16.10.2021. https://www.verkkouutiset.fi/laakarilta-suorat-sanat-kohta-nama-hoidetaan-itkun-kanssa/#b7eaa73f

UK falls behind European peers in battle against Covid ahead of winter
Deaths and hospital admissions remain stubbornly high in Britain as the continent reports record lows. FT. 16.10.2021. ttps://amp.ft.com/content/34582534-4510-4d45-bcba-2f9e04005309?__twitter_impression=true

Maskien käyttö tepsi: alle 12-vuotiaiden koronatartunnat tippuivat Turun kouluissa puoleen viikossa (). Turun Sanomat. 16.12.2021. https://www.ts.fi/uutiset/5513872

K-12 schools without mask mandates in Michigan saw 62% more coronavirus spread. Detroit Free Press. 15.10.2021. https://amp.freep.com/amp/8422532002?__twitter_impression=true

Resurgence of Ebola virus in 2021 in Guinea suggests a new paradigm for outbreaks (The 2021 lineage shows considerably lower divergence than would be expected during sustained human-to-human transmission, which suggests a persistent infection with reduced replication or a period of latency. The resurgence of Zaire ebolavirus from humans five years after the end of the previous outbreak of Ebola virus disease reinforces the need for long-term medical and social care for patients who survive the disease, to reduce the risk of re-emergence and to prevent further stigmatization.). Nature. 15.9.2021. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34526718/

Virhekäsitykset ja yksinkertaistukset johtavat meitä harhaan: 10 julkisen koronakeskustelun kampittajaa. Osa 2. Blogi. CitizenShield. 15.10.2021. https://citizenshield.fi/2021/10/15/virhekasitykset-ja-yksinkertaistukset-johtavat-meita-harhaan-10-julkisen-koronakeskustelun-kampittajaa/

Suomi värjäytyi punaiseksi Euroopan tauti­keskuksen kartalla – matkustamista ei suositella. Kahden viime viikon aikana Suomessa on raportoitu 7 763 uutta koronatartuntaa, mikä on 1 632 tartuntaa enemmän kuin edellisten kahden viikon aikana. IS. 15.10.2021. https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000008336966.html

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey, UK: 15 October 2021
Estimates for England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. This survey is being delivered in partnership with the University of Oxford, University of Manchester, Public Health England and Wellcome Trust. This study is jointly led by the ONS and the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) working with the University of Oxford and Lighthouse laboratory to collect and test samples. Office of National Atatistics. 15.10.2021. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditionsanddiseases/bulletins/coronaviruscovid19infectionsurveypilot/15october2021

How many lives have coronavirus vaccines saved? We used state data on deaths and vaccination rates to find out. The Conversation. 15.10.2021. https://theconversation.com/how-many-lives-have-coronavirus-vaccines-saved-we-used-state-data-on-deaths-and-vaccination-rates-to-find-out-169513?utm

FDA vaccine advisers recommend emergency use authorization for booster dose of Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine. CNN Health. 15.10.2021. https://edition.cnn.com/2021/10/14/health/fda-vaccine-advisers-moderna-thursday/index.html?utm

Risk of COVID-19 Spread and Mitigation Strategies in Public Transportation Sector (Several preventive measures have been adopted across the nation and the globe to avoid the spread of this virus, such as lockdown, restricted travel, social distancing guidelines, obligatory face mask use, etc. These activities directly influenced the management of social life, economy, and livelihoods. The effect of COVID-19 on the public transit industry and strategies the transit agencies adapted to continue providing the service during the pandemic has been synthesized in this paper. As a result of the pandemic, public transit ridership decreased by about 70 percent for most agencies compared to pre-pandemic levels. This article also highlights the prevention of COVID-19 spread in the public transit industry using engineering solutions and advanced material science and nanotechnology solutions.). Journal of Transportation Technologies.  Oct. 2021. https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation.aspx?paperid=111534#ref30

The Hidden Cost of Covid-19: Years of Life Lost Among the Young (80-year-olds who died from the pandemic lost about 7.7 years of life on average, but 40-year-olds who died lost about 36 years on average. When we accounted for the number of years lived in good health, rather than simply the number of years lived, the gap between young and old widened even further: 40-year-olds who died lost more than five times the number of healthy years as did 80-year-olds.). USC Schaeffer, 14.10.2021.  https://healthpolicy.usc.edu/article/the-hidden-cost-of-covid-19-years-of-life-lost-among-the-young/

Covid-19 Breakthrough Infections in Vaccinated Health Care Workers. @IanRicksecker, But if you’re counting on vaccination to feel safe, there’s even more bad news. A study of Israel healthcare workers found that “Most breakthrough cases were mild or asymptomatic, although 19% had persistent symptoms (>6 weeks).” N MEngl J Med. 14.10.2021.  https://doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2109072

Covid-19: Fatal errors, not fatalism, created UK’s public health disaster. BMJ. 14.10.2021. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2497/rapid-responses

Covid-19 Breakthrough Infections in Vaccinated Health Care Workers. NEJM. 14.10.2021. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2109072

Covid and flu: what do the numbers tell us about morbidity and deaths? BMJ. 14.11.2021. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2514?=&utm_source=adestra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=usage&utm_content=daily&utm_term=text

Children could be dangerous carriers of virus. Study finds kids to be potential spreaders of COVID-19 and emerging variants.  Harvard Gazette. 14.10.2021.  https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2021/10/study-confirms-kids-as-spreaders-of-covid-19-and-emerging-variants/

A public health strategy for SARS-CoV-2, grounded in science, should guide Swiss schools through the coming winter. Swiss Medical Weekly. 14.10.2021.  https://smw.ch/article/doi/SMW.2021.w30086

Molnupiravir vs. COVID-19: Will the drug live up to the hype?
In the search for effective COVID-19 treatments, many drugs have failed to live up to their early promise. In a recent trial, seen as an important advance, the oral antiviral drug molnupiravir halved the risk of hospital admissions and deaths from COVID-19. Medical News Today explored the evidence to see whether this optimism is justified. Medical News Today. 14.10.2021.  https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/molnupiravir-vs-covid-19-will-the-drug-live-up-to-the-hype/

Koronapotilaiden sairaalahoito tulisi järjestää uudella tavalla. Jos jatkamme nykyisellä tavalla, muiden sairauksien hoitovelka kasvaa. HS. 14.10.2021. https://www.hs.fi/mielipide/art-2000008329522.html?share=88fac73056eeaf8accb772a13979fe12

Short-term and Long-term Rates of Postacute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection – A Systematic Review (In this systematic review of 57 studies comprising more than 250 000 survivors of COVID-19, most sequelae included mental health, pulmonary, and neurologic disorders, which were prevalent longer than 6 months after SARS-CoV-2 exposure. These findings suggest that long-term PASC must be factored into existing health care systems, especially in low- and middle-income countries.). JAMA. 13.10.2023.  https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2784918

SARS–CoV–2 Spike Impairs DNA Damage Repair and Inhibits V(D)J Recombination In Vitro. MDPI. 13.10.2021.  https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/13/10/2056/htm/

Rokoteasian­tuntijat pohtivat kolmatta rokote­kierrosta tänään – THL:n Nohynek: Tulee miettiä, onko lisä­annoksen terveys­hyöty oikeassa suhteessa hintaan. THL:n alainen Kansallinen rokotus­asiantuntija­ryhmä (Krar) kokoontuu pohtimaan kolmansia koronarokoteannoksia keskiviikkona. HS. 13.10.2021. https://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000008323890.html?s=03

In Conversation: The neurocognitive impact of long COVID
For many people, long COVID has associations with serious neurological and neurocognitive impairments, a phenomenon sometimes known as neuro-COVID. Why does this happen, and who is most at risk? In this Special Feature and podcast, we speak to two researchers and a person with lived experience of neuro-COVID to find out more.

A cross-sectional analysis of meteorological factors and SARS-CoV-2 transmission in 409 cities across 26 countries. Nature Communications. 13.10.2021. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-25914-8

Husin ylilääkäri kertoo, keitä sairaaloissa nyt koronataudin vuoksi hoidetaan – ”Rokotukset ovat edenneet huonosti muiden kuin nuorimpien kohdalla”
HS:n uusi grafiikka seuraa rokottamattomien osuutta sairaaloissa. HS. 13.10.2021. https://www.hs.fi/kaupunki/art-2000008328276.html?share=591c82ab6b86a7f0a3d744187315dfbf

Think a mild case of COVID-19 is no big deal? Think again. New research shows concerning effects of the virus, even in asymptomatic cases. Colorado Newsline. 13.10.2021. https://coloradonewsline.com/2021/10/13/mild-case-of-covid-19-no-big-deal-think-again/

In Conversation: The neurocognitive impact of long COVID: For many people, long COVID has associations with serious neurological and neurocognitive impairments, a phenomenon sometimes known as neuro-COVID. Why does this happen, and who is most at risk? In this Special Feature and podcast, we speak to two researchers and a person with lived experience of neuro-COVID to find out more. Medical News Today. 13.10.2021.  https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/long-covid-brain-fog-what-do-we-know-about-the-neurocognitive-impact/

Kun sairaala­hoidon tarve kasvoi keväällä tällaiseksi, hallitus julisti ”sulkutilan” – Voiko Marin vielä perääntyä yhteis­kunnan avaamisesta? Pahenevasta tautitilanteesta huolimatta hallituksella on korkea kynnys ajaa kireämpiä rajoituksia. Koronapassi voi tulla laajasti käyttöön vain, jos rajoituksia kiristetään. HS. 12.10.2021. https://www.hs.fi/politiikka/art-2000008325861.html?share=1ee867d6a284bfce9b7b6b71e4265abd

Brain MRI and neuropsychological findings at long-term follow-up after
COVID-19 hospitalisation: an observational cohort study. BMJ Open. 12.10.2021. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/bmjopen/11/10/e055164.full.pdf

Maailmalla koronalääkettä tilataan jo vauhdilla, Suomessa ei vieläkään – Uhkana on lääkkeiden tuleva saatavuus. Koronalääkkeen myyntiin tulosta on ollut tietoja ilmassa jo pitkään. Suomessa tilanteeseen ei ole nopeasti havahduttu. Mediuutiset. 12.10.2021. https://www.mediuutiset.fi/debatti/maailmalla-koronalaaketta-tilataan-jo-vauhdilla-suomessa-ei-vielakaan-uhkana-on-laakkeiden-tuleva-saatavuus/2eb405b1-9d16-4610-a7cf-8edd9b2f39ad

Your Wednesday Briefing. A damning report on Britain’s virus response. NYT. 13.10.2021.

COVID lesson: trust the public with hard truths. When governments assume that people will panic, that exacerbates the pandemic. Nature 12.10.2021. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02758-2?fbclid=IwAR2vAE-gZRvXkhO1aEXj2A56im8qi81qSQWPyNrorh40JmautC5ywUrftJA

‘The real problem is the repetition of mistakes’: scientists react to Covid inquiry. Senior figures say failure to prevent second wave was inexcusable given what was known about the virus. Guardian. 12.10.2021.  https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/12/the-real-problem-is-the-repetition-of-mistakes-scientists-react-to-covid-enquiry?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Covid response ‘one of UK’s worst ever public health failures’.
Early handling and belief in ‘herd immunity’ led to more deaths, Commons inquiry finds. Guardian. 12.10.2021.  https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/oct/12/covid-response-one-of-uks-worst-ever-public-health-failures?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

What the Future May Hold for the Coronavirus and Us
Viral evolution is a long game. Here’s where scientists think we could be headed. NYT. 12.10.2021.

Infektiolääkärin epätoivoinen vetoomus koronarokotusten puolesta: ”Hetken näytti hyvältä ja melkein juhlittiin, mutta nyt laivan pohja vuotaa”. Tampereen yliopistollisen keskussairaalan infektiolääkäri kertoo MTV Uutisille rokottamattomien vaikeasta koronatilanteesta. Syyskuussa lähes 80 prosenttia sairaalahoidossa olevista oli rokottamattomia. Lääkäri Reetta Huttusen mukaan hätkähdyttävää on, että merkittävä osuus sairaalaan joutuvista potilaat ei ole iäkkäitä, vaan nuoria tai keski-ikäisiä. MTV-Uutiset. 12.10.2021. https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/infektiolaakarin-epatoivoinen-vetoomus-koronarokotusten-puolesta-hetken-naytti-hyvalta-ja-melkein-juhlittiin-mutta-nyt-laivan-pohja-vuotaa/8262410

Selvitys: Britannia aloitti korona­sulun liian myöhään, mikä oli merkittävä kansan­terveydellinen epä­onnistuminen maan historiassa. Raportin mukaan tämä oli yksi merkittävimmistä kansanterveydellisistä epäonnistumisista maan historiassa. HS. 12.10.2021.  https://www.hs.fi/ulkomaat/art-2000008326330.html?share=011911d95bd7a841169809f72bf1e2f8

How did we get here: what are droplets and aerosols and how far do they go? A historical perspective on the transmission of respiratory infectious diseases. The Royal Society. 12.10.2021. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsfs.2021.0049

Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 After COVID-19 Screening and Mitigation Measures for Primary School Children Attending School in Liège, Belgium. JAMA. 12.10.2021. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2784812

FDA scientists neutral on Moderna Covid-19 vaccine booster ahead of key meeting. STAT. 12.10.2021. https://www.statnews.com/2021/10/12/fda-scientists-moderna-covid-vaccine-booster/

Covid-19: Government’s handling of pandemic had “big mistakes,” MPs say. BMJ 12.10.2021. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2487?=&utm

Covid response ‘one of UK’s worst ever public health failures’. Early handling and belief in ‘herd immunity’ led to more deaths, Commons inquiry finds. Guardian. 12.10.2021.  https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/oct/12/covid-response-one-of-uks-worst-ever-public-health-failures

Lessons for all from the UK’s Covid mishandling. Politicians and scientists succumbed to a flawed, fatalistic groupthink. FT. 12.10.2021. https://amp.ft.com/content/6369ab78-19ec-4a81-858d-a5f318496306?__twitter_impression=true

Frequency of Neurologic Manifestations in COVID-19. A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Neurology. 11.10.2022. https://n.neurology.org/content/97/23/e2269

Covid-19: Is New Zealand’s switch in policy a step forward or a retreat?. BMJ. 11.10.2021. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2476?=&utm_source=adestra&utm_medium=email&utm

Life-saving COVID Drug Regeneron in Israel – but Most Patients Won’t Take It. Some Israelis are COVID anti-vaxxers who distrust Regeneron, but others just don’t see the need or are talked out of it at the last moment. 11.10.2021. https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/life-saving-covid-wonder-drug-comes-to-israel-but-most-patients-won-t-take-it-1.10282942?utm

Kouvolan koululaisille tuli helpotuksen päivä, kun maskeja ei enää tarvitse käyttää – suurin askel kuitenkin vielä odottaa.
Kouvolassa on tänään maanantaina luovuttu koulujen ja päiväkotien maskisuosituksesta. Ainakin ensimmäisenä päivänä kasvomaski vielä oli monen yllä.. YLE-Uutioset 11.10.2021. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12138579

Pääkirjoitus: Krista Kiuru putosi kurvissa pääministerin kyydistä.  (Pääministeri Sanna Marinin toimintaan koronavirusepidemian hoidossa ollaan yhä tyytyväisempiä, kertoo HS:n tuore kysely. Sen sijaan perhe- ja peruspalveluministeri Krista Kiuru herättää tyytymättömyyttä. / Marinin kannatus on kesän aikana kasvanut, sillä toukokuussa tyytyväisiä oli kuusi prosenttiyksikköä vähemmän. Keväällä suosiota verotti käynnissä ollut kuntavaalitaistelu, mutta vaikutusta saattaa olla myös Marinin ketterällä suunnanmuutoksella: tiukasta koronarajoitusten kannattajasta kuoriutui kesällä vahva vapauttamisen puolestapuhuja. / Jotkut ovat yhdistäneet muutoksen pääministerin kesän aikana Instagramissa julkaisemiin lomakuviin. Huomasiko Marin Kallion baareissa, että valomerkki tulee ihan liian aikaisin? Todennäköisemmin Marinin poliittinen ja henkilökohtainen vapautuminen kertoo kuitenkin kyvystä lukea suuren yleisön mielipiteitä. / Suomalaisten enemmistö on lopen kyllästynyt rajoituksiin. Se näkyy myös HS:n kyselyssä, jossa kaksi kolmasosaa katsoi, että rajoitukset purettiin oikeaan aikaan tai liian myöhään. Kauemmin rajoituksia olisi jatkanut vain 29 prosenttia vastaajista.). Helsingin Sanomat. 11.10.2021. https://www.hs.fi/paakirjoitukset/art-2000008319571.html

October 11-20

Here’s what Bay Area doctors say about how COVID affects the brain. San Francisco Chronicle. 10.10.2021. https://www.sfchronicle.com/health/article/How-COVID-affects-the-brain-Bay-Area-doctors-16520440.php

Korona-altistus. Satakunnan koronatilanne Suomen huonoin – jopa sairaalassa todettu altistumisia. Turun Sanomat. 10.10.2021. https://www.ts.fi/uutiset/5449706

Korona vie yhä enemmän sairaalaan: Satakunnassa joudutaan erityisjärjestelyihin. Hoitoon joutuvat ovat valtaosin rokottamattomia. Alle 60-vuotiaita lähes puolet. Kokemäkijokilaakson Uutiset. 10.10.2021. https://www.kokemaenjokilaakso.fi/2021/10/10/korona-vie-yha-enemman-sairaalaan-satakunnassa-joudutaan-erityisjarjestelyihin/

Kraftig ökning av psykisk ohälsa under pandemin. Dagens Nyheter. 10.10.2021. https://www.dn.se/vetenskap/kraftig-okning-av-psykisk-ohalsa-under-pandemin/

Sanna Marin otti riskin, joka näyttää toteutuneen – Tehohoidon ”kriittinen piste” alkaa lähestyä. Sanna Marinin hallitus purki viikko sitten isosti koronarajoituksia ja sen jälkeen tautiluvut kohosivat. Riski näyttää realisoituneen, mutta seuraako tästä rajoitusten palauttamisia, mistä STM jo vihjaisi? Viranomaiset ja pääministeri antavat nyt varsin erilaista viestiä tilanteesta. Mediuutiset. 9.10.2021. https://www.mediuutiset.fi/uutiset/mu/5e432005-aff9-4eb2-8e59-25167af51d64/

IL-Analyysi: Ministeriö salaa Krista Kiurun koronasähköpostit – asiantuntija: ”Epäuskottavaa ja ongelmallista”. (Ministeriö salaa koronapäätösten taustalla käydyn sähköpostikirjeenvaihdon, vaikka lain mukaan näin merkittävän viestinvaihdon kuuluisi olla julkista, kirjoittavat Mari Julku ja Sami Koski.  Pitkin koronataivalta on ihmetelty erityisesti perhe- ja peruspalveluministeri Krista Kiurun (sd) suurta valtaa rajoituspäätöksissä. Lukuisissa analyyseissä on kerrottu, kuinka Kiurun tahto tiukemmista rajoituksista on aina jyrännyt lievemmät näkökannat. Syyskuun viimeisenä päivänä tähän tuli muutos, kun ravintolarajoituksia lievennettiin reippaasti täysin yllättäen. Ilta-Sanomien mukaan pääministeri Sanna Marin (sd) oli alkanut ajaa ravintolarajoitusten purkua vasten Kiurun tahtoa. IS:n mukaan Kiuru on nyt ”yksin kuin haavoitettu eläin”. Hänen tukenaan on enää sosiaali- ja terveysministeriön (STM) niin kutsuttu ”nuiva kolmikko”. Siihen kuuluvat Iltalehdenkin sivuilla usein esiintyneet osastopäällikkö Taneli Puumalainen, strategiajohtaja Liisa-Maria Voipio-Pulkki ja kansliapäällikkö Kirsi Varhila. Mutta minkälaista valtaa Kiuru on todella käyttänyt? Onko esimerkiksi THL:n mielipiteitä ohitettu? Vai ovatko Kiuru ja Varhila olleet samoilla linjoilla koronarajoitusten purkamisesta kuin esimerkiksi THL:n johtohahmot Markku Tervahauta ja Mika Salminen? Torstaina STM ja THL arvioivat, että rajoituksia purettiin liian aikaisin. Pääministeri Marin ei kuitenkaan allekirjoittanut näkemystä. Toisaalta esimerkiksi THL oli kuukautta aiemmin aivan toista mieltä. Sen mukaan rajoituksia olisi voitu purkaa asteittain jo syyskuun alussa. ). Iltalehti 9.10.2023. https://www.iltalehti.fi/kotimaa/a/e1dc7fbd-9cac-48a9-b980-499aaa5ceaf0

Latviassa julistettiin kolmen kuukauden poikkeustila koronan takia. Kyseessä on kolmas kerta, kun Latviassa otetaan käyttöön poikkeustila koronapandemian takia. Poikkeustila koskee erityisesti rokottamattomia. HS. 9.10.2021. https://www.hs.fi/ulkomaat/art-2000008321748.html

Meilahden koronapotilaiden tehohoitopaikat ovat loppumassa – rokottamattomien asenne herättää tuskaa linjajohtajassa: ”En enää keksi, miten voisi vaikuttaa”. Korona: Hus tehohoidon linjajohtaja Minna Bäcklund sanoo olevansa huolissaan rokottamattomien asenteesta. Leikkaukset siirtyvät, kun koronapotilaiden hoito vie paikat. Helsingin Uutiset. 9.10.2021. https://www.helsinginuutiset.fi/paikalliset/4323606

They Had the Vaccines and a Plan to Reopen. Instead They Got Cold Feet. Singapore’s experience offers lessons for other countries that want to reduce pandemic restrictions but have yet to deal with widespread infections. NYT 8.10.2021. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/08/world/asia/singapore-vaccine-covid.html

COVID-19 is linked to new diabetes cases—but long-term problems could be more severe.
In addition to driving new cases of diabetes, the virus may be directly damaging the pancreas in ways that could lead to chronic inflammation and even cancer. National Geographic. 8.10.2021. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/the-many-ways-covid-19-seems-to-be-harming-the-pancreas?

Physical, cognitive, and mental health impacts of COVID-19 after hospitalisation (PHOSP-COVID): a UK multicentre, prospective cohort study. Lancet. 7.10.2021. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(21)00383-0/fulltext

Pfizer Asks F.D.A. to Authorize Its Covid-19 Vaccine for Children 5 to 11. The agency has promised to move quickly on the request and tentatively plans to meet on Oct. 26 to consider it. A decision could come soon after Halloween.NYT. 7.10.2021. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/07/us/politics/pfizer-fda-authorization-children-5-11.html

SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the Cerebrospinal Fluid of a Patient with Long COVID (...the first report to confirm the occurrence of SARS-COV-2 RNA in the CSF of a patient with long COVID specifically. This case raises the possibility that SARS-CoV-2 may persist in the central nervous system weeks after respiratory infection. / Further studies of SARS-CoV2 RNA, markers of inflammation, and neuronal damage in the CSF of patients with long COVID would be useful and should address the following questions:
– Is the CNS a possible reservoir of SARS-CoV-2 persistence, and if so, what are the consequences to the overall and neuropsychiatric health?
– With or without the contribution of viral persistence, what are the characteristics of the inflammatory response in the CNS and how can it be therapeutically addressed?
– Is there a clear clinical and physiological distinction between the post-COVID syndrome (the damage caused by the CNS inflammation during acute COVID-19) and long COVID, or is persistent inflammation with or without viral persistence necessary for long COVID to develop?). SACE Journals. 7.10.2021.  https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/20499361211048572?fbclid=IwAR1XpHp1_Dabj_NS817YKAAq1lrKzyw5BrfTwNwFfpg6L7ZtDKYjhu-n2Vw&amp;

SARS-CoV-2 emerging variants display enhanced syncytia formation. @IanRicksecker, Also worrisome are syncytia, where an infected cell extrudes its own spike protein and takes over its neighbors, fusing together to create a large multi-nucleus cell.  Delta’s particular aptitude for this may partly explain its severity. NewsMedical. 6.10.2021. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20211006/SARS-CoV-2-emerging-variants-display-enhanced-syncytia-formation.aspx

ECDC:n raportti: Suomi kuuluu maihin, joissa alhainen rokotustaso voi aiheuttaa tartuntojen lisääntymistä ja sairaaloiden kuormittumista. Terveyden ja hyvinvoinnin laitoksen (THL) johtava asiantuntija Mia Kontio kertoo, ettei Suomen jääminen EU- ja ETA-maiden keskiarvon alle ollut yllätys. HS. 6.10.2021. https://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000008312773.html?share=20625478db85708dd292fc597ff19233

HS muuttaa koronauutisoinnin painopisteen pois tartuntamääristä kohti elämää koronan kanssa. ”Ylhäältä annetun luvan sijasta jokaisen pitää itse päättää, että nyt on turvallista elää enemmän. Korona loppuu siinä vaiheessa, kun kukin meistä itse päättää lakata pelkäämästä”, kirjoittaa HS:n toimituspäällikkö Esa Mäkinen. Helsingin Sanomat. 6.10.2021. https://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000008243137.html

A clinical case definition of post COVID-19 condition by a Delphi consensus. WHO 6.10.2021. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-2019-nCoV-Post_COVID-19_condition-Clinical_case_definition-2021.1

Kannattaisiko rokotetun nyt altistaa itsensä koronalle? – ”Tätä on mietitty”, toteaa ylilääkäri. Kaksi koronarokoteannosta antaa todennäköisesti hyvän suojan vakavaa tautia vastaan, mutta täydellinen turva se ei ole. Iltalehti. 5.10.2021. https://www.iltalehti.fi/terveysuutiset/a/b9f7d947-af3f-4a5f-812c-f8b7f018cd88

Pääkaupunkiseudulle oma suositus: Käytä maskia julkisissa liikennevälineissä, ihmispaljoudessa ja sairaana. Helsinki, Espoo ja Vantaa luopuvat samalla päiväkotien, koulujen ja oppilaitosten altistumistietojen raportoinnista. YLE-Uutiset. 5.10.2021.  https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12129425

One-year Risks and Burdens of Incident Cardiovascular Disease in COVID-19: Cardiovascular Manifestations of Long COVID. Research Square. 5.10.2021. https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-940278/v1

Koronaepidemia voi poikia syöpärokotteen – ”Näitä ei olisi ikinä muuten syöpätutkimuksessa havaittu”, sanoo Docrateen ylilääkäri. Pfizerin ja Modernan koronarokotteesta tutusta mRNA-tekniikasta haetaan nyt apua vähän kaikkeen, vesikauhusta ja kystisestä fibroosista syöväntorjuntaan. Mediuutiset 4.10.2021. https://www.mediuutiset.fi/uutiset/mu/afa6a794-391d-4005-8081-87aa9d4a5ed2?

COVID-19 Case Age Distribution: Correction for Differential Testing by Age (Adjustment for testing frequency provides a different picture of SARS-CoV-2 infection risk by age, suggesting that younger males are an underrecognized group at high risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection.). Annals of Internal Medicine. 4.10.2021.  https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/full/10.7326/M20-7003

THL-johtajan ja pääministerin ulostulot puhuttavat lääkäreitä: ”Viranomaisellakin on jo vähän hätä kädessä”. ”Tämä on marinilainen Suomi: arvoiltaan kova, lapsia, rokottamattomia ja sairaita sortava yhteiskunta. Rokotetuilla vain oikeuksia, ei mitään velvollisuuksia”, ylilääkäri Harri Tohmo kuvailee. Mediuutiset. 4.10.2021. https://www.mediuutiset.fi/uutiset/mu/6709c919-39be-4291-9aab-17f2ea72cf0a?ref=newsletter:d73a

Study confirms SARS-CoV-2 transmission through aerosols, and effectiveness of masks in preventing transmission. Medical News Today. 4.10.2021.

Specific UV light wavelength could offer low-cost, safe way to curb COVID-19 spread. PhysOrg. 4.10.2021. https://phys.org/news/2021-10-specific-uv-wavelength-low-cost-safe.html

Detailed reconstruction of the Iranian COVID-19 epidemic reveals high attack rates of SARS-CoV-2 in several provinces. medRxiv. 4.10.2021. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.10.04.21264540v1

Battling Delta, New Zealand Abandons Its Zero-Covid Ambitions. The country is changing course seven weeks into a lockdown that has failed to end the outbreak and tested the patience of many residents. NYT. 4.10.2021. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/04/world/australia/new-zealand-covid-zero.html?smid=tw-nytimes&smtyp=cur

Israel Tightens COVID ’Green Pass’ Rules, Sparking Protest. Israel has restricted its COVID Green Pass to allow only those who have received a vaccine booster dose or recently recuperated from coronavirus to enter indoor venues. US News and World Report. 3.10.2021. https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2021-10-03/israel-tightens-covid-green-pass-rules-sparking-protest

The 2,000-year-old airborne disease theory that blinded Covid experts
As a result precautions such as wearing masks and better ventilation in public spaces were tragically delayed, says a new report. The Telegraph. 2.10.2021. The 2,000-year-old airborne disease theory that blinded Covid experts (telegraph.co.uk)

Pääministeri Marin kertoo Ylelle, miksi hallitus ohitti THL:n näkemyksen ravintoloista: ”Rokotetuilla on täysi oikeus normaalimpaan elämään”. Sanna Marin myöntää, että ravintoloita koskevien koronarajoitusten reipas lieventäminen voi näkyä tautitapausten kasvuna. Hän ei kuitenkaan pidä koronatilannetta niin huonona, että entisille rajoituksille olisi perusteita. YLE Uutiset. 2.10.2021. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12126037

COVID-19 Associated Hepatitis in Children (CAH-C) during the second wave of SARS-CoV-2 infections in Central India: Is it a complication or transient phenomenon. MedRxiv. 2.10.2021. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.07.23.21260716v6.full.pdf

Alberta acted like the pandemic was over. Now it’s a cautionary tale for Canada. Saskatchewan faces similar surge in hospitals, while Manitoba is at risk from low vaccination rates. CBC. 2.10.2021. https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/alberta-fourth-wave-surge-hospitals-icu-covid-19-1.6197263

Efficacy of a Nasal Spray Containing Iota-Carrageenan in the Postexposure Prophylaxis of COVID-19 in Hospital Personnel Dedicated to Patients Care with COVID-19 Disease (e.g., Algovir, ViruSeptin, This is a pilot pragmatic multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study assessing the use of a nasal spray containing I-C in the prophylaxis of COVID-19 in hospital personnel dedicated to care of COVID-19 patients. Clinically healthy physicians, nurses, kinesiologists and other health care providers managing patients hospitalized for COVID-19 were assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive four daily doses of I-C spray or placebo for 21 days. The primary end point was clinical COVID-19, as confirmed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction testing, over a period of 21 days. The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04521322). / A total of 394 individuals were randomly assigned to receive I-C or placebo. Both treatment groups had similar baseline characteristics. The incidence of COVID-19 differs significantly between subjects receiving the nasal spray with I-C (2 of 196 [1.0%]) and those receiving placebo (10 of 198 [5.0%]). Relative risk reduction: 79.8% (95% CI 5.3 to 95.4; p=0.03). Absolute risk reduction: 4% (95% CI 0.6 to 7.4).). Int J Gen Med. 1.10.2021. doi: 10.2147/IJGM.S328486 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8493111/

Exhaled particles from nanometre to millimetre and their origin in the human respiratory tract. medRxiv. 1.10.2021. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.10.01.21264333v1

The durability of immunity against reinfection by SARS-CoV-2: a comparative evolutionary study. Lancet Microbe. 1.10.2021. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(21)00219-6/fulltext

Covid-19: Lancet investigation into origin of pandemic shuts down over bias risk. BMJ. 1.10.2021. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2414

U.S. Coronavirus Death Toll Surpasses 700,000 Despite Wide Availability of Vaccines. The latest Covid-19 deaths were concentrated in the South, and included more younger people than before. Every age group under 55 saw its highest death toll of the pandemic this August. NYT. 1.10.2021. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/01/us/us-covid-deaths-700k.html

Monitoraggio Fase 2. Report settimanale. Report 72. Sintesi nazionale. ISS. 1.10.2021. https://www.salute.gov.it/imgs/C_17_monitoraggi_81_0_fileNazionale.pdf

Tyksissä jouduttiin perumaan leikkauksia, sillä teholla oli rokottamattomia koronapotilaita. Turun Sanomat. 1.10.2021. https://www.ts.fi/uutiset/5440236

Vaccinating against covid and flu at same time is safe, study shows. BMJ. 1.10.2021. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2411?=&utm

Merck and Ridgeback’s Investigational Oral Antiviral Molnupiravir Reduced the Risk of Hospitalization or Death by Approximately 50 Percent Compared to Placebo for Patients with Mild or Moderate COVID-19 in Positive Interim Analysis of Phase 3 Study. MERCK. 1.10.2021. https://www.merck.com/news/merck-and-ridgebacks-investigational-oral-antiviral-molnupiravir-reduced-the-risk-of-hospitalization-or-death-by-approximately-50-percent-compared-to-placebo-for-patients-with-mild-or-moderat/

SARS-CoV-2 infections elicit higher levels of original antigenic sin antibodies compared to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccinations. MedRxiv. 1.10.2021.  https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.09.30.21264363v1

In Portugal, There Is Virtually No One Left to Vaccinate. Portugal is among the most highly vaccinated countries in the world. Vice Adm. Henrique Gouveia e Melo, who led the campaign, said there was a key to his success: Keep politics out of it. NYT. 1.10.2021. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/01/world/europe/portugal-vaccination-rate.html

October 1-10

Reliability of COVID- 19 symptom checkers as national triage tools: an international case comparison study. BMJ. 30.9.2021. extension://elhekieabhbkpmcefcoobjddigjcaadp/https://informatics.bmj.com/content/bmjhci/28/1/e100448.full.pdf

COVID-19 Tutkimuskatsaus 11/2021. Koronakriisiin liittyviä ajankohtaisia tutkimustuloksia maailmalta ja Suomesta. Valtioneuvosto. 30.9.2021. https://julkaisut.valtioneuvosto.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/163530/COVID-19-tutkimuskatsaus%2011-2021.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

Upgrading PPE for staff working on COVID-19 wards cut hospital-acquired infections dramatically. When Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge upgraded its face masks for staff working on COVID-19 wards to filtering face piece 3 (FFP3) respirators, it saw a dramatic fall – up to 100% – in hospital-acquired SARS-CoV-2 infections among these staff. University of Cambridge. 29.9.2021. https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/upgrading-ppe-for-staff-working-on-covid-19-wards-cut-hospital-acquired-infections-dramatically

What are the long-term effects of COVID-19?
What we know
Mild and moderate cases
Severe cases
Mental health
Treatment and support
Chronic fatigue syndrome
When to seek help
Summary
Most people who develop coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) recover within 2–6 weeks, but some experience lasting symptoms. Others with severe COVID-19 may develop complications, require rehabilitation after a hospital stay, or both. Medical News Today. 29.9.2021.  https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/long-term-effects-of-coronavirus?utm_source=Sailthru%20Email&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=MNT%20Daily%20News&utm_content=2021-11-06&apid=32395010&rvid=348b31007bc4905a3c503d64d5572c0dac87e7263eba83389e708a2774ce1afc

DNA vs. mRNA vaccines: Similarities and differences
DNA and RNA vaccines use genetic material to deliver information to human cells and elicit an immune response. DNA vaccines are safe, easy, affordable to produce, and, unlike RNA vaccines, are stable at room temperature. These attributes make them more promising for rapidly immunizing populations, especially in resource-limited settings. Medical News Today. 28.9.2021.  https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/dna-vs-mrna-vaccines-similarities-and-differences/

Evolving phenotypes of non-hospitalized patients that indicate long COVID. BMC Medicine. 27.9.2021. https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-021-02115-0

Yhdysvaltalaistutkimus: Näin koulujen maski­pakko suojasi lapsia korona­virukselta. Yhdysvaltain tautikeskus CDC julkaisi perjantaina kaksi tutkimusta, jotka käsittelevät maskien käyttöä kouluissa. IS. 25.9.2021.  https://www.is.fi/ulkomaat/art-2000008288977.html

U.S. schools with mask requirements are seeing fewer outbreaks, the C.D.C. finds. NYT. 24.9.2021. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/24/health/schools-mask-mandate-outbreaks-cdc.html?smtyp=cur&smid=fb-nytimes

Association Between K-12 School Mask Policies and School-Associated COVID-19 Outbreaks – Maricopa and Pima Counties, Arizona, June-August 2021. CDC. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). 24.9.2021. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7039e1.htm

Pediatric COVID-19 Cases in Counties With and Without School Mask Requirements — United States, July 1–September 4, 2021. CDC. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). 24.9.2021. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7039e3.htm

Pääministeri Marin oli keväällä ”aika väsynyt” mutta IS haasattelussa hänellä on kansalle vapauden viesti – korona on pian selätetty: ”Nyt sa mennä, kokea ja tehdä”. … mutta nyt hänestä [Sanna Marin] jokaisen suomalaisen on aika palata normaaliin elämään. Marinin tuoreimman arvion mukaan rajoitukset voidaan purkaa jo muutaman viikon päästä. ilta=sanomat. 24.9.2021.  https://www.is.fi/politiikka/art-2000008285520.html

Epidemia COVID-19. Aggiornamento nazionale 22 settembre 2021 – ore 12:00. ISS. 24.9.2021. https://www.epicentro.iss.it/coronavirus/bollettino/Bollettino-sorveglianza-integrata-COVID-19_22-settembre-2021.pdf

New ease of measures announced: The new rules were announced on 23 September by the Prime Minister, António Costa, at the end of the Ministers meeting in which it was decided that Portugal will enter in the third and last phase of the ease of lockdown plan approved on 29 July. Find out everything you need to know about the new measures. The Portugal News. 23.9.2021. https://www.theportugalnews.com/news/2021-09-23/new-ease-of-measures-announced/62580

SARS-CoV-2 infection causes immunodeficiency in recovered patients by downregulating CD19 expression in B cells via enhancing B-cell metabolism. Nature. 22.9.2021. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41392-021-00749-3

COVID-19 clinical trials: learning from exceptions in the research chaos. nature medicine. 22.9.2020. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-020-1077-z

Measuring the COVID-19 Mortality Burden in the United States: A Microsimulation Study (The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in 6.62 million QALYs lost (9.08 million YLLs) through 13 March 2021, with 3.6 million (54%) lost by those aged 25 to 64 years. The greatest toll was on Black and Hispanic communities, especially among men aged 65 years or older, who lost 1138 and 1371 QALYs, respectively, per 10 000 persons. Absent the pandemic, 38% of decedents would have had average or above-average life expectancies for their subgroup defined by age, sex, and race/ethnicity.). Annals of Internal Medicine. 21.9.2021. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/full/10.7326/M21-2239

New Zealand growth in Q2 2021 confirms the Zero-Covid strategy outperforms the mitigation strategy of the G10 countries: 44 times less deaths, pre-crisis GDP exceeded, mobility and daily freedoms better preserved. Institut Economique Molinari. 21.9.2021.  https://www.institutmolinari.org/2021/09/21/new-zealand-growth-in-q2-2021-confirms-the-zero-covid-strategy-outperforms-the-mitigation-strategy-of-the-g10-countries-44-times-less-deaths-pre-crisis-gdp-exceeded-mobility-and-daily-freedoms-bett/

 

September 21-30

Coronaviruses with a SARS-CoV-2-like receptor-binding domain allowing ACE2-mediated entry into human cells isolated from bats of Indochinese peninsula. ResearchSquare. 17.9.2021. https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-871965/v1

Cognitive and Psychological Sequelae of COVID-19: Age Differences in Facing the Pandemic. Frontiers in Psychiatry. 16.9.2021. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.711461/full

Muistio paljastaa: Näin THL ja STM kävivät kiistaa Suomen hybridi­strategiasta. THL toi muistiossa esille huolensa siitä, onko STM arvioinut muuttuneessa tilanteessa riittävästi erilaisten rajoitustoimien oikeasuhtaisuutta ja välttämättömyyttä. Ilta=Sanomat. 16.9.2021. https://www.is.fi/politiikka/art-2000008267749.html

A clinical case definition of post COVID-19 condition by a Delphi consensus. WHO 6.10.2021. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-2019-nCoV-Post_COVID-19_condition-Clinical_case_definition-2021.1

The antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 infection persists over at least 8 months in symptomatic patients (Here we show in individuals positive for IgG (≥12 AU/mL) at the beginning of the study an increase [p = 0.0002] in antibody response in paucisymptomatic or symptomatic subjects, particularly with loss of taste or smell (anosmia/dysgeusia: OR 2.75, 95% CI 1.753 – 4.301), in a multivariate logistic regression analysis in the first three months. The antibody response persists for at least 8–10 months.). Comunications Medicine. 17.9.2021. https://www.nature.com/articles/s43856-021-00032-0

Post-COVID Conditions. CDC.16.9.2021. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/long-term-effects/index.html

Resurgence of Ebola virus in 2021 in Guinea suggests a new paradigm for outbreaks (The resurgence of Zaire ebolavirus from humans five years after the end of the previous outbreak of Ebola virus disease reinforces the need for long-term medical and social care for patients who survive the disease, to reduce the risk of re-emergence and to prevent further stigmatization.). nature. 15.9.2021. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34526718/

EXCLUSIVE WHO-backed vaccine hub for Africa to copy Moderna COVID-19 shot. Reuters. 15.9.2021. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/exclusive-who-backed-vaccine-hub-africa-copy-moderna-covid-19-shot-2021-09-14/

Social network-based cohorting to reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in secondary schools: A simulation study in classrooms of four European countries (We find that cohorting reduces the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in classrooms. Relative to random cohorting, network-based strategies further reduce infections and quarantines when transmission dynamics are strong. In particular, network-based cohorting inhibits superspreading in classrooms. Cohorting that explicitly minimizes cross-cohort contacts is most effective, but approximation based on chained nominations and classroom division by gender also outperform random cohorting. Every-second-week instruction in-person contains outbreaks more effectively than daily in-person instruction of both cohorts.). Lancet Regional Health – Europe. September 2021. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666776221001435?via%3Dihub

Successful control of COVID-19 outbreak through tracing, testing, and isolation: Lessons learned from the outbreak control efforts made in a metropolitan city of South Korea. Journal of Infection and Public Health. nn.9.2021. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876034121001908

Why are Covid vaccine boosters needed and who in the UK will receive them?
Britain is joining nine other countries that have announced similar programmes offering an additional jab. FT. 14.9.2021. https://www.ft.com/content/cf83b3a1-fe06-4c9f-999c-7500090aee7c

11% of Israeli kids who got virus now suffer from ‘long COVID’ – study. Health Ministry survey finds 30% of those with long-term effects have cognitive, mental health issues, but cautions these can also be attributed to lockdowns, school closures, war. The Times of Israel. 14.9.2021.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/more-than-10-of-israeli-kids-who-got-virus-now-suffer-from-long-covid-study/

Model-driven mitigation measures for reopening schools during the COVID-19 pandemic (For both primary and secondary schools, the risk of an outbreak increases as cases in the surrounding community rise. One of the most effective ways to safely reopen schools is by controlling COVID-19 in the community. Surveillance should be in place to monitor levels of community transmission, and schools should be prepared to respond flexibly.
Our model suggests that, under certain parameters, it may become difficult or impossible to keep the probability of outbreaks low across the schools of an entire district. Tripwire strategies may be necessary under these circumstances.). PNAS. 13.9.2021.  https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2108909118

Covid-19 and the new merchants of doubt. How best can scientists push back against science denialist campaigns? David Gorski and Gavin Yamey suggest some evidence based strategies. BMJ. 13.9.2021. https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2021/09/13/covid-19-and-the-new-merchants-of-doubt/

Genetic emergence of B.1.617.2 in COVID-19. New Microbes and New Infections NN.9.2021. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2052297521000937

September 11-20

Kommentti: Kuka jatkossa saa hoitoa? STM:n tuleva kansliapäällikkö sanoi sen, mitä muut eivät uskalla. Kirsi Varhila ansaitsee kiitosta rohkeudestaan. Hän nosti esiin asian, joka on poliittisesti tulenarka ja siksi siitä ollaan hiljaa, kirjoittaa erikoistoimittaja Heidi Hagelin. IS. 10.9.2021. https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000006234237.html

Keskustelun koronatesteistä tulee perustua tutkimusnäyttöön
Pikatestit löytävät koronavirusta tartuttavat yksilöt paremmin kuin Suomessa on ymmärretty. Kuka tartutti kenet -strategiasta voitaisiin siirtyä tartuntojen ennaltaehkäisyyn. Lääkärilehti. 8.9.2021. https://www.laakarilehti.fi/ajassa/verkkokommentti/keskustelun-koronatesteista-tulee-perustua-tutkimusnayttoon/?

STM ja THL olivat nokat vastakkain hybridi­strategian valmistelussa – ”Tämä voidaan vielä sössiä moneen kertaan”. (Valmistelua kuvaillaan IS:lle hallituslähteistä kiireiseksi ja keskeneräiseksi. Vielä viime tiistaina neuvotteluista puuttui materiaalia kymmenien sivujen edestä. STM tahtoi odottaa, että koronatartuntojen ilmaantuvuusluku laskisi huomattavasti nykyisestä, kun taas THL:n mielestä rajoitusten tulisi poistua, kun kaikki halukkaat ovat saaneet rokotteen. Pääministeri Sanna Marin on kertonut, että kun noin 80 prosenttia yli 12-vuotiaista on rokotettu kahteen kertaan, kaikista rajoituksista luovutaan. Arvioiden mukaan tällaisessa tilanteessa voitaisiin olla noin runsaan kuukauden kuluttua. Marin: 80 prosentin rajasta voi hieman joustaa). ilta=sanomat.7.9.2021. https://www.is.fi/politiikka/art-2000008243968.html

 

 

Dose-dependent COVID-19 symptoms. (COVID-19 presentation varies widely between individuals, ranging from asymptomatic to life-threatening infection. Several host and viral factors have been shown to influence disease penetrance and severity. In addition, the infectious dose has also been speculated to have a role. Dabisch et al. show in a SARS-CoV-2 challenge study of 16 cynomolgus macaques that the infectious dose indeed influences symptom development and seroconversion. They used aerosolized virus at different concentrations and found that low doses could lead to seroconversion and virus replication in the respiratory tract without symptom development, such as fever, whereas higher doses produced fever, which suggest that low infectious doses might be associated with asymptomatic infection.) nature reviews microbiology. 7.9.2021. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41579-021-00634-4

Unmasking the mask studies: why the effectiveness of surgical masks in preventing respiratory infections has been underestimated [(1) masks protect against respiratory infections and (2) non-linear effects must be taken into account]. J Travel Med. 6.9.2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8499874/

Toimintasuunnitelma COVID-19 -epidemian hillinnän hybridistrategian toteuttamiseksi 2021-22. Luonnos 6.9.2021. VNK. https://vnk.fi/documents/10616/25232448/Hybridistrategian+toimintasuunnitelma+4.0.+luonnos+6.9.2021.pdf/446884d4-13d4-68c4-fa25-9b684940aa04/Hybridistrategian+toimintasuunnitelma+4.0.+luonnos+6.9.2021.pdf?t=1630944929454

HS muuttaa koronauutisoinnin painopisteen pois tartuntamääristä kohti elämää koronan kanssa
”Ylhäältä annetun luvan sijasta jokaisen pitää itse päättää, että nyt on turvallista elää enemmän. Korona loppuu siinä vaiheessa, kun kukin meistä itse päättää lakata pelkäämästä”, kirjoittaa HS:n toimituspäällikkö Esa Mäkinen.. Helsingin sanomat. 6.9.2021. https://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000008243137.html

THL:n Salminen: Pandemian loppusuora häämöttää – paluuta koviin rajoituksiin tuskin tullaan näkemään. THL:n Mika Salmisen mukaan rokotekattavuus on nyt tärkein epidemiatilanteesta kertova mittari, ja päivittäisten koronalukujen raportoinnista voitaisiin jo luopua. Paluu normaaliin häämöttää jo, sillä ensi viikolla Suomeen on tullut riittävästi rokotteita 80 prosentin rokotekattavuuden saavuttamiseksi. YLE. 5.9.2021.  https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12085688

THL- Mika Salminen Ylelle: Meidän ei hirveästi tarvitse huolehtia koronapandemiasta täällä Suomessa enää (Salmisen mukaan rokotekattavuus on jo pian niin korkea, että Suomessa voidaan palata ”aika normaaliin”. – Käyttäisin tässä ehkä urheiluvertausta. Olemme varmaan lähteneet viimeiselle kierrokselle ja takasuoralla ehkä jopa ollaan jo. Käytännössä olemme niin lähellä hyvää rokotekattavuuta, että meidän ei hirveästi tarvitse enää huolehtia pandemiasta täällä kotimaassa. – Ihan kuukauden parin sisällä meillä rokotekattavuus on sillä mallilla, että voidaan varmasti palata aika normaaliin.). MTV-Uutiset. 4.9.2021. https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/thl-salminen-ylelle-meidan-ei-hirveasti-tarvitse-huolehtia-koronapandemiasta-taalla-suomessa-enaa/8227238#gs.j3e0no

Total Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies Measured 6 Months After Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccination in Healthcare Workers.  SSRN. 3.9.2021. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3915349

Downsides of face masks and possible mitigation strategies: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open. 2.9.2022. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/2/e044364.info

On the effect of COVID-19 pandemic in the excess of human mortality. The case of Brazil and Spain. PLOS One. 2.9.2021. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0255909

Has Covid ended the neoliberal era? The year 2020 exposed the risks and weaknesses of the market-driven global system like never before. It’s hard to avoid the sense that a turning point has been reached. Guardian. 2.9.2021. https://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/sep/02/covid-and-the-crisis-of-neoliberalism

Risk factors and disease profile of post-vaccination SARS-CoV-2 infection in UK users of the COVID Symptom Study app: a prospective, community-based, nested, case-control study. @IanRicksecker … finding contradicts the findings from the UK Zoe app study, which found that “the odds of having symptoms for 28 days or more after post-vaccination infection were approximately halved by having two vaccine doses.” LANCET Infectious Diseases. 1.9.2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(21)00460-6

September 1-10

Airborne transmission of respiratory viruses. Science . 27.8.2021. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abd9149

SARS-CoV-2 infection of the central nervous system in a 14-month-old child: A case report of a complete autopsy. @IanRicksecker, An autopsy of a 14-month-old at Brazil’s Federal University of Rio de Janeiro found that “The brain exhibited severe atrophy and neuronal loss.” Lancet Regional Health Americas. 27.8.2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lana.2021.100046

Mitigating COVID-19 outbreaks in workplaces and schools by hybrid telecommuting (In this paper, we simulate SARS-CoV-2 transmission and assess the epidemiological impact of various telecommuting strategies. Our study goes beyond previous work by modeling the fine-grained spreading effects of Sars-Cov2, using real-world contact networks at a workplace, a primary school and a high school. To summarize, our results highlight that (1) when is moderately high, all the hybrid telecommuting strategies considered reduce it to less than 1, and the choice between them should primarily be done on the basis of practical considerations. (2) To help prevent dissemination of the disease, it is preferable to alternate over longer periods (weekly rather than daily), but the difference is so slight that practical, psychological, and other considerations should determine the alternation time. In future work, it might be interesting to incorporate the real-life networks as blocks within larger synthetic networks for simulations at larger scales of society.). PLOS Computational Biology. 26.8.2021. https://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009264

IL-TV SENSUROIMATON PÄIVÄRINTA: Suojateho hiipuu – kolmas rokoteannos Suomeenkin? THL:n ylilääkäri: ”Siltä se valitettavasti näyttää” (Sensuroimattomassa Päivärinnassa nähdään vieraana THL:n ylilääkäri ja rokotevastaava Hanna Nohynek.          P. Voitaisiinko tehdä samalla tavalla kuin Britit ja avata yhteiskunta?” N. ”Ei ihan vielä… Lokakuun loppuun mennessä kaikki jotka ovat halunneet kaksi annosta ovat sen saaneet – paitsi alle 12 v.” ”Ei ole vielä riittävästi näyttöä siitä kuinka luonnon uudelleen kohtaaminen, kuinka hyvän lisäsuojan se antaisi” ”tulevaisuudessa me saadaan joko luonnon tehostamista tai sitten me saadaan jonkinlainen uusi räätälöity rokote”). Iltalehti. 25.8.2021. https://www.iltalehti.fi/iltv-paivarinta/a/93860fde-ff1b-45eb-a900-68b470c17c1d

When it comes to staff safety during the pandemic, the buck stops with chief executives. One of the main preventive roles of occupational health experts in the pandemic is, or should have been, to advise and support managers/employers in risk management and control both as regards compliance with legal duties on health and safety. HSJ Wilmington Healthcare. 24.8.2021. https://www.hsj.co.uk/policy-and-regulation/when-it-comes-to-staff-safety-during-the-pandemic-the-buck-stops-with-chief-executives/7030773.article

Using test positivity and reported case rates to estimate state-level COVID-19 prevalence and seroprevalence in the United States. PLOS Comp Biol. 23.8.2021.  https://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009374&type=printable

Seroconversion and fever are dose-dependent in a nonhuman primate model of inhalational COVID-19. PLOS Pathogens. 23.8.2021.  https://journals.plos.org/plospathogens/article?id=10.1371/journal.ppat.1009865

A microscopic video shows the coronavirus on the rampage. @IanRicksecker, And, yes, syncytia formation can happen in neurons. For our visual learners, here is video of syncytia and apoptosis (cell death) in a (bat) brain: NYT. 22.8.2021. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/22/science/microscopic-bat-brain-virus.html?smid=tw-nytimes&smtyp=cur

Persistent clotting protein pathology in Long COVID/Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) is accompanied by increased levels of antiplasmin. Cardiovascular Diabetology. 23.8.2021. https://cardiab.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12933-021-01359-7

COVID-19-associated hyperinflammation and escalation of patient care: a retrospective longitudinal cohort study. Lancet. 21.8.2021 https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanrhe/article/PIIS2665-9913(20)30275-7/fulltext

Intelligence Review Yields No Firm Conclusion on Origins of Coronavirus. Declassified portions of a report presented to President Biden revealed divisions among federal agencies over whether the virus came from a lab leak or emerged more naturally. NYTimes. 21.08.2021. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/27/us/politics/covid-origin-lab-leak.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

August 21 – 31

Protective Effects of Astodrimer Sodium 1% Nasal Spray Formulation against SARS-CoV-2 Nasal Challenge in K18-hACE2 Mice (Viraleze nasal spray against COVID and other virus infections). MDPI. 20.8.2021. https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/13/8/1656

Perspective. The Covid-19 Infodemic — Applying the Epidemiologic Model to Counter Misinformation. NEJM. 19.8.2021. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2103798

Similar patterns of [18F]-FDG brain PET hypometabolism in paediatric and adult patients with long COVID: a paediatric case series. European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging. 19.8.2021. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00259-021-05528-4

Brain imaging before and after COVID-19 in UK Biobank. @IanRicksecker, The UK Biobank COVID-19 re-imaging study compared before and after images of “mild” cases, and found “pronounced reduction in grey matter” and an “increase of diffusion indices, a marker of tissue damage” in specific regions of the brain. medRxiv. 18.8.2021. https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.06.11.21258690

Japan extends COVID-19 emergency lockdown as cases surge. Reuters. 18.8.2021. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/japan-set-extend-covid-19-state-emergency-lockdown-sept-12-2021-08-17/

Long-term Symptoms After SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Children and Adolescents. JAMA Network. 15.8.2021. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2782164

Pre-pandemic cognitive function and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy: cohort study. Brain Behaviour Immunity. NN.8.2021. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0889159121001975

How COVID-19 vaccine supply chains emerged in the midst of a pandemic. PIIE. nn.8.2021. https://www.piie.com/publications/working-papers/how-covid-19-vaccine-supply-chains-emerged-midst-pandemic?

Infectious SARS-CoV-2 in Exhaled Aerosols and Efficacy of Masks During Early Mild Infection. medRxiv. 13.8.2021. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.08.13.21261989v1.full.pdf

The Vaccine Scientist Spreading Vaccine Misinformation. Robert Malone claims to have invented mRNA technology. Why is he trying so hard to undermine its use? Atlantic. 12.8.2021. https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2021/08/robert-malone-vaccine-inventor-vaccine-skeptic/619734/

Effectiveness of Covid-19 Vaccines against the B.1.617.2 (Delta) Variant. NEJM. 12.8.2021. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2108891

A molecular test based on RT-LAMP for rapid, sensitive and inexpensive colorimetric detection of SARS-CoV-2 in clinical samples. Scientific Reports. 12.8.2021. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-95799-6

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Early Child Cognitive Development: Initial Findings in a Longitudinal Observational Study of Child Healt. medRxiv. 11.8.2021. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.08.10.21261846v1.full.pdf

Persistent Exertional Intolerance After COVID-19. Insights From Invasive Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing. @IanRicksecker These patients are struggling with real physical issues. This Yale study demonstrated reduced aerobic capacity, oxygen extraction. and ventilatory efficiency in “mild” COVID patients even after recovery from their acute infection. CHEST Journal. 10.8.2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chest.2021.08.010

August 11 – 20

We Studied One Million Students. This Is What We Learned About Masking. New York Times. 10.8.2021. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/10/opinion/covid-schools-masks.html

Moderna may be superior to Pfizer against Delta; breakthrough odds rise with time. Reuters. 9.8.2021. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/moderna-may-be-superior-pfizer-against-delta-breakthrough-odds-rise-with-time-2021-08-09/

More than 50 long-term effects of COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Scientific Reports. 9.8.2021. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-95565-8

KOTIMAA: Laumasuojateoria romahti, Suomessa suhde maskeihin mullistui yhdessä kesässä – näin tieto koronasta on muuttunut . Kiinan Wuhanista vuoden 2019 lopulla levinneeseen virukseen on liitetty useita harhaluuloja. Ilta=sanomat. 8.8.2021. https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000008179086.html

Viral infection and transmission in a large well-traced outbreak caused by the Delta SARS-CoV-2 variant. 7.8.2021. https://virological.org/t/viral-infection-and-transmission-in-a-large-well-traced-outbreak-caused-by-the-delta-sars-cov-2-variant/724

Pediatricians plead with FDA to move quickly on Covid vaccine for kids
”The delta variant has created a new and pressing risk to children and adolescents across this country,” president of the leading pediatricians group wrote. NBC News. 7.8.2021. https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/pediatricians-plead-fda-move-quickly-covid-vaccine-kids-n1276191

The Pandemic Will End The Only Way It Can — The Hard Way. We still haven’t learned. Medium. 7.8.2021. https://jessicalexicus.medium.com/the-pandemic-will-end-the-only-way-it-can-the-hard-way-9770f003da9

Viral Load of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Respiratory Aerosols Emitted by Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) While Breathing, Talking, and Singing. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 6.8.2021. https://academic.oup.com/cid/advance-article/doi/10.1093/cid/ciab691/6343417

Worauf warten Sie noch? Das ausgebuchte Impfzentrum ist keine Ausrede mehr – Ihre Hausärztin müsste längst Impfstoff für Sie haben. Zehn Gründe, mit der Corona-Impfung nicht länger zu warten. Zeit OnLine. 5.8.2021.  https://www.zeit.de/gesundheit/2021-08/corona-impfung-nebenwirkungen-delta-variante-zweitimpfung-wirksam

Prevalence of ongoing symptoms following coronavirus (COVID-19) infection in the UK: 1 July 2021. ONS. 5.8.2021. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditionsanddiseases/bulletins/prevalenceofongoingsymptomsfollowingcoronaviruscovid19infectionintheuk/1july2021

Reduced neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617 by vaccine and convalescent serum. Cell. 5.8.2021. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092867421007558

Post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 in a non-hospitalized cohort: Results from the Arizona CoVHORT. @IanRicksecker The CoVHORT study, limited to non-hospitalized patients in Arizona – “mild” cases – found a 68% prevalence of 1 or more Covid symptom after 30 days, rising to 77% after 60 days. PLOS ONE. 4.8.2021.  https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0254347

Where will you need a covid passport? Proof of vaccination or recovery from infection is increasingly being demanded, not just for international travel but also within countries. Economist. 4.8.2021. https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2021/08/04/where-will-you-need-a-covid-passport

Asiantuntija penää selkeää linjaa: Mikä on ”riittävä rokotekattavuus” ja ”hyväksyttävä määrä” tartuntoja? Virustutkija Tuomas Aivelon mukaan kukaan ei tunnu tietävän, millainen rokotekattavuus olisi riittävä. Iltalehti. 4.8.2021. https://www.iltalehti.fi/koronavirus/a/098c101b-3a8d-467e-929e-5b590d0d7a13

Wuhan back in spotlight as China’s Delta variant challenge grows
China reports 328 locally transmitted cases in July — equal to previous five months’ total. AA. 3.8.2021. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/wuhan-back-in-spotlight-as-chinas-delta-variant-challenge-grows/2322769

The association of opening K–12 schools with the spread of COVID-19 in the United States: County-level panel data analysis. PNAS. 3.8.2021. https://www.pnas.org/content/118/42/e2103420118

THL:n Mika Salmisen arvio: Tällainen on Suomen uusi koronastrategia. Suomen uusi koronastrategia saattaa muistuttaa aiemmin käytössä ollutta hybridimallia, mutta luvassa on myös merkittäviä muutoksia aiempaan. Ilta=sanomat. 3.8.2021. https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000008165493.html

Lapsi­asia­valtuutettu vaatii kouluihin muutoksia koronan takia: ”Herkästi tarttuvat virus­muunnokset herättävät pelkoa”. Moitteita saa myös muun muassa lapsille ja nuorille suunnattu viestintä. Ilta=sanomat. 3.8.2021. https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000008167789.html

Kainuun sote testasi 74 ulkomaalaisen marjanpoimijan ryhmän: tartuntoja löytyi 44
Ulkomaalaisten marjanpoimijoiden ryhmässä 44 koronatartuntaa Kainuussa. Iltalehti. 3.8.2021. https://www.iltalehti.fi/kotimaa/a/93b675fe-7cf4-4274-9123-e3dbf4b51f29

SARS-CoV-2 infects human pancreatic β cells and elicits β cell impairment. Cell Metabolism (Diabetes). 3.8.2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8130512/

What is the newly found COVID-19 ’Epsilon variant’ in Pakistan? – Details inside. New Epsilon variant found in Pakistan in its fourth wave amid the surge of COVID-19 cases.DNA India. 2.8.2021. https://www.dnaindia.com/science/report-what-is-the-newly-found-covid19-epsilon-variant-in-pakistan-details-inside-covid19-new-variant-coronavirus-new-variant-epsilon-variant-pakistan-lahore-california-4th-wave-coronavirus-news-alerts-latest-updates-2903645

Text-message nudges encourage COVID vaccination. A field trial shows that text-message ‘nudges’ encourage people to get vaccinated against COVID-19. To be effective, nudge approaches such as this must combine three aspects: they must prompt, enable and motivate behaviour. Nature. 2.8.2021. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02043-2

Delta infections among vaccinated likely contagious; Lambda variant shows vaccine resistance in lab. Reuters. 2.8.2021. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/delta-infections-among-vaccinated-likely-contagious-lambda-variant-shows-vaccine-2021-08-02/

Suojaako jo yksi rokote pitkittyneeltä koronalta? Asiantuntijat vastaavat. Long covidin eli pitkittyneen koronan mahdollisuus mietityttää monia. Asiantuntijat kertovat, mitä nyt tiedetään rokotteiden tehosta sitä vastaan. Iltalehti. 2.8.2021. https://www.iltalehti.fi/terveysuutiset/a/b1367256-1f2f-4339-b722-7f45ec57ebb8

Microbiologist Elisabeth Bik queried Covid research – that’s when the abuse and trolling began. Bik’s home address was posted on Twitter and she faced a barrage of attacks after dissecting a paper endorsing hydroxychloroquine as treatment. Guardian. 2.8.2021. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/aug/03/microbiologist-elisabeth-bik-queried-covid-research-thats-when-the-abuse-and-trolling-began?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Lääkärit huolissaan koulujen alkamisen riskeistä: ”Oppivelvollisten sairastuttaminen olisi vastuutonta ja typerää”. Uusi Suomi. 1.8.2021. https://www.uusisuomi.fi/uutiset/laakarit-huolissaan-koulujen-alkamisen-riskeista-oppivelvollisten-sairastuttaminen-olisi-vastuutonta-ja-typeraa/f79f22cc-4e0e-4233-b504-e31130247c8b

Brittiasiantuntijat varoittavat: Englannin puolittuneet koronatartunnat eivät välttämättä kerro todellisesta tilanteesta – tässä syy. mtv-uutiset. 1.8.2021. https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/brittiasiantuntijat-varoittavat-englannin-puolittuneet-koronatartunnat-eivat-valttamatta-kerro-todellisesta-tilanteesta-tassa-syy/8202752

Florida, COVID-19 epicentre in the U.S., breaks record with more than 21,000 new cases.
Sunshine State accounts for about a fifth of all new coronavirus cases in the country. CBC News. 1.8.2021. https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/florida-daily-cases-covid19-1.6125757

Nyssessä ei toistaiseksi oteta maskipakkoa uudestaan käyttöön – poistettiin juuri ennen kuin tartuntatapaukset alkoivat jyrkästi nousta: ”Ajoitus ei ollut täydellinen”
Maskipakkoa ei oteta uudestaan käyttöön, koska sen teho ei olisi enää yhtä suuri kuin aiemmin. Aamulehti. 1.8.2021. https://www.aamulehti.fi/koronavirus/art-2000008164627.html

Mask Mandates Save Lives. IMF Working Paper WP/21/205 nn.8.2021https://www.elibrary.imf.org/downloadpdf/journals/001/2021/205/001.2021.issue-205-en.pdf

In Provincetown 14 friends nab covid in a show of Delta’s might. Bloomberg. 1.8.2021. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-08-01/in-provincetown-14-friends-nab-covid-in-show-of-delta-s-might

Miten Suomi päätti voittaa koronan. Adlibris. 1.8.2021. https://www.adlibris.com/fi/kirja/miten-suomi-paatti-voittaa-koronan-9789523515178

August 1-10

Miksi korona ei ryöpsähdä Afrikassa? Viisi koronamysteeriä, jotka ovat vailla vastauksia
Tartuntatautien tutkimuskeskuksen johtajan mukaan virus ei ole levinnyt odotetusti. ILtalehti. 31.7.2021. https://www.iltalehti.fi/ulkomaat/a/21ac0b79-08d7-49a1-a76b-c9879e8053fd

Porilaistaustainen erikoislääkäri Maria Juusela pitää ministereiden lähikoulupuhetta edesvastuuttomana – lapset etäkouluun ja kaikki rokotuksiin: ”Kuka ottaa vastuun, jos vanhempi kieltää lapselta koronarokotteen ja tämä sairastuu vakavasti?
Keuhkosairauksiin erikoistunut erikoislääkäri Maria Juusela varoittaa koronarokotusten viivyttelystä, sillä nuorten ja rokottamattomien osuus sairaalahoidossa kasvaa. Nuoria on jo nyt tehohoidossa ja puolet lievänkin koronan saaneista nuorista kärsii tutkimusten mukaan long covid -oireista. Satakunnan Kansa. 31.7.2021. https://www.satakunnankansa.fi/satakunta/art-2000008157559.html

Yli 20 uutta tartuntaa rippileirillä levinneestä koronaryppäästä – altistuneiden määrää lähes mahdoton arvioida. Koronavirus ehti levitä rippileirillä tehokkaasti. Lääkäri epäilee, että lähes kaikki leirille osallistuneet ovat voineet sairastua. YLE-Uutiset. 31.7.2021. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12042355

”FFP2-suojain on ainoa tapa, jolla omaa turvallisuuttaan voi parantaa” – Deltavariantti leviää helposti myös ulkona, asian­tuntija kertoo, miten se on syytä huomioida
Deltavariantti tarttuu aiempia variantteja herkemmin myös ulkotiloissa. Asiantuntija neuvoo hyödyntämään tupakansavu­sääntöä ja käyttämään maskia, jos etäisyyttä ei voi pitää. Helsingin Sanomat. 31.7.2021. https://www.hs.fi/hyvinvointi/art-2000008161774.html

Evidence of lung perfusion defects and ongoing inflammation in an adolescent with post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Lancet. 30.7.2021. https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lanchi/PIIS2352-4642(21)00196-6.pdf

CDC document warns Delta variant appears to spread as easily as chickenpox and cause more severe infection. CNN Politics. 30.7.2021. https://edition.cnn.com/2021/07/29/politics/cdc-masks-covid-19-infections/index.html

Vaccinated People May Spread the Virus, Though Rarely, C.D.C. Reports
The agency cited an outbreak in Provincetown, Mass., in which most of the infected were immunized. An internal C.D.C. document paints an even more harrowing picture. New York Times. 30.7.2021. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/30/health/cdc-vaccinated-delta.html

FFP3 masks: study shows they significantly reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection. Royal College of Nursing. 29.7.2021. https://www.rcn.org.uk/news-and-events/news/uk-ffp3-masks-study-shows-they-significantly-reduce-the-risk-of-covid-19-infection-290621

COVID-19 ASSOCIATED WITH LONG-TERM COGNITIVE DYSFUNCTION, ACCELERATION OF ALZHEIMER’S SYMPTOMS. AAIC 21. 29.7.2021. https://www.alz.org/aaic/downloads2021/COVID-19_and_Long-Term_Cognitive_Dysfunction.pdf

Covid-19 linked to cognitive decline, acceleration of Alzheimer’s-like symptoms, research finds. CNN Heakth. 29.7.2021. https://edition.cnn.com/2021/07/29/health/covid-cognitive-decline-alzheimers/index.html

An outbreak caused by the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant (B.1.617.2) in a secondary care hospital in Finland, May 2021. Eurosurveilance. 29.7.2021. https://www.eurosurveillance.org/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2021.26.30.2100636

A look into the future of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe: an expert consultation. Lancet Regional Health for Europe. 29.7.2021. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanepe/article/PIIS2666-7762(21)00162-9/fulltext

New study finds COVID-19 can cause changes in brain that mimic Alzheimer’s disease. FOX9. 29.7.2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210730041354/https://www.fox9.com/news/new-study-finds-covid-19-can-cause-changes-in-brain-that-mimics-alzheimers-disease

Was there a COVID-19 harvesting effect in Northern Italy? in: Associazione iitaliana di scienze regionali 61/2021 Regions between challenges and unexpected opportunities. 28.7.2021. https://series.francoangeli.it/index.php/oa/catalog/book/700 [https://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/2103/2103.01812.pdf]

SARS-CoV-2 Lambda variant exhibits higher infectivity and immune resistance. bioRxiv. 28.7.2021. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.07.28.454085v1

Israeli hospitals reopen their coronavirus wards as serious cases mount
Number of serious patients reaches 153, having more than doubled in a week, Health Ministry data shows. The Times of Israel. 28.7.2021. https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-hospitals-reopen-their-coronavirus-wards-as-serious-cases-mount/

Texas doctor warns COVID-19 cases are rising among children. Some are on ventilators. The Hill. 28.7.2021. https://thehill.com/changing-america/well-being/longevity/565323-texas-doctor-warns-covid-cases-are-rising-among

Hoitoalalla työskentelevä nainen järkyttyi Tikkurila Festivaalilla – Turvaväleistä ei puhettakaan, maskeja ei yleisössä kellään. Vantaan Sanomat. 27.7.2021. https://www.vantaansanomat.fi/paikalliset/4235633

COVID-19 false dichotomies and a comprehensive review of the evidence regarding public health, COVID-19 symptomatology, SARS-CoV-2 transmission, mask wearing, and reinfection. @IanRicksecker It’s even good for the economy: ”Globally, economic contraction and growth closely mirror increases and decreases in COVID-19 cases… Public health strategies that reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission also safeguard the economy.” BMC Infectious Diseases. 27.7.2021. https://bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12879-021-06357-4

COVID-19-infektioon liittyvä lasten hyperinflammatorinen oireyhtymä. Duodecim. 27.7.2021. https://www.duodecimlehti.fi/duo15880

UPDATE week to 26-July. Childhood COVID, England. @jneill. 26.7.2021. https://twitter.com/jneill/status/1419697733632471047?s=12

Long COVID cases among children and pediatric death toll rise globally. World Socialist Web Site. 26.7.2021. https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2021/07/27/long-j27.html

Biden says ’long COVID’ patients could qualify for having disability. UPI. 26.10.2021. https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2021/07/26/bs-us-long-covid-disability-biden/1031627316110/

Doctors Worry That Memory Problems After COVID-19 May Set The Stage For Alzheimer’s. NPR. 26.7.2021. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/07/26/1019875347/doctors-worry-that-memory-problems-after-covid-19-may-set-stage-for-alzheimers?t=1644221638372

Guidance on “Long COVID” as a Disability Under the ADA, Section 504, and Section 1557. U.S.Dept Health and Human Services. 26.7.2022. https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-providers/civil-rights-covid19/guidance-long-covid-disability/index.html

COVID-19 linked to ’substantial’ drop in intelligence, new research finds
People who had been hospitalised and put on a ventilator saw the biggest deficit in the Great British Intelligence Test – equivalent to a seven-point drop in IQ. Sky news. (Long COVID)  26.7.2021. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-linked-to-substantial-drop-in-intelligence-new-research-finds-12364433

The mystery of COVID-19 reinfections: A global systematic review and meta-analysis of 577 cases. medRxiv. 25.7.2021. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.07.22.21260972v2.full.pdf

FFP3 respirators protect healthcare workers against infection with SARS-CoV-2. (FFP3). Cambridge University, preprint. 24.7.2021. https://d197for5662m48.cloudfront.net/documents/publicationstatus/65473/preprint_pdf/9e9bb2c8f19846635e5cf9729930bad4.pdf

‘World Health Organisation Doomed the World by Concealing Evidence of Airborne COVID Transmission’. (A former senior advisor to the SARS Commission believes there should be an investigation into how responses to the Coronavirus pandemic were based on an outmoded theory, leading to the deaths of healthcare workers. / Mario Possamai – who from 2003 to 2007 served as as a senior advisor to The SARS Commission, established to investigate the 2003 outbreak in Ontario, Canada – described his shock and frustration at the WHO’s failure to address the airborne nature of COVID-19 and how this, in turn, set up governments around the world to fail in their pandemic response strategies. / This failure has been responsible for the lack of proper protections for healthcare workers around the world, leading to at least 17,000 worker deaths over the past year overall – though almost none in Asia.) Byline Times. 23.7.2021. https://bylinetimes.com/2021/07/23/world-health-organisation-doomed-the-world-by-concealing-evidence-of-airborne-covid-transmission/

The Current COVID-19 Surge, Eugenics, and Health-Based Discrimination (Rather, we are a society riddled with healthism — discrimination based on health status — and eugenics — a pseudo-science that arbitrarily elevates some human traits over others, much as we do with breeding dogs and horses.) Harvard Law Petrie Plom Center 23.7.2021. https://blog.petrieflom.law.harvard.edu/2021/07/23/covid-eugenics-health-based-discrimination/

Falling off the cliff: Mythical sacrifice mirrored in Sweden’s COVID-19 response. AAGE. 23.7.2021. http://anthropologyandgerontology.com/falling-off-the-cliff-mythical-sacrifice-mirrored-in-swedens-covid-19-response/

SARS-COV-2 Delta variant now dominant in much of the European Region and efforts must be reinforced to prevent transmission, warn WHO/Europe and ECDC. ECDC. 23.7.2021. https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/news-events/sars-cov-2-delta-variant-now-dominant-european-region

Cognitive deficits in people who have recovered from COVID-19. @IanRicksecker, That seems to explain why there is evidence of persistent cognitive deficits in people who have recovered from SARS-CoV2 infection in Great Britain. EClinicakMedicine. 22.7.2021.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2021.101044

Short Report on Long COVID. This report is provided at the request of SAGE and includes information from ongoing studies investigating long COVID including the COVID-19 Longitudinal Health and Wellbeing National Core. Study-CONVALESCENCE Study, REACT-2, PHOSP-COVID, ONS’s COVID-19 Infection Survey (CIS) and the COVID Symptom Study App. ONS. 22.7.2021. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1007511/S1327_Short_Long_COVID_report.pdf

Hospital length of stay for COVID-19 patients: Data-driven methods for forward planning. BMC Infectious Diseases. 22.7.2022. https://bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12879-021-06371-6

We’re Zeroing In On the ‘Holy Grail’ of COVID-19 Immunity. There’s no good way of measuring whether your vaccine worked—yet. Atlantic. 21.7.2021.  https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2021/07/correlates-of-protection-vaccine-immunity/619508/

CDC 2019-Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Real-Time RT-PCR Diagnostic Panel For Emergency Use Only:Instructions for Use. 21.7.2021. https://www.fda.gov/media/134922/download

Cognitive deficits in people who have recovered from COVID-19. Lancet. 21.7.2021. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(21)00324-2/fulltext

July 21 – 31

COVID-19 Transmission during Transportation of 1st to 12th Grade Students: Experience of an Independent School in Virginia (A total of 39 individuals were present on buses during their COVID-19 infectious period, which resulted in the quarantine of 52 students. Universal testing and contact tracing revealed no transmission linked to bus transportation. This study demonstrates a model for the safe operation of school buses while near capacity. COVID-19 transmission can be low during student transport when employing mitigation including simple ventilation, and universal masking, at minimal physical distances and during the highest community transmission.). Journal of School Health. 20.7.2021. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/josh.13058

 

Covid: ’Beware Of Epsilon Variant, Risk Of Infection Even For Immunised People’. Epsilon variant of Covid: only two cases, in Italy, already isolated. Emergency LIVE. 19.7.2021. https://www.emergency-live.com/news/covid-beware-of-epsilon-variant-risk-of-infection-even-for-immunised-people/

’Acute Covid’ spreading in young people can ’rip through their organs’, expert warns
Professor Calum Semple has warned that while they may not be at risk of death, young people could be ”damaged” by the devastating effects of acute Covid on their organs. Mirror. 15.7.2021. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/acute-covid-spreading-young-people-24539633?

Beyond the new normal: Assessing the feasibility of vaccine-based suppression of SARS-CoV-2 (Our modeling points to the feasibility of complete SARS-CoV-2 suppression with high population-level compliance and vaccines that are highly effective at reducing SARS-CoV-2 infection. Notably, vaccine-mediated reduction of transmission is critical for viral suppression, and in order for partially-effective vaccines to play a positive role in SARS-CoV-2 suppression, complementary biomedical interventions and public health measures must be deployed simultaneously.). PLOS ONE. 16.7.2021. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0254734

Air pollution, racial disparities, and COVID-19 mortality. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. NN.7.2021. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0091674920306321

Assessing school-based policy actions for COVID-19: An agent-based analysis of incremental infection risk (The information provided in this work could provide school and university administrators with information that will allow them to tradeoff the benefit of infection risk reduction with the cost of implementation and hence identify the best portfolio of interventions for their specific setting. In addition, the proposed model has applicability in other settings including policies to reduce the spread of tuberculosis in clinics in resource constrained countries that do not have the resources to effectively isolate infected patients, and the spread of other infectious disease outbreaks in closed settings such as measles.).  Computers in Biology and Medicine. July 2021. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0010482521003127?via%3Dihub

Presence of SARS-CoV-2 Aerosol in Residences of Adults with COVID-19. Annals of American Thoracic Society. nn.7.2021. https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/full/10.1513/AnnalsATS.202107-847RL

Kaikkien koronatartuntojen estäminen rajoituksilla on mahdotonta, sanoo THL:n Hanna Nohynek: ”Olemme kohta kuin Pohjois-Koreassa”
Emeritusprofessori Matti Jantunen on toista mieltä: hänestä rajoitusten purku olisi kuin sallisi humalassa ajamisen. Yhteiskunnan avaamisen aikataulu on arvokysymys. Suomen Kuvalehti. 14.7.2021. https://suomenkuvalehti.fi/kotimaa/kaikkien-koronatartuntojen-estaminen-rajoituksilla-on-mahdotonta-sanoo-thln-hanna-nohynek-olemme-kohta-kuin-pohjois-koreassa/

Lloyds pulls nasal spray over ’bold’ Covid claims (LloydsPharmacy has ”paused” sales of a £15 nasal spray that claims to neutralise the coronavirus before it can make people ill, as concerns are raised about the ”bold” nature of these claims. Starpharma claims its product Viraleze, which contains astodrimer sodium and was stocked exclusively in LloydsPharmacy stores from late March, can ”irreversibly inactivate” almost 100 per cent of SARS-CoV-2 within one minute.). Pharmacy Magazine. 13.7.2021. https://www.pharmacymagazine.co.uk/latest/lloyds-pauses-sale-of-nasal-spray-over-bold-covid-claims

THL:n Salminen: ”Elämä palaa vanhoille raiteille” – lohduttava viesti suomalaisille
THL:n johtaja Mika Salmisen mukaan edessämme on paluu aivan normaaliin arkeemme, ei uuteen normaaliin. TERVEYS. 12.7.2021. https://www.iltalehti.fi/terveysuutiset/a/6e433208-821b-4dbc-b25a-6c9b1e4f0b02

A Molecular Basis of Long COVID-19. Cell. 12.7.2021. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3885245

OpenABM-Covid19—An agent-based model for non-pharmaceutical interventions against COVID-19 including contact tracing. PLOS. 12.7.2021. https://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009146

Coronavirus: Hong Kong study shows significant percentage of recovered patients struggle with memory loss, depression.  South China Morning Post. 12.7.2021. https://sg.news.yahoo.com/coronavirus-hong-kong-study-shows-113844553.html?guccounter=1

July 11-20

NIH study associates COVID-19 surges with mortality increases for patients (Long COVID). NIH. 8.7.2021. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-study-associates-covid-19-surges-mortality-increases-patients

Warning of serious brain disorders in people with mild coronavirus symptoms. UK neurologists publish details of mildly affected or recovering Covid-19 patients with serious or potentially fatal brain conditions. Guardian. 8.7.2020. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/08/warning-of-serious-brain-disorders-in-people-with-mild-covid-symptoms

Barnombudsmannen publicerar rapport (De barn som har blivit inskrivna på någon av de kliniker som öppnat för barn med långtidssymptom efter covid-19 beskriver en stor skillnad i upplevelse och bemötande. Att känna sig trodd och tagen på allvar ger barnen både trygghet och hopp i att det finns vuxna som lyssnar och är intresserade av att de ska få behandling och bli friska. Just upplevelsen av vården är det som många av barnen återkommer till. Många uttrycker förståelse för att det är nytt och svårt, men känslan av att vara misstrodd är något som många av de barn vi träffat har upplevt som enormt påfrestande.). Svenska Covidföreningen.  9.7.2021.  https://covidforeningen.se/covid-19-pandemins-konsekvenser-for-barn/

A Tsunami of Disability Is Coming as a Result of ‘Long COVID’
We need to plan for a future where millions of survivors are chronically ill. Scientific American. 6.7.2021. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-tsunami-of-disability-is-coming-as-a-result-of-lsquo-long-covid-rsquo/

7-1-7: an organising principle, target, and accountability metric to make the world safer from pandemics. Lancet. 6.7.2021. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01250-2/fulltext

COVID and the brain: researchers zero in on how damage occurs. Growing evidence suggests that the coronavirus causes ‘brain fog’ and other neurological symptoms through multiple mechanisms.  @IanRicksecker, If you’re interested in further understanding the host of neurological symptoms and the mechanisms underlying them, this Nature article is an excellent primer: Nature. 7.7.2021. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01693-6

A Tsunami of Disability Is Coming as a Result of ‘Long COVID’. We need to plan for a future where millions of survivors are chronically ill. @IanRicksecker, Since our vaccines don’t stop transmission, and don’t appear to stop long-term illness, a “vaccination only” strategy is not going to be sufficient to prevent mass disability. This isn’t something we want to expose our kids to. Scientific American. 6.7.2021. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-tsunami-of-disability-is-coming-as-a-result-of-lsquo-long-covid-rsquo/

Testicular pathology in fatal COVID-19: A descriptive autopsy study. @IanRicksecker, The brain isn’t the only organ affected: Testicular pathology has found evidence of “SARS-Cov-2 antigen in Leydig cells, Sertoli cells, spermatogonia, and fibroblasts” in post-morten examination. Andrology. 1.7.2021.  https://doi.org/10.1111/andr.13073

July 1-10

COVID-19 and Human Rights. Routleg. 30.6.2021. https://www.routledge.com/COVID-19-and-Human-Rights/Kjaerum-Davis-Lyons/p/book/9780367688035#

A New Covid-19 Myth? A correspondent suggested I should have known that the pandemic was over months ago. That’s obviously a myth. But where did that idea come from (…I mentioned that bad news along with this good news: “Pandemic death rates are declining. On June 13, there were 105 new deaths confirmed in the U.S. compared to 6,000 deaths per day a year ago.” In response, I got a surprising email saying the pandemic has been over for months, and suggesting I would have known that had my MD degree not been “from Walgreen’s U”. I was flabbergasted….)? Science Based Medicine. https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/a-new-covid-19-myth/

FFP3 masks: study shows they significantly reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection. Royal College of Nursing. 29.6.2021. https://www.rcn.org.uk/news-and-events/news/uk-ffp3-masks-study-shows-they-significantly-reduce-the-risk-of-covid-19-infection-290621

Covid: Masks upgrade cuts infection risk, research finds (The quality of face masks healthcare workers wear makes a huge difference to their risk of coronavirus infection, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust research has found. Wearing a high grade mask known as an FFP3 can provide up to 100% protection. By contrast, there is a far greater chance of staff wearing standard issue surgical masks catching the virus.). BBC News. 29.6.2021. https://www.bbc.com/news/health-57636360

Ivermectin for the Treatment of Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. IDSA 28.6.2021.  https://academic.oup.com/cid/advance-article/doi/10.1093/cid/ciab591/6310839

Physical distancing, face masks, and eye protection to prevent person-to-person transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis [N95 > MMask > distancing (1+m) > eye protect]. Lancet. 27.6.2020. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673620311429

Hybrid immunity: COVID-19 vaccine responses provide insights into how the immune system perceives threats. Science. 25.6.2021. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abj2258

Using mixed-effects modeling to estimate decay kinetics of response to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Antibody Therapeutics. 25.6.2021. https://academic.oup.com/abt/article/4/3/144/6309336?login=false

THE STUDY OF CO2 CONCENTRATION IN A CLASSROOM DURING THE COVID-19 SAFETY MEASURES. Cold Climate HVAC & Energy 2021. 24.6.2021. https://www.e3s-conferences.org/articles/e3sconf/pdf/2021/22/e3sconf_hvac2021_01004.pdf

Long COVID in a prospective cohort of home-isolated patients. @IanRicksecker Despite a different definition of “symptoms”, the Bergen study in Norway found that 61% of patients had symptoms after six months, including 52% of patients aged 16-30 years who had not been hospitalized. Nature Medicine. 23.6.2021. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-021-01433-3

Dysregulation of brain and choroid plexus cell types in severe COVID-19. @IanRicksecker A joint study by Stanford and Germany’s Saarland University found inflammation in the brain, and “show[ed] that peripheral T cells infiltrate the parenchyma.” Nature. 21.6.2021. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03710-0

Longitudinal Assessment of Diagnostic Test Performance Over the Course of Acute SARS-CoV-2 Infection. IDSA. 20.6.2021. https://academic.oup.com/jid/article/224/6/976/6311835

Long COVID: cognitive complaints (brain fog) and dysfunction of the cingulate cortex. Journal of Neurology. 18.6.2021. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00415-021-10655-x

Low In-School COVID-19 Transmission and Asymptomatic Infection Despite High Community Prevalence (Universal masking was required for all ages of students and faculty/staff and is a key component in the mitigation of COVID-19 spread.11,17 The only in-school transmission in our study was among a cluster in prekindergarten, which was traced to poor adherence with masking. In response to this early cluster of cases, the school converted to virtual learning for 2 weeks and enforced strict masking on return. No further in-school transmission was detected, including among the youngest children. School outbreaks in Israel and North Carolina similarly have been attributed to an absence of face coverings). Journal of Pediatrics. 15.6.2021. https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(21)00532-1/fulltext

Why are women more prone to long Covid? While men over 50 tend to suffer the most acute symptoms of coronavirus, women who get long Covid outnumber men by as much as four to one. Guardian. 13.6.2021. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/jun/13/why-are-women-more-prone-to-long-covid

Breathing, speaking, coughing or sneezing: What drives transmission of SARS-CoV-2? Journal of Internal Medicine. 8.6.2021. https://doi.org/10.1111/joim.13335

Evidence for Biological Age Acceleration and Telomere Shortening in COVID-19 Survivors (The results show a consistent biological age increase in the post-COVID-19 population, determining a DeltaAge acceleration of 10.45 ± 7.29 years (+5.25 years above the range of normality) compared with 3.68 ± 8.17 years for the COVID-19-free population (p < 0.0001). A significant telomere shortening parallels this finding in the post-COVID-19 cohort compared with COVID-19-free subjects (p < 0.0001). Additionally, ACE2 expression was decreased in post-COVID-19 patients, compared with the COVID-19-free population, while DPP-4 did not change. In light of these observations, we hypothesize that some epigenetic alterations are associated with the post-COVID-19 condition, particularly in younger patients (< 60 years).). Int J Mol Sci. 7.6.2021.  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8201243/

Probable airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in a poorly ventilated restaurant. Building and Environment.  June 2021. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360132321001955?via%3Dihub

Household COVID-19 risk and in-person schooling. Science. 4.6.2021. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abh2939

Face masks, public policies and slowing the spread of COVID-19: Evidence from Canada (Counterfactual policy simulations suggest that adopting a nationwide mask mandate in June could have reduced the total number of diagnosed COVID-19 cases in Canada by over 50,000 over the period July-November 2020. Jointly, our results indicate that mandating mask wearing in indoor public places can be a powerful policy tool to slow the spread of COVID-19.). J Health Econ. 3.6.2021. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34157513/

June

Mask Use and Ventilation Improvements to Reduce COVID-19 Incidence in Elementary Schools — Georgia, November 16–December 11, 2020 []sisäilman sekoittamisella päästiin 35 prosenttia pienempään koronatartuntojen esiintyvyyteen ja yhdistettynä ilmanpuhdistuksen tehostamiseen 48 prosenttia pienempään esiintyvyyteen.. CDC-MMWR. 28.5.2021. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7021e1.htm

Orthodoxy, illusio, and playing the scientific game: a Bourdieusian analysis of infection control science in the COVID-19 pandemic [version 3; peer review: 2 approved]. Wellcome Open Research. 24.5.2022. https://wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/6-126

Male predominance in disease severity and mortality in a low Covid-19 epidemic and low case-fatality area – a population-based registry study (Length of stay, LoS, The mean hospital LOS was 10.0 days (±11, SD) days and male patients had significantly longer hospital LOS than women (p<.001)…. Altogether 132 (23%) patients were admitted to ICU treatment with a mean ICU LOS of 13.8 (±11, SD) days ). Infectious Diseases. 23.5.2021. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23744235.2021.1936157

SARS-CoV-2 Infection Causes Dopaminergic Neuron Senescence. Research Square. 21.5.2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8142658/

Mask Use and Ventilation Improvements to Reduce COVID-19 Incidence in Elementary Schools — Georgia, November 16–December 11, 2020. (COVID-19 incidence was 37% lower in schools that required teachers and staff members to use masks and 39% lower in schools that improved ventilation. Ventilation strategies associated with lower school incidence included dilution methods alone (35% lower incidence) or in combination with filtration methods (48% lower incidence). / Implications: Mask requirements for teachers and staff members and improved ventilation are important strategies in addition to vaccination of teachers and staff members that elementary schools could implement as part of a multicomponent approach to provide safer, in-person learning environments.) CDC MMWR. 21.5.2021.  https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7021e1.htm#suggestedcitation

Face masks effectively limit the probability of SARS-CoV-2 transmission (Airborne transmission by droplets and aerosols is important for the spread of viruses. Face masks are a well-established preventive measure, but their effectiveness for mitigating SARS-CoV-2 transmission is still under debate. We show that variations in mask efficacy can be explained by different regimes of virus abundance and related to population-average infection probability and reproduction number. For SARS-CoV-2, the viral load of infectious individuals can vary by orders of magnitude. We find that most environments and contacts are under conditions of low virus abundance (virus-limited) where surgical masks are effective at preventing virus spread. More advanced masks and other protective equipment are required in potentially virus-rich indoor environments including medical centers and hospitals. Masks are particularly effective in combination with other preventive measures like ventilation and distancing.). Science. 20.5.2021. https://doi:10.1126/science.abg6296

Efficacy of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 Covid-19 Vaccine against the B.1.351 Variant (A two-dose regimen of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine did not show protection against mild-to-moderate Covid-19 due to the B.1.351 variant. ). New England Journal of Medicine. 20.5.2021. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa2102214

Diverse functional autoantibodies in patients with COVID-19. nature. 19.5.2021. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03631-y

Global prevalence, treatment and outcome of tuberculosis and COVID-19 coinfection: a systematic review and meta-analysis (from November 2019 to March 2021) (TB–COVID coinfection is common globally, and the coinfected patients suffer from higher fatality risk than patients with normal COVID-19. Outcomes shared significant differences between high-income countries and LMICs.). BMJ Open. May 2021. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/6/e059396

Alterations of frontal-temporal gray matter volume associate with clinical measures of older adults with COVID-19. Neurology of Stress. NN.5.2021. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352289521000345

A paradigm shift to combat indoor respiratory infection. Science. 14.5.2021. https://doi:10.1126/science.abg2025

The 60-Year-Old Scientific Screwup That Helped Covid Kill. All pandemic long, scientists brawled over how the virus spreads. Droplets! No, aerosols! At the heart of the fight was a teensy error with huge consequences. Wired. 13.5.2021. https://www.wired.com/story/the-teeny-tiny-scientific-screwup-that-helped-covid-kill/

THL:n kokous­muistio: Rokotusten nopea alueellinen kohdentaminen olisi ”oikea keino” terveyden suojelemiseksi, mutta asia on politisoitunut. THL:n asiantuntijaryhmä keskusteli viime viikolla myös hallituksen eduskunnalle esittämistä liikkumisen rajoituksista. HS:n hankkiman muistion mukaan ryhmä totesi, että ”kolme viikkoa voi olla liian lyhyt aika rajoitustoimille, 6 viikkoa saattaisi olla riittävä”. Helsingin Sanomat. 13.5.2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20210330181602/https://www.hs.fi/politiikka/art-2000007892009.html

COVID-19 está en el aire. Numeroteca. 13.5.2021. https://numeroteca.org/cat/en-el-aire/

Embracing the science on airborne transmission is key to preventing new COVID-19 outbreaks. The Globe and Mail. 10.5.2021. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/amp/opinion/article-embracing-the-science-on-airborne-transmission-is-key-to-preventing/?utm_medium=Referrer%3A%20Social%20Network%20%2F%20Media&utm_campaign=Shared%20Web%20Article%20Links&__twitter_impression=true

High incidence of stroke and mortality in pediatric critical care patients with COVID-19 in Peru. Pediatric Research. 3.5.2021. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41390-021-01547-x

May

Association between delays to patient admission from the emergency department and all- cause 30- day mortality. BMJ. 30.4.2021. https://emj.bmj.com/content/emermed/39/3/168.full.pdf

Equity vs. Ethic Literacy – Socio-Educational Dilemma in the Case of Pandemic Finland, Autumn 2020. Jyrki Loima. International Journal of Education & Literacy Studies. 30.4.2021.  http://www.journals.aiac.org.au/index.php/IJELS/article/view/6632/4602

Severe COVID-19 in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes in Sweden: A nationwide retrospective cohort study. Lancet. 30.4.2021. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanepe/article/PIIS2666-7762%2821%2900082-X/fulltext

COVID-19 Indoor Safety Guideline. https://indoor-covid-safety.herokuapp.com/

Risk of rapid evolutionary escape from biomedical interventions targeting SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (Our modeling suggests that SARS-CoV-2 mutants with one or two mildly deleterious mutations are expected to exist in high numbers due to neutral genetic variation, and consequently resistance to vaccines or other prophylactics that rely on one or two antibodies for protection can develop quickly -and repeatedly- under positive selection. Predicted resistance timelines are comparable to those of the decay kinetics of nAbs raised against vaccinal or natural antigens, raising a second potential mechanism for loss of immunity in the population. Strategies for viral elimination should therefore be diversified across molecular targets and therapeutic modalities). PLOS ONE. 28.4.2021. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0250780

A guideline to limit indoor airborne transmission of COVID-19. PNAS. 27.4.2021. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2018995118

High-dimensional characterization of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (Our analysis of an array of prespecified outcomes reveals a risk gradient that increases according to the severity of the acute COVID-19 infection (that is, whether patients were not hospitalized, hospitalized or admitted to intensive care). Our findings show that a substantial burden of health loss that spans pulmonary and several extrapulmonary organ systems is experienced by patients who survive after the acute phase of COVID-19. These results will help to inform health system planning and the development of multidisciplinary care strategies to reduce chronic health loss among individuals with COVID-19.). Nature. 22.4.2021. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33887749/

Carotid stiffness, intima–media thickness and aortic augmentation index among adults with SARS-CoV-2. Experimental Phgysiology. 26.4.2021. https://physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1113/EP089481

High-dimensional characterization of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (Ziyad Al-Aly). nature. 22.4.2021. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03553-9

THE STUDY OF CO2 CONCENTRATION IN A CLASSROOM DURING THE COVID-19 SAFETY MEASURES. Cold Climate HVAC & Energy 2021. 20.4.2021. https://www.e3s-conferences.org/articles/e3sconf/pdf/2021/22/e3sconf_hvac2021_01004.pdf

Monitoring carbon dioxide to quantify the risk of indoor airborne transmission of COVID-19. MedRxiv. 16.4.2021. https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.04.04.21254903

REHVA COVID-19 guidance document. How to operate HVAC and other building service systems to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) disease (COVID-19) in workplaces. REHVA 15.4.2021. https://www.rehva.eu/activities/covid-19-guidance/rehva-covid-19-guidance

Ten scientific reasons in support of airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Lancet. 15.4.2021. https://www.thelancet.com/article/S0140-6736(21)00869-2/fulltext

Apparently just by talking about it, I’m super-spreading long Covid, George Monbiot
A professor has suggested that press coverage could make people believe they have the condition. Guardian. 14.4.2021. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/apr/14/super-spreading-long-covid-professor-press-coverage?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Tuore suomalaistutkimus: FFP-maski suojaa koronalta terveydenhuollossa
Väitöstutkija Lotta Oksanen suosittelee FFP-suojaimia työpisteisiin, joissa voi kohdata koronaan sairastuneen.  Lääkärilehti. 12.4.2021. https://www.laakarilehti.fi/tieteessa/uutiset/tuore-suomalaistutkimus-ffp-maski-suojaa-koronalta-terveydenhuollossa/?public=1caddc5a00d9df8176df646517b3b546

Sources of healthcare workers’ COVID‑19 infections and related safety guidelines (Lotta-Maria A.H. Oksanen, In total, 41 (4.7%) participants tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, with 22 (53.6%) of infections being confirmed or likely occupational, and 12 (29.3%) originating from colleagues. In 14 cases (63.6%), occupational infections occurred while using a surgical mask, and all infections originating from patients occurred while using a surgical mask or no mask at all. No occupational infections were found while using an FFP2/3 respirator and following aerosol precautions. The combined odds ratio for working at an intensive care unit, an emergency department, or a ward was 3.4 (95% CI: 1.2–9.2, p = 0.016)). Occup Med and Environ Health 2/2021 http://ijomeh.eu/Sources-of-healthcare-workers-COVID-19-infections-and-related-safety-guidelines,132898,0,2.html

Povidone Iodine (PVP-I) Oro-Nasal Spray: An Effective Shield for COVID-19 Protection for Health Care Worker (HCW), for all. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 8.4.2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8026810/

Risk assessment for airborne disease transmission by poly-pathogen aerosols. PLOS Onre. 8.4.2021. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0248004

6-month neurological and psychiatric outcomes in 236 379 survivors of COVID-19: a retrospective cohort study using electronic health records (In summary, the present data show that COVID-19 is followed by significant rates of neurological and psychiatric diagnoses over the subsequent 6 months. Services need to be configured, and resourced, to deal with this anticipated need.). Lancet Psychiatry. 6.4.2021. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(21)00084-5/fulltext

Overdispersion in COVID-19 increases the effectiveness of limiting nonrepetitive contacts for transmission control. PNAS. 6.4.2021. https://www.pnas.org/content/118/14/e2016623118

Exhaled CO2 as a COVID-19 Infection Risk Proxy for Different Indoor Environments and Activities. (Jimenez) Environmental Science & Technology. 5.4.2021. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.estlett.1c00183

SARS-CoV-2 and Surface (Fomite) Transmission for Indoor Community Environments. CDC. 5.4.2021. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/more/science-and-research/surface-transmission.html

Cognitive impairment and altered cerebral glucose metabolism in the subacute stage of COVID-19 (Brain). Brain. 4.4.2021. https://academic.oup.com/brain/article/144/4/1263/6209743?login=false

Low pH Hypromellose (Taffix) nasal powder spray could reduce SARS-CoV-2 infection rate post mass-gathering event at a highly endemic community: an observational prospective open label user survey (HPMC, e.g.,VirX. After 14 days, 0/81 (0%) of (PP) Tafffix users, 2/83 (2.4%) of (ITT) Taffix users and 16/160 (10%) nonusers were infected. Odds ratio for infection among Taffix users was 0.22, a reduction of 78% (95%CI 1%–95%). No side effects reported. /Taffix could be an additional tool against COVID19 spread, in addition to recommended safety measures. This is the first time that a prevention measure of SARS-CoV-2, beyond the use of masks, has proved effective.). Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther. 1.4.2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8022337/

April

Supplementary Information to Scientific Reports. 18.2.2021: Years of life lost to COVID-19 in 81 countries (YLL, ). 31.3.2021. https://static-content.springer.com/esm/art%3A10.1038%2Fs41598-021-83040-3/MediaObjects/41598_2021_83040_MOESM1_ESM.pdf

Korona muuttuu pahemmaksi, mutta mitä se oikeasti tarkoittaa?
Evoluution näkökulmasta virusten pitäisi muuntua heikommiksi mutta helpommin tarttuviksi. Koronaviruksen mutaatiot näyttävät kuitenkin muuttavan taudinkuvaa vakavammaksi. Ennen kuin korona voi muuttua vaarattomaksi taudiksi, tarvitaan aikaa, sairastelua ja useampi rokotekierros. Tampereen yliopisto/AMK. 31.3.2021. https://www.tuni.fi/unit-magazine/artikkelit/korona-muuttuu-pahemmaksi-mutta-mita-se-oikeasti-tarkoittaa

Covid jab probably does protect those around you. BBC News. 30.3.2021. https://www.bbc.com/news/health-56514470

Sweden saw lower 2020 death spike than much of Europe – data. Reuters. 24.3.2021. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-europe-mortality-idUSKBN2BG1R9

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – Sweden, which has shunned the strict lockdowns that have choked much of the global economy, emerged from 2020 with a smaller increase in its overall mortality rate than most European countries, an analysis of official data sources showed.

Was there a COVID-19 harvesting effect in Northern Italy?  in Book: Regions between challenges and
unexpected opportunities. 21.03.2021. https://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/2103/2103.01812.pdf

Seroprevalence and humoral immune durability of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in Wuhan, China: a longitudinal, population-level, cross-sectional study. Lancet. 20.3.2021. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)00238-5/fulltext

Effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on neuroimaging and neurobehavior in neonates. World J of Pediatrics. 19.3.2021. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12519-021-00423-2

Pandemic ‘has exposed the shadow of eugenics’, TUC conference hears (Many of those who spoke on the first day of the two-day conference, highlighted how official figures showed disabled people had accounted for 6/10 COVID-related deaths. / Hirst told the online conference: “Our exclusion is driven by political and social attitudes. We are not valued.”/ UK government had been warned by the UN’s disability committee in 2017 that its violations of disabled people’s human rights had caused a “human catastrophe”, but it had failed to act, was given solutions, but dismissed them all. / “When governments deprioritise us, so do employers and service-providers, and everybody else.” / Lucy Burke, from the University and College Union (UCU), said it was clear that the lives of disabled people were being lost because of “deeply entrenched discrimination. Nothing tells us more about the profound systemic ableism that blights people’s lives and life chances than the fact that doctors have to be reminded not to deny critical care to disabled people simply because they are disabled.). Disability News Service. 11.3.2021. https://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/pandemic-has-exposed-the-shadow-of-eugenics-tuc-conference-hears/

Recurrent COVID-19 including evidence of reinfection and enhanced severity in thirty Brazilian healthcare workers. J Infection. 11.3.2021. https://www.journalofinfection.com/article/S0163-4453(21)00043-8/fulltext

Attributes and predictors of long COVID. Nature. 10.3.2021. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-021-01292-y

School reopening without robust COVID-19 mitigation risks accelerating the pandemic. Lancet. 10.3.2021. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-67362100622-X/fulltext

Long-term clinical, virological and immunological outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19: antibody response predicts long COVID. medExiv. 8.3.2021. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.03.08.21253124v1.full

Will the COVID vaccine make me test positive for the coronavirus? 5 questions about vaccines and COVID testing answered. The Conversation 7.3.2021. https://theconversation.com/will-the-covid-vaccine-make-me-test-positive-for-the-coronavirus-5-questions-about-vaccines-and-covid-testing-answered-155958

Vakavuuden hämärtyminen saa asioiden tärkeysjärjestyksen unohtumaan (Eri tavoin merkityksellisten tarpeiden ristipaineessa saattaa järkeviltä ja vastuullisiltakin yksilöiltä, niin kansalaisilta kuin poliittisilta päätöksentekijöiltäkin, unohtua melko ilmeiseltä vaikuttava asioiden tärkeysjärjestys. On vaikea nähdä, että esimerkiksi päätös, jolla purettaisiin koronarajoituksia (sinänsä perustellusti) nuorten hyvinvointia ajatellen, voisi olla moraalisesti hyväksyttävä tilanteessa, jossa uusien virusmuunnosten nopea leviäminen uhkaa kiihdyttää epidemiaa ja aiheuttaa sekä riskiryhmäläisten lisäkuolemia että terveiden työikäisten vakavia sairastumisia). Etiik. 4.3.2021.  https://etiikka.fi/vakavuuden-hamartyminen-saa-asioiden-tarkeysjarjestyksen-unohtumaan/?fbclid=IwAR00bR6ZrIMptYxD5_R6gwWCjb9EUJ4Gsqn4DyWD85xECE6mRWuNu1bcGD8

A guideline to limit indoor airborne transmission of COVID-19. PNAS. 3.3.2021.  https://www.pnas.org/content/118/17/e2018995118

COVID-19 – exploring the implications of long-term condition type and extent of multimorbidity on years of life lost (YLL, UK, Italy): a modelling study. Wellcome Open Research. 1.3.2021. https://wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/5-75

March

Adapting COVID-19 vaccines to SARS-CoV-2 variants: guidance for vaccine manufacturers Share. European Medicines Agency. 25.2.2021. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/news/adapting-covid-19-vaccines-sars-cov-2-variants-guidance-vaccine-manufacturers

Long-term microstructure and cerebral blood flow changes in patients recovered from COVID-19 without neurological manifestations (Brauin, Cognitive). J Clinical Investigation. 25.2.2021. https://www.jci.org/articles/view/147329

Market design to accelerate COVID-19 vaccine supply. Science. 25.2.2021. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abg0889

Unmasking the mask studies: why the effectiveness of surgical masks in preventing
respiratory infections has been underestimated. aRxiv. 24.2.2021. https://arxiv.org/pdf/2102.04882.pdf

Outdoor Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and Other Respiratory Viruses: A Systematic Review. J Infect Dis. 24.2.2021. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33249484/

Karanteenin unohtava keskustelu perusoikeuksista koronanhallinnassa on nurinkurista. Thomas Bradd. 24.2.2021. https://thomasbrand.me/korona/karanteenin-unohtava-keskustelu-perusoikeuksista-koronanhallinnassa-on-nurinkurista

NIH launches new initiative to study “Long COVID”. NIH. 23.2.2021. https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/who-we-are/nih-director/statements/nih-launches-new-initiative-study-long-covid

Krooninen väsymysoireyhtymä (ME/CFS) Hyvä käytäntö -konsensussuositus. Duodecim. 23.2.2021. https://www.terveysportti.fi/apps/ltk/article/hsu00019

Covid vaccine passports could discriminate, experts warn. BBC News. 19.2.2022. https://www.bbc.com/news/health-56125142

Can COVID vaccines stop transmission? Scientists race to find answers
Controlling the pandemic will require shots that prevent viral spread, but that feature is difficult to measure.. nature. 19.2.2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00450-z

Sequelae in Adults at 6 Months After COVID-19 Infection. @IanRicksecker A University of Washington study found that 30% of Covid patients had reduced Health Related Quality of Life, with 8% of the patients limited in routine daily activities. JAMA. 19.2.2021. https://doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.0830

Years of life lost to COVID-19 in 81 countries (In total, 20,507,518 years of life have been lost to COVID-19 among the studied 81 countries, due to 1,279,866 deaths from the disease. The average years of life lost per death is 16 years.). Scientific Reports. 18.2.2021. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-83040-3

Effectiveness of Mask Wearing to Control Community Spread of SARS-CoV-2. JAMA Network. 10.2.2021. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2776536?

Aerosol emission of adolescents voices during speaking, singing and shouting. PLOS ONE. 10.2.2021. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0246819

Miksi Suomessa on päädytty 12 viikon rokotusväliin? Koronarokotteiden optimaalista annosväliä ei ole tutkittu, koska on pyritty mahdollisimman nopeaan ohjelmaan. Lääkärilehti. 10.2.2021. https://www.laakarilehti.fi/ajassa/ajankohtaista/miksi-suomessa-on-paadytty-12-viikon-rokotusvaliin/

Virusten leviäminen sisätiloissa. Eduskunnan kuuleminen 9.2. Tieteelliseen tutkimukseen perustuvat turvaratkaisut pandemian varalle. TUPA, Eduskunta. 6.2.2021. https://www.eduskunta.fi/FI/vaski/JulkaisuMetatieto/Documents/EDK-2021-AK-350193.pdf

Covid-19: Social murder, they wrote—elected, unaccountable, and unrepentant. BMJ. 4.2.2021. https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n314

“You can leave your mask on”: effects on cardiopulmonary parameters of different airway protection masks at rest and during maximal exercise (Protection masks are associated with significant but modest worsening of spirometry and cardiorespiratory parameters at rest and peak exercise. The effect is driven by a ventilation reduction due to an increased airflow resistance. However, since exercise ventilatory limitation is far from being reached, their use is safe even during maximal exercise, with a slight reduction in performance.). European Respiratory Journal. 3.2.2021. https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/early/2021/02/04/13993003.04473-2020

Cambridge Analytica Psychologist Advising Global COVID-19 Disinformation Network Linked to Nigel Farage and Conservative Party.Nafeez Ahmed reveals how COVID pseudoscience and anti-lockdown groups have morphed into a sophisticated, well-funded global network.  Byline Times. 5.2.2023. https://bylinetimes.com/2021/02/02/cambridge-analytica-psychologist-advising-global-covid-19-disinformation-network-linked-to-nigel-farage-and-conservative-party/

BNT162b vaccines protect rhesus macaques from SARS-CoV-2 (BioNTech, Pfizer. mRNA) nature, 1.2.2021. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03275-y.

February

SARS-CoV-2 persistence is associated with antigen-specific CD8 T-cell responses. eBioMedicine. 30.1.2021. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/ebiom/article/PIIS2352-3964(21)00023-2/fulltext

18F-FDG brain PET hypometabolism in patients with long COVID. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imagingh. 26.1.2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7837643/

Preliminary Evidence on Long COVID in children. @IanRicksecker Children also suffer from Long Covid. ”More than half [of pediatric patients] reported at least one persisting symptom even 120 days [after] COVID-19, with 42.6% impaired by these symptoms during daily activities.” medRxiv. 26.1.2021. https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.01.23.21250375

Undercounting of Covid-19 deaths is greatest in pro-Trump areas, analysis shows. STAT. 25.1.2021. https://www.statnews.com/2021/01/25/undercounting-covid-19-deaths-greatest-in-pro-trump-areas-analysis-shows/

Sex differences in immune responses. Biological sex differences in immunity potentially underlie male bias for severe COVID-19. Science 22.1.2021. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abe7199

Evolution of spray and aerosol from respiratory releases: theoretical estimates for insight on viral transmission. Proceedings of the Royal Society. 20.1.2021. https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspa.2020.0584#RSPA20200584F9

Olavi Tallgrénista, 79, tuli koronan kymmenes kuolonuhri Tampereen Rauhaniemessä – Nyt omainen ja sairaalan työntekijät kertovat, mitä tapahtui Suomen kenties pahimmassa koronapesäkkeessä
Olavi Tallgrénin oli määrä vielä kotiutua Rauhaniemestä, mutta koronatartunta vei hänen henkensä vain muutamassa päivässä. Tytär Heta Tallgrén ja työntekijät kertovat koronapainajaisesta tamperelaisessa sairaalassa, jossa jo yli sata on sairastunut ja kolmetoista kuollut koronaan. Aamulehti 17.1.2021. https://www.aamulehti.fi/koronavirus/art-2000007727787.html

Post-COVID lungs worse than the worst smokers’ lungs, surgeon says (A Texas trauma surgeon says it’s rare that X-rays from any of her COVID-19 patients come back without dense scarring. Dr. Brittany Bankhead-Kendall tweeted, ”Post-COVID lungs look worse than any type of terrible smoker’s lung we’ve ever seen. And they collapse. And they clot off. And the shortness of breath lingers on… & on… & on.”/”Everyone’s just so worried about the mortality thing and that’s terrible and it’s awful,” she told CBS Dallas-Fort Worth. ”But man, for all the survivors and the people who have tested positive this is — it’s going to be a problem.”). CBS News, 15.1.2021. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-lungs-scarring-smokers-lungs/

Long-term sequelae following previous coronavirus epidemics. Clinical Medical Journal. NN.1.2021. https://www.rcpjournals.org/content/clinmedicine/21/1/e68

How COVID-19 Spreads. CDC. 14.1.2021. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-covid-spreads.html

Henkilökunta on työskennellyt Kuusankosken Lauttarannan kotiutusyksikössä paperisin kasvomaskein ja yksinkertaisin esiliinoin, sanoo yksikössä työskentelevä hoitaja – ”Korona tulee leviämään edelleen, se ei lopu tällä menolla ikinä”. Kouvolan Sanomat 13.1.2021. https://www.kouvolansanomat.fi/paikalliset/3502108

Immunological dysfunction persists for 8 months following initial mild-to-moderate SARS-CoV-2 infection. Nature Immunology. 13.1.2021. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41590-021-01113-x

What is the economic impact of the latest round of lockdowns? The rich world has become better at mitigating their economic cost. Economist. 13.1.2021. https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2021/01/13/what-is-the-economic-impact-of-the-latest-round-of-lockdowns

Dismantling myths on the airborne transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). The Journal of Hospital Infection. 12.1.2021. https://www.journalofhospitalinfection.com/article/S0195-6701(21)00007-4/fulltext

An evidence review of face masks against COVID-19. PNAS 11.1.2021. https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2014564118

Muistio: Koronavirusmuunnosten leviäminen Suomessa on estettävä välittömästi. Eroonkoronasta. 10.1.2021. https://www.eroonkoronasta.fi/muistio-koronavirusmuunnosten-leviaeminen-suomessa-on-estettaevae-vaelittoemaesti/

Now the Swedish model has failed, it’s time to ask who was pushing it (We now know with certainty what public health experts have long predicted: a light-touch coronavirus approach does not work. Sweden has recorded far higher death rates than its Nordic neighbours, while suffering a similar economic hit. Even the country’s king thinks it has “failed”. And yet, through the late autumn, as the Covid virus was mutating in England, Sweden was still being cited as an example to follow. In mid-October, the Tory MP Christopher Chope was in parliament extolling the virtues of what he previously called Sweden’s “clear and simple” approach. Just last month, the Telegraph columnist Allison Pearson tweeted that she “admired Sweden’s handling of the pandemic”.). Guardian. 3.1.2021. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jan/03/swedish-model-failed-covid-19

Why facemasks were not recommended despite their benefits. Pasi Malm. 2021-01-02. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/348162827_Why_facemasks_were_not_recommended_despite_their_benefits_2021-01-02

A guide towards healthy classrooms. Michael Riedeker Blog. 6.1.2021. COVID-19 | SCOEH

January 2021

NIH study uncovers blood vessel damage and inflammation in COVID-19 patients’ brains but no infection. Results from a study of 19 deceased patients suggests brain damage is a byproduct of a patient’s illness. NIH 30.12.2020. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-study-uncovers-blood-vessel-damage-inflammation-covid-19-patients-brains-no-infection

Covid-19-toimien vahvistamisella on kiire. Taloustieteilijät Martti Hetemäki ja Bengt Holmström sekä Suomen Pankin neuvonantaja Juhana Hukkinen esittävät toimia koronakriisin linjan vahvistamiseksi. Aalto. 30.12.2020. https://www.aalto.fi/fi/uutiset/covid-19-toimien-vahvistamisella-on-kiire

Mandatory masks, shuttered theatres and confusing rules: The 1918 Spanish flu pandemic and its similarities with today – Reading back through The Globe to see what today’s pandemic had in common with a century ago. The Globe and Mail. 28.12.2020. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-mandatory-masks-shuttered-theatres-and-confusing-rules-the-1918/

Taloustieteilijöiltä kova koronatilanteeseen liittyvä varoitus hallitukselle: ”On riski, että Suomi seuraa muiden EU-maiden kehitystä”. (”Suomi on selvinnyt taudista useimpia muita EU-maita vähemmällä. Jos tauti pääsee nyt leviämään, on riski, että se ehtii aiheuttaa suurimmat vahinkonsa ennen kuin se on saatu rokotteella hallintaan”, Martti Hetemäki, Bengt Holmström ja Juhana Hukkinen varoittavat.). Talouselämä. 26.12.2020.  https://www.talouselama.fi/uutiset/taloustieteilijoilta-kova-koronatilanteeseen-liittyva-varoitus-hallitukselle-on-riski-etta-suomi-seuraa-muiden-eu-maiden-kehitysta/9da3f135-1f01-4626-941d-1d201ee83bcc

Taloustieteilijät varoittavat: Suomen koronatartunnat lähtevät kasvuun, jos jarrua ei paineta ennalta. Hetemäki, Holmström ja Hukkinen selvittivät Suomen koronalinjan valintaa. Vaihtoehtoja on taudin loppuvaiheeseen kaksi. Iltalehti. 25.12.2020.  https://www.iltalehti.fi/koronavirus/a/71657bf2-6e07-49c2-901c-c186e13636a4

Akt-Fas to Quell Aberrant T Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis in Covid-19. @IanRicksecker, There are also immunology implications:Johns Hopkins’ @fitterhappierAJ found that “CD95-mediated [T cell] differentiation and death may be advancing T cells to greater effector acquisition, fewer numbers, and immune dysregulation.” Frontiers in immunology. 21.12.2020. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2020.600405

Face masks to prevent transmission of COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Infect Control. 19.12.2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7748970/

Filtration Efficiency of Face Masks Used by the Public During the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA Network. 19.12.2020. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2774265

The S1 protein of SARS-CoV-2 crosses the blood-brain barrier in mice. @IanRicksecker, The virus appears to be able to cross the blood-brain barrier and cause significant neurological damage. The ability of the spike protein to cross the blood-brain barrier was demonstrated in mice at the University of Washington. Nature Neuroscience. 16.12.2020. https://doi:10.1038/s41593-020-00771-8

We want them infected’: Trump appointee demanded ‘herd immunity’ strategy, emails reveal. Then-HHS science adviser Paul Alexander called for millions of Americans to be infected as means of fighting Covid-19 [GBD, Children]. Politico. 16.12.2020. https://www.politico.com/news/2020/12/16/trump-appointee-demanded-herd-immunity-strategy-446408

WHO methods and data sources for global burden of disease estimates 2000-2019 [DALY]. WHO. Dec 2020. https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/gho-documents/global-health-estimates/ghe2019_daly-methods.pdf?sfvrsn=31b25009_7

Modeling epidemic spreading through public transit using time-varying encounter network. Transp Res Part C Emerg Tecnol. 15.12.2020. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33519128/

FDA Takes Key Action in Fight Against COVID-19 By Issuing Emergency Use Authorization for First COVID-19 Vaccine. Action Follows Thorough Evaluation of Available Safety, Effectiveness, and Manufacturing Quality Information by FDA Career Scientists, Input from Independent Experts. USFDA. 11.12.2020. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-takes-key-action-fight-against-covid-19-issuing-emergency-use-authorization-first-covid-19

Virtually all children infected with COVID-19 show signs of blood vessel damage, study shows. Study Finds, 9.12.2020. https://studyfinds.org/children-with-covid-blood-vessel-damage/

A century of COVID-19: what history tells us about the long-term effects of a pandemic (USC research showed that people born during or just after the 1918 flu pandemic faced increased heart disease risk more than 60 years later. The legacy of the novel coronavirus could be worse.).  University of Southern California. 8.12.2020. https://gero.usc.edu/2020/12/08/century-covid-pandemic-risk/

Evidence of thrombotic microangiopathy in children with SARS-CoV-2 across the spectrum of clinical presentations. Blood Advances. 8.12.2020. https://ashpublications.org/bloodadvances/article/4/23/6051/474421/Evidence-of-thrombotic-microangiopathy-in-children

CHOP Researchers Find Elevated Biomarker Related to Blood Vessel Damage in All Children with SARS-CoV-2 Regardless of Disease Severity (Researchers at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) have found elevated levels of a biomarker related to blood vessel damage in children with SARS-CoV-2 infection, even if the children had minimal or no symptoms of COVID-19. They also found that a high proportion of children with SARS-CoV-2 infection met clinical and diagnostic criteria for thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). TMA is a syndrome that involves clotting in the small blood vessels and has been identified as a potential cause for severe manifestations of COVID-19 in adults.).  Children’s hospital of Philadelphia. 8.12.2020. https://www.chop.edu/news/chop-researchers-find-elevated-biomarker-related-blood-vessel-damage-all-children-sars-cov-2

The Culling: Pandemic, Gerocide, Generational Affect (Eugenics. Old age has been central to public health rationalities and contestations of the 2019–2020 coronavirus pandemic. This article thinks through what age is and does in pandemic times by juxtaposing four domains of ethical publicity in which age comes to matter: (1) mass fatality of old persons under conditions of variable unpreparedness; (2) circulation of social-Darwinist argument for herd immunity through culling of the weak; (3) everyday challenges of late life care as these are amplified under quarantine; and (4) long-term conditions of economic and political impasse and environmental collapse, experienced as failure of older generations and abandonment of younger ones, a situation here termed generational affect. It asks to what extent the figure of the cullable old renders racialized disparities natural and makes sense through a generational affect in which the world feels as if the survival of the young is in question.). Medical Anthropology Quarterly. 4.12.2020. https://anthrosource.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/maq.12627

FINCOVID-19. Tutkimus koronataudin pitkäaikaisvaikutuksista. FILHA. 4.12.2020. https://www.filha.fi/hankkeet/fincovid-19/

US mishandling of COVID echoes the 20th century eugenics movement

December

Olfactory transmucosal SARS-CoV-2 invasion as a port of central nervous system entry in individuals with COVID-19. Nature neuroscience. 30.11.2020. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-020-00758-5

Toward superhuman SARS-CoV-2 immunity? nature medicine. 30.11.2020. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-020-01180-x

No evidence for increased transmissibility from recurrent mutations in SARS-CoV-2. Nature. 25.11.2020. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-19818-2

Miksi vaikeassa koronavirustaudissa valkosolut vähenevät? Tulevaisuuden uhat -apurahan saanut LT Eliisa Kekäläinen etsii selitystä COVID-19 infektioon liittyvään lymfopeniaan ja selvittää taustalla olevia immunologisia mekanismeja. Suomen Lääketieteen Säätiö. 23.11.2020. https://laaketieteensaatio.fi/11862-2/

COVID-19 pneumonia causes lower testosterone levels. Andrologia 19.11.2020. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33210743/

Evidence of Structural Protein Damage and Membrane Lipid Remodeling in Red Blood Cells from COVID-19 Patients. @IanRicksecker, It’s also a vascular disease. A Columbia study found ”significantly altered lipid metabolism” during acute disease, which ”suggests a significant impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on red blood cell structural membrane homeostasis.” J Proteome Res. 19.11.2020. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jproteome.0c00606

Viewpoint: COVID-19 and Eugenics in 2020 (The way a people understands and addresses disease and the pain and suffering that come with disease and disability determines the health of a society, not only in terms of microbiology and the physical effects on humans but in its meaning and purpose for living. Life determined not worth creating and reproducing is only a step away from a life not worth living, especially when these steps are measured by those walking in nice white shoes. Reviving a healthy economy was the original justification for German [1939-45] medical professionals to engage in allowing the elderly, disabled, and unfit to receive less medical care.). Emergency Medicine News 42(11B) 18.11.2020 https://DOI.org/10.1097/01.EEM.0000723324.42738.d7

Beyond the clot: perfusion imaging of the pulmonary vasculature after COVID-19. Lancet Respir Med. 17.11.2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7833494/

Immunity to the Coronavirus May Last Years, New Data Hint. Blood samples from recovered patients suggest a powerful, long-lasting immune response, researchers reported. New York Times. 17.11.2022. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/17/health/coronavirus-immunity.html?referringSource=articleShare

Immunological memory to SARS-CoV-2 assessed for greater than six months after infection. bioRxiv. 16.11.2020. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.11.15.383323v1

New-onset type 1 diabetes in Finnish children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Archives of Diseases in Childhood. November 2020. https://adc.bmj.com/content/107/2/180

Projected health-care resource needs for an effective response to COVID-19 in 73 low-income and middle-income countries: a modelling study. Lancet Global Health. November 2020. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30383-1/fulltext

Mejl avslöjar Tegnells val av väg: en ”huvudlös strategi” (Tegnell, e-mails, herd immunity, Sweden. Idén om flockimmunitet – att acceptera att en del av befolkningen smittas med corona­viruset – var tidigt en viktig del av Folkhälso­myndighetens strategi. Det avslöjas i en kommande bok, som SvD nu kan publicera ett bearbetat utdrag ur.).  Svenska Dagbladet. 11.11.2020. https://www.svd.se/a/bnnqk3/mejlen-avslojar-tegnells-val-huvudlos-strategi

Neuropathology of patients with COVID-19 in Germany: a post-mortem case series. @IanRicksecker, Post-mortem neuropathology in Hamburg, Germany found “Infiltration by cytotoxic T lymphocytes .. in the brainstem and cerebellum, [with] meningeal cytotoxic T lymphocyte infiltration seen in 79% [of] patients.” Lancet Neurology. 11.11.2020. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33031735/

COVID-19: Scientific Arguments, Denialism, Eugenics, and the Construction of the Antisocial Distancing Discourse in Brazil (…the method adopted by Bolsonaro since the elections, which have endured during this past year-and-a-half of his mandate: the discursive verbiage, often grotesque and always of populist appeal, which the Brazilian media appears to have become a hostage of. And, by amplifying the president’s speeches, the media symbolically places him at the center of the coordination of control measures for the epidemic in Brazil, a role he has never undertaken. In this sense, we agree with Rosen (2020) and Smith (2020), who identified the same phenomenon in the media coverage of coronavirus in the United States, pointing to the need of removing President Trump as a protagonist in news about the theme.). Front Commun 5. 4.11.2020 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2020.582963/full

Environmental factors involved in SARS-CoV-2 transmission: effect and role of indoor environmental quality in the strategy for COVID-19 infection control. Environmenta Health and Preventive Medicine (Japan). 3.11.2020.

COVID-19 Pneumonia and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: A Novel Combination (The patient was successfully treated in the pulmonology ward according to official guidelines about COVID-19 along with antifibrotic treatment and required only a short course of oxygen therapy. We experienced no drug interactions, serious side effects, or complications during treatment. The patient was discharged after 1 week, and he is still in a good condition after 3 weeks. COVID-19 pneumonia in a patient with IPF who survived under antifibrotic treatment without serious deterioration is a new experience. Such cases will probably change our perspective in treating patients with IPF.). Turk Thorac. 1.11.2020. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33352102/

November 

Social Media Conversations in Support of Herd Immunity are Driven by Bots [GBD, Great Barrington Declaration].  Federation of American Scientists. 30.10.2020.  https://fas.org/disinfoblog/social-media-conversations-in-support-of-herd-immunity-are-driven-by-bots/

PET Imaging as a Tool for Assessing COVID-19 Brain Changes (Cognitive). Trends in Neuroscience. 29.10.2020. https://www.cell.com/trends/neurosciences/fulltext/S0166-2236(20)30243-5

Dose-response Relation Deduced for Coronaviruses From Coronavirus Disease 2019, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome: Meta-analysis Results and its Application for Infection Risk Assessment of Aerosol Transmission. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 29.10.2020. https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/73/1/e241/5943160

Atlas push to ’slow the testing down’ tracks with dramatic decline in one key state [Atlas de Santis Trump Elections COVID GBD]. CNN Politics 29.10.2020.  https://edition.cnn.com/2020/10/29/politics/atlas-desantis-testing-covid-florida/index.html

Hulluksi leimaamista, vähättelyä, tukien menetyksiä: pitkä korona voi viedä työkyvyn perusterveeltä ja potilaat vaativat nyt tiedotusta. Suomessa voi olla jo tuhansia potilaita, joiden kuukausien oireilu johtuu koronasta. Toisen aallon sairastajia ei ole laskettu lukuun. YLE-Uutiset. 28.10.2020. https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-11613115

Superspreading: SARS-CoV-2 outbreak investigation in a German meat processing plant. EMBO Molecular Medicine. 27.10.2020. https://doi.org/10.15252/emmm.202013296

”It’s a roller coaster” — Long Covid sufferers find support in community
As Long Covid sufferers turn to each other for solace, scientists are trying to understand the roots of their condition. Yle News. 23.10.2020. https://yle.fi/a/3-11608123

Fauci says Trump hasn’t attended White House coronavirus task force meeting in ’several months’. CNBC. 23.10.2020. https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2020/10/23/fauci-says-trump-hasnt-attended-white-house-coronavirus-task-force-meeting-in-several-months.html

Covid: ministers ignored Sage advice to impose lockdown or face catastrophe. Most Sage proposals not acted upon by government despite strong warnings over second wave. Guardian. 20.10.2020.  https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/12/ministers-rejected-four-out-five-proposals-from-sage-to-avert-covid-second-wave?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Puheenvuoro: Laumasuojaa haikaillaan huterin perustein – Great Barrington -julistus on ideologiaa, ei tiedettä. Se, että korona-sulkurajoituksista on haittaa terveydelle, ei tarkoita, että laumasuojan tavoittelu olisi hyvä strategia, kirjoittavat Pauli Alin, Thomas Brand ja Esa-Pekka Pälvimäki. Suomen Kuvalehti. 15.10.2020. https://suomenkuvalehti.fi/kotimaa/puheenvuoro-laumasuojaa-haikaillaan-huterin-perustein-great-barrington-julistus-on-ideologiaa-ei-tiedetta/

Scientific consensus on the COVID-19 pandemic: we need to act now [John Snow Memorandum]. Lancet 15.10.2020. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32153-X/fulltext

THL:n ja Helsingin kaupungin tutkimus: Koronavirustartunnan seurauksena muodostuneet vasta-aineet säilyvät ainakin neljä kuukautta. THL 13.10.2020. https://thl.fi/fi/-/thl-n-ja-helsingin-kaupungin-tutkimus-koronavirustartunnan-seurauksena-muodostuneet-vasta-aineet-sailyvat-ainakin-nelja-kuukautta

The COVID-19 Pandemic and the $16 Trillion Virus. JAMA. 12.10.2020. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2771764

Modelling aerosol transport and virus exposure with numerical simulations in relation to SARS-CoV-2 transmission by inhalation indoors [Ville Vuorinen, aerosol transmission]. Safety Science. October 2020. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925753520302630?via%3Dihub

THE JOHN SNOW MEMORANDUM. 14.10.2020. https://www.johnsnowmemo.com/john-snow-memo.html

Simulation of SARS-CoV-2 Aerosol Emissions in the Infected Population and Resulting Airborne Exposures in Different Indoor Scenarios. AAGR. 13.10.2020. https://aaqr.org/articles/aaqr-20-08-covid-0531

MITRE: Face Masks, Open Windows on Buses Reduce Potentially Infectious Particles in the Air. Findings show these mitigations may help reduce the spread of COVID-19 (Opening windows and using existing fans on a bus was shown to reduce exhaled airborne particles by up to 84%, and thereby could lower the risk of COVID-19 exposure according to research by MITRE using buses provided by the City of Colorado Springs Mountain Metro Transit and Colorado Springs School District 11. Wearing a mask alone can also reduce the spread of potentially infectious particles by 50% or more depending on the quality of the mask.). News Wise. 10.12.2020. https://www.newswise.com/coronavirus/face-masks-open-windows-on-buses-reduce-potentially-infectious-particles-in-the-air

These Scientists Have A Controversial Plan For “Herd Immunity” — And The White House Is Listening. For months, a small group of scientists has pushed policies that mainstream health experts say would cause many more COVID-19 deaths. They just got their biggest audience yet [GBD Trump]. BuzzFeedNews. 9.10.2020. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/stephaniemlee/herd-immunity-bhattacharya-atlas-barrington

Facemask against viral respiratory infections among Hajj pilgrims: A challenging cluster-randomized trial. PLOS One.13.10.2020. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0240287

Herd immunity letter ( Great Barrington Declaration, GBD )signed by fake experts including ’Dr Johnny Bananas’. Open letter calling for new Covid-19 strategy also signed by ‘Prof Cominic Dummings’. Guardfian. 9.10.2020. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/09/herd-immunity-letter-signed-fake-experts-dr-johnny-bananas-covid. https://web.archive.org/web/20201007152118/https://gbdeclaration.org/view/signatures/

FHM: Familjeisolering gäller inte elever i grundskolan
Folkhälsomyndigheten rekommenderar familjeisolering vid coronasmitta i hemmet. Men i för- och grundskolan gäller inte samma direktiv som i resten av samhället.
– Barn ska fortsätta gå i skolan, säger statsepidemiolog Anders Tegnell.m,Enligt Anders Tegnell finns det en ganska god grund för att säga att barn inte är drivande i smittspridningen.  Skolavärlden 1.10.2020. https://skolvarlden.se/artiklar/fhm-familjeisolering-galler-inte-elever-i-grundskolan

October

Young people are at risk of severe COVID-19 illness. The CDC finds that coronavirus infections are now highest among young adults ages 20 to 29, who accounted for more than 20 percent of all confirmed cases from June to August. Today. 28.9.2020. https://www.today.com/health/young-people-are-risk-severe-covid-19-illness-t192663

Uusi ohjelma mallintaa nopeasti, miten virusta kantavat aerosolit liikkuvat sisäilmassa. Apulaisprofessori Ville Vuorinen kehittää Suomen Akatemian rahoittamassa hankkeessa avoimen koodin ohjelmaa, joka vauhdittaa aerosolien leviämisen tutkimista. Ohjelma tekee jopa tunnissa sen, mihin aiemmin kului supertietokoneella useita päiviä. A# Uutiset. 28.9.2020. https://www.aalto.fi/fi/uutiset/uusi-ohjelma-mallintaa-nopeasti-miten-virusta-kantavat-aerosolit-liikkuvat-sisailmassa

Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 by inhalation of respiratory aerosol in the Skagit Valley Chorale superspreading event. Indoor Air. 26.9.2020. https://doi.org/10.1111/ina.12751

Superspreading: Transmission of SARS-CoV 2 During Long-Haul Flight. CDC Emerging Infectious Diseases. 18.9.2020.  https://doi:10.3201/eid2611.203299

Clustering and superspreading potential of SARS-CoV-2 infections in Hong Kong. Nature Medicine. 17.9.2020. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-020-1092-0

Dynamic changes in peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets in adult patients with COVID-19- Int J Infect Dis. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971220305452

THL:n Salminen: Korona ei ole niin vaarallinen kuin pelättiin – ”Se, miltä korona näytti keväällä, ei ihan pidä paikkansa”. Koronan kokonaisvaikutus pitää arvioida uudelleen, sanoo Mika Salminen. Ilta=Sanomat. 15.9.2020. https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000006635940.html

The Impact of Vocalization Loudness on COVID-19 Transmission in Indoor Spaces. Cornell University. 9.9.2020. https://arxiv.org/abs/2009.04060

Vastaus kirjalliseen kysymykseen KKV 593/2020 vp koronavirusinfektion pitkittyneistä
oireista kärsivien diagnosoinnista, tukemisesta, hoidosta ja kuntoutuksesta sekä koronan pitkäaikaisvaikutuksien tieteellisen tutkimuksen käynnistämisestä. Eduskunta. 4.9.2020. https://www.eduskunta.fi/FI/vaski/Kysymys/Documents/KKV_593+2020.pdf

A living WHO guideline on drugs for covid-19. BMJ. 4.9.2020 [last update 16.9.2022].  https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3379?=&utm_source=adestra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=usage&utm_content=daily&utm_term=text

COVID-19 length of hospital stay: a systematic review and data synthesis (Median hospital LoS ranged from 4 to 53 days within China, and 4 to 21 days outside of China, across 45 studies. ICU LoS was reported by eight studies—four each within and outside China—with median values ranging from 6 to 12 and 4 to 19 days, respectively. Our summary distributions have a median hospital LoS of 14 (IQR 10–19) days for China, compared with 5 (IQR 3–9) days outside of China. For ICU, the summary distributions are more similar (median (IQR) of 8 (5–13) days for China and 7 (4–11) days outside of China). BMC Medicine. 3.9.2020. https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-020-01726-3

Trial By Error: What Is the Dynamic Neural Retraining System? (…caution must be taken when assessing programs that present themselves as involving brain retraining as a treatment for serious illnesses. That includes the program called the Dynamic Neural Retraining System, which is based in Victoria, Canada. It has gained adherents in Canada and elsewhere. On its website, DNRS is described as ”a drug-free, step-by-step, intensive limbic rehabilitation program” that is based on  a neuroplasticity therapy, which rewires the limbic system to build more functional neural pathways.” People who apply the system can, per the website, “find relief from” the following disorders: Adrenal Fatigue / Allergies (pollen, food, perfume, chemical, environmental) / Anxiety / Arrhythmia … B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S … Tinnitus / Thyroid Disorders / Vulvodynia). Virology Blog. https://virology.ws/2020/09/02/trial-by-error-what-is-the-dynamic-neural-retraining-system/ 2.9.2020

Which countries have protected both health and the economy in the pandemic? () Our World in Data. 1.9.2020. https://ourworldindata.org/covid-health-economy

September

Why Brain Criticality Is Clinically Relevant: A Scoping Review. Front Neural Cirquits. 26.8 2020. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fncir.2020.00054/full?twclid=2-5vfymchg3isb3p5lpsb4qwzoq&utm_source=ad&utm_medium=tw&utm_campaign=ba_sci-ib_fncir

COVID-19 Is Transmitted Through Aerosols. We Have Enough Evidence, Now It Is Time to Act. TIME. 25.8.2020. https://time.com/5883081/covid-19-transmitted-aerosols/

COVID-19 and possible links with Parkinson’s disease and parkinsonism: from bench to bedside. npj parkinson’s disease. 20.8.2020. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41531-020-00123-0

COVID-19 infection may increase the risk of parkinsonism – Remember the Spanish flu? Cytokine & Growth Factor Reviews. Aug. 2020. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1359610120301428

Face coverings for covid-19: from medical intervention to social practice. The BMJ. 19.8. 2020.  https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3021

Lessons for COVID-19 Immunity from Other Coronavirus Infections. Immunity. 18.8.2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7359787/

Persistent Symptoms in Patients After Acute COVID-19 (Long COVID. This case series describes COVID-19 symptoms persisting a mean of 60 days after onset among Italian patients previously discharged from COVID-19 hospitalization.). JAMA. August 2020. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32644129/

Ruotsalaislehti Expressen: Ruotsin Tegnell keskusteli THL:n Mika Salmisen kanssa lauma­suojasta. Ruotsin linja koronavirusepidemian hoitamiseksi on ollut merkittävällä tavalla erilainen kuin monessa muussa maassa. Valtionepidemiologi Anders Tegnellin mukaan laumasuoja ei ole strategian päämäärä, mutta laaja immuniteetti on strategian sivuvaikutus. Helsingin Sanomat. 13.8.2020. https://www.hs.fi/ulkomaat/art-2000006600441.html

Tegnell-mejlen: Så fick flockimmuniteten fäste hos Folkhälsomyndigheten
by EMANUEL KARLSTEN on AUGUSTI 12, 2020. https://emanuelkarlsten.se/tegnell-mejlen-sa-fick-flockimmuniteten-faste-hos-folkhalsomyndigheten/

Filtration Efficiency of Hospital Face Mask Alternatives Available for Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA Network. 11.8.2020. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2769443

Cerebral Micro-Structural Changes in COVID-19 Patients – An MRI-based 3-month Follow-up Study. eClinicalMedicine. 3.8.2020. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(20)30228-5/fulltext

August

Symptom Duration and Risk Factors for Delayed Return to Usual Health Among Outpatients with COVID-19 in a Multistate Health Care Systems Network — United States, March–June 2020 (Long COVID. Relatively little is known about the clinical course of COVID-19 and return to baseline health for persons with milder, outpatient illness. In a multistate telephone survey of symptomatic adults who had a positive outpatient test result for SARS-CoV-2 infection, 35% had not returned to their usual state of health when interviewed 2–3 weeks after testing. Among persons aged 18–34 years with no chronic medical conditions, one in five had not returned to their usual state of health. COVID-19 can result in prolonged illness, even among young adults without underlying chronic medical conditions. Effective public health messaging targeting these groups is warranted.). CDC MMWR. 31.7.2020.  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7392393/

Socio-Educational Policies and Covid-19 – A Case Study on Finland and Sweden in the Spring 2020. Jyrki Loima. International Journal of Education & Literacy Studies. 31.7.2020. http://www.journals.aiac.org.au/index.php/IJELS/article/view/6201/4383

Comparison of Face-Touching Behaviors Before and During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic. JAMA. 29.7.2020. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2768767

Superspeading: A large COVID-19 outbreak in a high school 10 days after schools’ reopening, Israel, May 2020. Eurosurveilance. 23.7.2020. https://www.eurosurveillance.org/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.29.2001352

Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 following exposure in school settings: experience from two Helsinki area exposure incidents. medRxiv. 30.7.2020. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.07.20.20156018v1

Deep immune profiling of COVID-19 patients reveals distinct immunotypes with therapeutic implications. Science. 15.7.2020. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abc8511

Tartuntatautirekisteriin muutoksia jotka vaikuttavat myös koronakarttasovelluksen tietoihin. [uusintainfektioiden rekisteröinti Suomessa – ei uusintainfektio jos 1 v sisällä ensimmäisestä]  THL 15.7.2020. https://thl.fi/fi/-/tartuntatautirekisteriin-muutoksia-jotka-vaikuttavat-myos-koronakarttasovelluksen-tietoihin

Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators in COVID-19: A Possible Therapeutic Option? Frontirers in Pharmacology. 15.7.2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7381128/

How can airborne transmission of COVID-19 indoors be minimised? Environment International. nn.7.2020. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412020317876

‘Only those with plastic visors were infected’: Swiss government warns against face shields. The Local 15.7.2020. https://www.thelocal.ch/20200715/only-those-with-plastic-visors-were-infected-swiss-government-warns-against-face-shields/

Face masks can be devastating for people with hearing loss. The BMJ. 9.7.2020. https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m2683

The emerging spectrum of COVID-19 neurology: clinical, radiological and laboratory findings. Brain. 8.7.2020. https://academic.oup.com/brain/article/143/10/3104/5868408?login=false

Warning of serious brain disorders in people with mild coronavirus symptoms. UK neurologists publish details of mildly affected or recovering Covid-19 patients with serious or potentially fatal brain conditions. Guardian. 8.7.2020. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/08/warning-of-serious-brain-disorders-in-people-with-mild-covid-symptoms

Why the 1918 Flu Became ’America’s Forgotten Pandemic’. Once it was over, no one wanted to talk about it. History. 7.7.2020. https://www.history.com/news/1918-americas-forgotten-pandemic

TU Delft – Tests With Masks. YouTube. 7.7.2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=mJ81IBTMvcU&feature=youtu.be

It Is Time to Address Airborne Transmission of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Clinical Infectious Diseases. 6.7.2020.  https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/71/9/2311/5867798

“Severe, Irreversible Neurological Event”: Eugenics in Healthcare in the Age of COVID-19 by Olivia Harris. Health and Humanities (Although the Criteria continues the long history of the medical profession’s mistreatment of ID patients, some physicians don’t take disabled people’s concerns about discrimination in the course of COVID-19 treatment seriously. For example, at Duke University’s Coronavirus Conversations: Rationing, Shortages, and Triage: Pandemics and Medical Decision Making event, the first topic of discussion was discrimination against disabled people. The presiding bioethicist and pediatrician reassured the audience that exclusion criteria would be based on conditions which “objectively limit life expectancy, not [by] assuming quality of life.” Neither of them empathized with activists or acknowledged that institutionalized ableism prevents objective assessment of a patient’s condition.). UNC Chapel Hill. 3.7.2020. https://hhive.unc.edu/2020/07/severe-irreversible-neurological-event-eugenics-in-healthcare-in-the-age-of-covid-19-by-olivia-harris/

1918 Influenza Outcomes among Institutionalized Norwegian Populations: Implications for Disability-Inclusive Pandemic Preparedness (…disability-related disparities in influenza outcomes using data from Norwegian psychiatric hospitals and schools for children with disabilities during the 1918 influenza pandemic. Both students and patients suffered higher mortality compared to staff members.). Scand J Disabil Res. 1.7.2020. https://sjdr.se/articles/10.16993/sjdr.725

July

COVID-19 and Intimations of Eugenics under the Guise of Bioethics (Savulescu and Wilkinson opine that “…there is a constant national emergency: we are all aging and slowly dying. There is a war against aging and death: we are fighting it with medicine. And people should be able [to] sacrifice their interests or lives in this war.” The use of this militaristic language obscures the fact that aging and dying are inevitabilities that medicine cannot ultimately address. Especially in a time of pandemic, we need to be especially clear about making false promises in that regard. Certainly, we should not be deploying rhetorical claptrap based on tired tropes to justify using vulnerable populations as sacrificial victims.). Center for Genetics and Society (Oakland CA). 29.6.2020. https://www.geneticsandsociety.org/biopolitical-times/covid-19-and-intimations-eugenics-under-guise-bioethics

Low Exhaled Breath Droplet Formation May Explain Why Children are Poor SARS-CoV-2 Transmitters. AAQR. 20.6.2020. https://aaqr.org/articles/aaqr-20-06-covid-0304

COVID-19 in context: Why do people die in emergencies? It’s probably not because of collective psychology (Notions of psychological frailty have been at the forefront of debates around the public response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, there is the argument that collective selfishness, thoughtless behaviour, and over-reaction would make the effects of COVID-19 much worse. The same kinds of claims have been made in relation to other kinds of emergencies, such as fires, earthquakes, and sinking ships. We argue that in these cases as well as in the case of the COVID-19 pandemic, other factors are better explanations for fatalities – namely under-reaction to threat, systemic or structural factors, and mismanagement. Psychologizing disasters serves to distract from the real causes and thus from who might be held responsible. Far from being the problem, collective behaviour in emergencies – including the solidarity and cooperation so commonly witnessed among survivors – is the solution, one that should be harnessed more effectively in policy and practice.). British Journal of Social Psychology. 16.6.2020. https://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/bjso.12393

Short-range airborne route dominates exposure of respiratory infection during close contact Building and Environment. June 2020. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0360132320302183

Laakson sairaala-alueen koronaepidemia on ohi – tiukat toimenpiteet tehosivat. Laakson sairaalan kevään koronavirusepidemiassa 96 sairaala-alueella työskentelevällä todettiin tartunta. Epidemian aikana 32 potilasta sai koronavirustartunnan todennäköisesti sairaalasta. Epidemia saatiin kuriin tiukentamalla suojautumistoimenpiteitä ja jäljittämällä tartunnan saaneet laajalla testauksella. [ FFP2 ] STT Info. 11.6.2020. https://www.sttinfo.fi/tiedote/laakson-sairaala-alueen-koronaepidemia-on-ohi-tiukat-toimenpiteet-tehosivat?publisherId=60590302&releaseId=69883336

Naistenpäivän surullisenkuuluisa konsertti oli luultuakin pahempi viruslinko – jopa sata ihmistä sai koronan ja tartutti sitä vielä eteenpäin: ”Olihan se aivan erityinen tilaisuus”. MTV-Uurtiset. 11.6.2020. https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/naistenpaivan-surullisenkuuluisa-konsertti-oli-luultuakin-pahempi-viruslinko-jopa-sata-ihmista-sai-koronan-ja-tartutti-sita-viela-eteenpain-olihan-se-aivan-erityinen-tilaisuus/7844414

Robins S: Now we are all Swedes: Covid-19, eugenics and sacrificing the ‘older older’ (As the rest of the world begins to follow the ‘Swedish path’ by opening economies and societies, many countries are likely to face all sorts of dilemmas about how to do this while simultaneously protecting the vulnerable in hospitals, old age homes and workplaces. This could undo all the effort and sacrifices made during lockdown.) Daily Maverick. 10.6.2020. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-06-10-now-we-are-all-swedes-covid-19-eugenics-and-sacrificing-the-older-older/

Physical distancing, face masks, and eye protection to prevent person-to-person transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet. 1.6.2020. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31142-9/fulltext

June

Neljä koronaan liittyvää tutkimushanketta sai Suomen Akatemian erityisrahoituksen. Hankkeet tutkivat koronavirusta, pandemiaa ja sen vaikutuksia yhteiskunnassa. Neljälle Aallon hankkeelle myönnetty kokonaissumma on 730 000 euroa. A” Uutiset. 29.5.2020. https://www.aalto.fi/fi/uutiset/nelja-koronaan-liittyvaa-tutkimushanketta-sai-suomen-akatemian-erityisrahoituksen

Serum IgA, IgM, and IgG responses in COVID-19. Cellular & Molecular Immunology. 28.5.2020. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41423-020-0474-z

FFP3, FFP2, N95, surgical masks and respirators: what should we be wearing for ophthalmic surgery in the COVID-19 pandemic? Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 28.5.2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7248188/

As the 1918 Flu Emerged, Cover-Up and Denial Helped It Spread. Nations fighting in World War I were reluctant to report their flu outbreaks. History. 26.5.2020. https://www.history.com/news/1918-pandemic-spanish-flu-censorship

Koronan lisävuodet luultua halvempia – Aiemmassa laskelmassa hehtaariluokan epävarmuus. Pitkäranta blog. 17.5.2020. http://pitkaranta.blogspot.com/2020/05/lillrankin-koronalaskelmassa.html?m=1

Pulmonary fibrosis and COVID-19: the potential role for antifibrotic therapy (Data from previous coronavirus infections such as severe acute respiratory syndrome and Middle East respiratory syndrome, as well as emerging data from the COVID-19 pandemic, suggest there could be substantial fibrotic consequences following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Antifibrotic therapies that are available or in development could have value in preventing severe COVID-19 in patients with IPF, have the potential to treat severe COVID-19 in patients without IPF, and might have a role in preventing fibrosis after SARS-CoV-2 infection.). Lancet Respiratory Medicine. 15.5.2020. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(20)30225-3/fulltext

Fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic – should we prepare for a tsunami of post viral depression? Ir J Psychol Med 15.5.2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7431842/

Reduction of secondary transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in households by face mask use, disinfection and social distancing: a cohort study in Beijing, China. BMJ Global Health. nn.5.2020. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32467353/

If 80% of Americans Wore Masks, COVID-19 Infections Would Plummet, New Study Says
There’s compelling evidence that Japan, Hong Kong, and other East Asian locales are doing it right and we should really, truly mask up—fast. Vanity Fair. 8.5.2020. https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/05/masks-covid-19-infections-would-plummet-new-study-says

Arvostamme rakentavaa keskustelua. THL blogi. 6.5.2020. https://blogi.thl.fi/arvostamme-rakentavaa-keskustelua/

Fed study ties 1918 flu pandemic to Nazi Party gains. The paper examined municipal spending levels and voter extremism in Germany from the time of the initial influenza outbreak until 1933. Politico. 5.5.2020. https://www.politico.com/news/2020/05/05/fed-study-1918-pandemic-nazi-party-gains-236530

 

What are the underlying transmission patterns of COVID-19 outbreak? An age-specific social contact characterization. eClinicalMedicine. 1.5.2020. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(20)30098-5/fulltext?

Risks of N95 Face Mask Use in Subjects With COPD (This study demonstrated that subjects with COPD who had modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale scores ≥ 3 or FEV1 < 30% predicted wear N95s only with care.).  Respiratory Care. 1.5.2020. https://rc.rcjournal.com/content/65/5/658

Reduction and Functional Exhaustion of T Cells in Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). @IanRicksecker
This Chinese military study of the initial Wuhan outbreak concluded that “T cell counts are reduced significantly in COVID-19 patients, and the surviving T cells appear functionally exhausted.” The study authors went on to warn, “Non-ICU patients with total T cells counts lower than 800/μL may still require urgent intervention, even in the immediate absence of more severe symptoms due to a high risk for further deterioration in condition.”  Frontiers in Immunology. 1.5.2020. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2020.00827/full

May

Football Lockdowns: Smallpox outbreak in 1972. Football makes History. 30.4.2020. https://www.footballmakeshistory.eu/smallpox-outbreak-in-1972/

Tällaisiin arvioihin päätös koulujen avaamisesta perustuu: Asiantuntijat suosittivat koronaepidemian kiihdyttämistä – muutoin voi syntyä ”ruutitynnyri”. (Minkälainen riski koronavirus on kouluun pian suuntaaville lapsille? Ylilääkäri vastaa. Koronavirusepidemia etenee Suomessa sosiaali- ja terveysministeriön (STM) ja Terveyden ja hyvinvoinnin laitoksen (THL) asiantuntijoiden mukaan liian hitaasti ja liian matalalla tasolla /Hanna Nohynek). MTV. 30.4.2020. https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/tallaisiin-arvioihin-paatos-koulujen-avaamisesta-perustuu-asiantuntijat-suosittivat-koronaepidemian-kiihdyttamista-muutoin-voi-syntya-ruutitynnyri/7807298

Onko epidemia hidastunut jo liikaa? Pitäisikö koronavirus tukahduttaa nyt kokonaan? THL:n Mika Salminen vastaa seitsemään kysymykseen Suomen strategiasta. Suomi on onnistunut epidemian hidastamisessa hyvin, mutta nyt asiantuntijat liputtavat rajoitusten purkamisen puolesta. Miksi osan väestöstä on sairastuttava? Helsingin Sanomat. 28.4.2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200429075240/https://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000006490157.html

What are the underlying transmission patterns of COVID-19 outbreak? An age-specific social contact characterization. eClinicalMedicine. 28.4.2020. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(20)30098-5/fulltext?

Persistence of intestinal SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with COVID-19 leads to re-admission after pneumonia resolved. Int J Infect Dis. 27.4.2020.  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7184976/

First recorded Covid death in U.S. was from massive heart attack, autopsy says. Politico. 25.4.2022. https://www.politico.com/states/california/story/2020/04/25/first-recorded-covid-death-in-us-was-from-massive-heart-attack-autopsy-says-9422714

Pelkopandemia: Moderni yövartijavaltio puolustaa uhkaavilta taudeilta. Paul Lillrank. EVA analyysi. 24.4.2020. https://www.eva.fi/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/eva-analyysi-no_80.pdf

Cleaning and Disinfectant Chemical Exposures and Temporal Associations with COVID-19 – National Poison Data System, United States, January 1, 2020-March 31, 2020. CDC. 24.4.2020. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6916e1.htm

The effect of travel restrictions on the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Science. 24.4.2020. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32144116/

Coronavirus Disease Outbreak in Call Center, South Korea. CDC Emerging Infectious Diseases. 23.4.2020. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/8/20-1274_article

Tilastokeskus julkistaa kuolleiden määrästä poikkeuksellista pikaennakkotilastoa. Tilastokeskus. 22.4.2020. https://www.stat.fi/uutinen/tilastokeskus-julkistaa-kuolleiden-maarasta-poikkeuksellista-pikaennakkotilastoa

Tutkijan synkkä laskelma: Väärä valinta koronan torjunnassa voi viedä Suomen taloudesta lähes 100 miljardia 2020-luvulla. Epidemian hidastamispolitiikka voi olla taloudelle erittäin tuhoisaa, laskee taloustieteilijä Juha Tervala. Eduskunnan tulevaisuusvaliokunta tilasi häneltä lausunnon koronaviruksen vaikutuksista. SK. 20.4.2020.  https://suomenkuvalehti.fi/jutut/kotimaa/talous/tutkijan-karu-laskelma-suomen-taloudesta-jaa-uupumaan-koronan-takia-lahes-100-miljardia-2020-luvulla-jos-nyt-valitaan-vaarin/

Etenemissuunnitelma covid-19-rajoitusten purkamiseksi. Eur-Lex. 17.4.2020. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/FI/LSU/?uri=uriserv:OJ.C_.2020.126.01.0001.01.FIN

N95 Respirator Cleaning and Reuse Methods Proposed by the Inventor of the N95 Mask Material (…simple methods for conserving N95 masks that are supported by some evidence as well as supported by the developer of the mask). J Emergency Medicine. 16.4.2020. https://www.jem-journal.com/article/S0736-4679(20)30369-3/fulltext

Testimony of a surgeon working in Bergamo, in the heart of Italy’s coronavirus outbreak. NN.4.2020. https://www.reddit.com/r/medicine/comments/ff8hns/testimony_of_a_surgeon_working_in_bergamo_in_the/

Coronavirus, herd immunity and the eugenics of the market (There is a clear element of eugenics in the proposals to pursue herd immunity as a strategy against the pandemic./  Markets annd Eugenics / It is hard not to read eugenic implications in this kind of thinking: the “herd” will survive, but for that to happen, other “weaker” members of society need to be sacrificed. And while Johnson’s right-wing political milieu is associated with the recent revival of racial science, there are no hints of a far-right conspiracy in Sweden, for example, where the centre-left government has confidently stood by the advice of the Public Health Agency, firmly opposing suppression measures. / The Norwegian and Swedish states have a long history of adopting policies based on eugenics that continued well after World War II. Eugenics was deployed throughout the 20th century as a branch of scientific state management, part of a social engineering project that envisioned a society made of physically healthy and “socially fit” individuals. / In the perverse eugenics of the market, the elderly and the sick have become the “others” of the pandemic.) Aljazeera. 14.4.2020. https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2020/4/14/coronavirus-herd-immunity-and-the-eugenics-of-the-market/

N.Y.C. Death Toll Soars Past 10,000 in Revised Virus Count. The city has added more than 3,700 additional people who were presumed to have died of the coronavirus but had never tested positive. NYTimes. 14.4.2022. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/14/nyregion/new-york-coronavirus-deaths.html?referringSource=articleShare

Dritte Ad-hoc-Stellungnahme: Coronavirus-Pandemie – Die Krise nachhaltig überwinden. Leopoldina – Nationale Academie  der Wissenschaften. 13.4.2020. https://www.leopoldina.org/uploads/tx_leopublication/2020_04_13_Coronavirus-Pandemie-Die_Krise_nachhaltig_%C3%BCberwinden_final.pdf

India has only one choice: Anders Tegnell’s (Swedish) approach. The tIMES OF iNDIA. 11.4.2020. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/seeing-the-invisible/india-has-only-one-choice-anders-tegnells-swedish-approach/

 

Association of Public Health Interventions With the Epidemiology of the COVID-19 Outbreak in Wuhan, China. JAMA. 10.4.2020. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2764658

Koronaviruspandemian torjunta kestävästi. Suosituksia joustavaksi riskisopeutetuksi strategiaksi [Saksan IFO:n Exit strategian suomenkielinen käännös]. 9.4.2020.  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MT8LD4XWGj-jykgn3N2ltR4oyGZTsy5K_HVjlYpKv0c/edit#

Potential utilities of mask-wearing and instant hand hygiene for fighting SARS-CoV-2. J Med Virology. 8.4.2020. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32232986/

Viisi tutkijaa vaatii: Koronaepidemia pitää tukahduttaa Suomessa nyt – Aasia johtaa torjuntataistelussa Eurooppaa 6–0. Puheenvuoro: Potilaiden testaamiseen, jäljittämiseen, mobiiliseurantaan ja valvontaan tarvitaan nopeasti suuri joukko osaajia, ehdottavat tutkijat. Suomen Kuvalehti 3.4.2022. https://suomenkuvalehti.fi/mielipide/viisi-tutkijaa-vaatii-koronaepidemia-pitaa-tukahduttaa-suomessa-nyt-aasia-johtaa-torjuntataistelussa-eurooppaa-6-0/

A seemingly healthy woman’s sudden death is now the first known US coronavirus-related fatality. CNN, 4.4.2020. https://edition.cnn.com/2020/04/23/us/california-woman-first-coronavirus-death/index.html

Respiratory virus shedding in exhaled breath and efficacy of face masks. Nature Medicine. 3.4.2020. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-020-0843-2

Die Bekämpfung der CoronavirusPandemie tragfähig gestalten
Empfehlungen für eine flexible, risikoadaptierte Strategie. IFO. 2.4.2020. https://www.ifo.de/DocDL/Coronavirus-Pandemie-Strategie-Fuest-Lohse-etal-2020-04.pdf

April

Huoltovarmuus­varastot avataan – STM:ltä historiallinen päätös. Sosiaali- ja terveysministeriö (STM) avaa historiallisesti huoltovarmuusvarastot. Asiasta kertoi Ylen A-studiossa ministeriön ylijohtaja Päivi Sillanaukee. [– Tämä päivä on historiallinen päivä. Tämä määräys on annettu ja sosiaali- ja terveysministeriön määräys tarvitaan siihen, että nämä huoltovarmuus­varastot aukeavat. Nyt ne rekat lähtevät liikkeelle, Päivi Sillanaukee sanoi. – Se tarkoittaa, jos lukumäärissä katsotaan, niin miljoonia kirurgisia suojaimia, maskeja ja satojatuhansia hengityssuojaimia on nyt sitten käytössä. Eivät ne tule loppumaan.] ilta=sanomat. 23.3.2020. https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000006450262.html

Finnish health boss [Mika Salminen] questions WHO coronavirus testing advice. Finland’s national health authority questioned on Friday the World Health Organization’s call on countries to test as many patients as possible for coronavirus, after the country ran out of testing capacity this week. Reuters 20.3.2020. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-finland-who-idUSKBN2170ZB

Koronaviruksen tahallisesta levittämisestä voisi tulla pitkä linnatuomio – Suomen laki on tuntenut tartuntataudit pitkään. Laissa on monenlaisia tapoja puuttua tartuntatautien tarkoitukselliseen levittämiseen. Yle Uutiset. 19.3.2020. https://yle.fi/a/3-11265469

Report 9: Impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to reduce COVID-19 mortality and healthcare demand. Imperial College. 16.3.2020

Click to access Imperial-College-COVID19-NPI-modelling-16-03-2020.pdf

Anders Tegnell hyllar brittisk tanke kring flockimmunitet: ”Dit vi behöver komma”. LONDON. Storbritannien vill stoppa coronaviruset med hjälp av flockimmunitet. Att en majoritet av invånarna smittas och skapar ett kollektivt skydd kan även bli aktuellt i Sverige. – Vi kommer nog inte att få kontroll på det på något annat sätt, säger statsepidemiolog Anders Tegnell. Aftonbladet. 16.3.2020. https://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/6j7vaO/anders-tegnell-hyllar-brittisk-tanke-kring-flockimmunitet-dit-vi-beh

Näin viesti koronaviruksen vaaroista on muuttunut – THL tammikuun lopulla: ”Pieni riski sille, että virus leviäisi Suomeen etenkin epidemiana”
Koronaviruksen nopea leviäminen on yllättänyt myös Terveyden ja hyvinvoinnin laitoksen. Ilta=sanomat. 14.3.2020. https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000006439416.html

THL: Suomi on lähellä epidemiaa – koronavirustartuntoja todettu nyt 155. Metropoli. 13.3.2020. https://www.metropoli.net/uutiset/thl-suomi-on-lahella-epidemiaa-koronavirustartuntoja-todettu-nyt-155/

Statsepidemiolog Anders Tegnell: Sverige har väldigt svårt att acceptera risker. Dagens Nyheter. 11.3.2020. https://www.dn.se/nyheter/sverige/statsepidemiolog-anders-tegnell-sverige-har-valdigt-svart-att-acceptera-risker/

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES / CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION. National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases. Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion (DHQP)
Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee March 5, 2020
Atlanta, Georgia. Record of the Proceedings. CDC. 5.3.2020. https://www.cdc.gov/hicpac/pdf/2020-March-HICPAC-Summary-508.pdf

Evolving Epidemiology and Impact of Non-pharmaceutical Interventions on the Outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Wuhan, China. medRxiv.3.3.2020. doi: 10.1001/jama.2020.6130 https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.03.03.20030593v1

March

Kuinka monen kuoleman syy on influenssa – kertovatko luvut kaiken?. Tieto&Trendit. 28.2.2020. https://www.stat.fi/tietotrendit/artikkelit/2020/kuinka-monen-kuoleman-syy-on-influenssa-kertovatko-luvut-kaiken/

A Timeline of How the Wuhan Coronavirus Has Spread—And How the World Has Reacted (A new virus has emerged from central China, infecting thousands with severe respiratory illness and killing dozens. Health officials, doctors and researchers are scrambling to contain the outbreak. / As of publication, there are over 8,200 confirmed cases globally, and over 170 deaths attributed to the infection, the vast majority in China. Zoom into and hover over the maps below for details on those confirmed cases. / In just under a month, the coronavirus has triggered a series of events, from entry port screenings to complete lockdown of affected cities. Below is a timeline showing how the virus sprouted from one city to become a health crisis that is being addressed on a global scale.) Time Health 30.1.2020.  https://time.com/5774366/how-coronavirus-spread-china/

Systemic Risk of Pandemic via Novel PathogensCoronavirus: A Note. New England Complex Systems Institute. 26.1.2020. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5b68a4e4a2772c2a206180a1/t/5e2efaa2ff2cf27efbe8fc91/1580137123173/Systemic_Risk_of_Pandemic_via_Novel_Path.pdf

No link with seafood market in first case of China coronavirus, Chinese scientists revealed. (Researchers into initial cases find first person with symptoms had no contact with market where disease is believed to have originated / Call for preparedness against airborne transmission, including fitted respirators and other personal protective equipment.). South China Morning Post.  25.1.2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200125085415/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3047646/no-link-seafood-market-first-case-china-coronavirus-chinese

Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China (By Jan 2, 2020, 41 admitted hospital patients had been identified as having laboratory-confirmed 2019-nCoV infection. Most of the infected patients were men (30 [73%] of 41); less than half had underlying diseases (13 [32%]), including diabetes (eight [20%]), hypertension (six [15%]), and cardiovascular disease (six [15%]). Median age was 49·0 years (IQR 41·0–58·0). 27 (66%) of 41 patients had been exposed to Huanan seafood market. One family cluster was found. Common symptoms at onset of illness were fever (40 [98%] of 41 patients), cough (31 [76%]), and myalgia or fatigue (18 [44%]); less common symptoms were sputum production (11 [28%] of 39), headache (three [8%] of 38), haemoptysis (two [5%] of 39), and diarrhoea (one [3%] of 38). Dyspnoea developed in 22 (55%) of 40 patients (median time from illness onset to dyspnoea 8·0 days [IQR 5·0–13·0]). 26 (63%) of 41 patients had lymphopenia. All 41 patients had pneumonia with abnormal findings on chest CT. Complications included acute respiratory distress syndrome (12 [29%]), RNAaemia (six [15%]), acute cardiac injury (five [12%]) and secondary infection (four [10%]). 13 (32%) patients were admitted to an ICU and six (15%) died. Compared with non-ICU patients, ICU patients had higher plasma levels of IL2, IL7, IL10, GSCF, IP10, MCP1, MIP1A, and TNFα.). Lancet 24.1.2020. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2820%2930183-5/fulltext

2020

Human Coronaviruses and Other Respiratory Viruses: Underestimated Opportunistic Pathogens of the Central Nervous System (…several respiratory viruses have neuroinvasive capacities, since they can spread from the respiratory tract to the central nervous system (CNS). Viruses infecting human CNS cells could then cause different types of encephalopathy, including encephalitis, and long-term neurological diseases. Like other well-recognized neuroinvasive human viruses, respiratory viruses may damage the CNS as a result of misdirected host immune responses that could be associated with autoimmunity in susceptible individuals (virus-induced neuro-immunopathology) and/or viral replication, which directly causes damage to CNS cells (virus-induced neuropathology). …  Herein, we present a global portrait of some of the most prevalent or emerging human respiratory viruses that have been associated with possible pathogenic processes in CNS infection, with a special emphasis on human coronaviruses.)? MDPI Viruses. 20.12.2019. https://doi.org/10.3390/v12010014

Uudet elinajanodotteet julkaistiin – Katso täältä, kuinka pitkään elät ja koska tilastojen mukaan kuolet
Laskuri kertoo, kuinka pitkään eri ikäluokat tilastojen perusteella vielä elävät. Juttu on julkaistu lokakuussa 2019. YLE Uutiset 24.10.2019. https://yle.fi/a/3-11032819

Defining ‘T cell exhaustion’. nature reviews immunology. 30.9.2019. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41577-019-0221-9

Protective and Regenerative Roles of T Cells in Central Nervous System Disorders. @IanRicksecker, For context, the parenchyma is the functional tissue of the brain – your neurons and glial cells. It isn’t normally where T cells are: “In the brain of healthy individuals, T cells are only present sporadically in the parenchyma.”Frontiers in Immunology. 12.9.2019. https://doi:10.3389/fimmu.2019.02171

Overweight and obesity – BMI statistics / Data presented in this article refer to year 2019. / A fourth wave of the European health interview survey (the source of these data) is foreseen in 2025. / Planned article update: March 2024. (Highlights: The proportion of overweight adults in the EU varied in 2019 between 37 % in Italy and 58 % in Croatia for women, and between 53 % in France and 73 % in Croatia for men. The age group 18 to 24 years presented the lowest shares of overweight population in the EU in 2019, while those aged 65 to 74 had the highest shares) Eurostat. 2019. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Overweight_and_obesity_-_BMI_statistics

Life Expectancy: Frequently Used, but Hardly Understood. [Life expectancyCohort effectsHeterogeneityHarvesting effectTempo effects] Karger. 19.8.2019. https://www.karger.com/Article/Fulltext/500955#ref22

Contamination by respiratory viruses on outer surface of medical masks used by hospital healthcare workers. BMC Infectious Diseases. 3.6.2019. https://bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12879-019-4109-x

Eugenics and its evolution in the history of western psychology: A critical archival review. (Since its inception Western academic psychology has been influenced by and closely affiliated with eugenics, defined by its originators as the “science of racial betterment.” The role of eugenics has been minimally acknowledged in historical accounts of Western psychology, although it was fundamental to the establishment of empirical psychology methods as well as its applied theories, specifically behaviorism. The continued influence of eugenics in Western psychology, noted in this article, is traced to biologizing human differences while minimizing the role of social context as well as to dividing individuals into groups according to their supposedly innate fitness levels (such as intelligence and optimism). The impact of eugenics on the practice of psychotherapy is highlighted.). Psychotherapy and Politics International. 23.5.2019. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ppi.1495

The Complex Relation Between Receptivity to Pseudo-Profound Bullshit and Political Ideology. SAGE Journals. 18.3.2019. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0146167219830415

Healthcare-associated infections.  (The European Centre for Disease Control estimates that 3.8 million people acquire a healthcare-associated infection each year in acute care hospitals in EU countries and Norway and Iceland , and an estimated 90 000 people in the EU die each year due to the six most common infections in health care settings. The worst three are Greece, Portugal and Finland). Health at a Glance: Europe. February 2019. https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/sites/health_glance_eur-2018-45-en/index.html?itemId=/content/component/health_glance_eur-2018-45-en

America’s Frontline Doctors [2019, Great Barrington Declaration, Tea Party, Simone Gold].  Wikipedia. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/America%27s_Frontline_Doctors

Study Shows That Red Blood Cells Arte Stiffer in People with ME [Myalgenic Enceohalomyelitis]. ME Action. 2.1.2019.  https://www.meaction.net/2019/01/02/study-shows-that-red-blood-cells-are-stiffer-in-people-with-me/

The Major Causes of Death in Children and Adolescents in the United States. NIH. 20.12.2018. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6637963/

Christmas 2018: Look Before You Leap: Parachute use to prevent death and major trauma when jumping from aircraft: randomized controlled trial. The BMJ. 13.12.2018. https://www.bmj.com/content/363/bmj.k5094

Study of the micro-climate and bacterial distribution in the deadspace of N95 filtering face respirators. Scientific Reports. 26.11.2018. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-35693-w

Understanding and misunderstanding randomized controlled trials. Social Science & Medicine. Aug.2018. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953617307359

Long-term reprogramming of the innate immune system. J Leukocyte Biol. 12.7.2018. https://jlb.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/JLB.MR0318-104R

Surgical masks as source of bacterial contamination during operative procedures. J Orthop Transl. 07.2018. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214031X18300809

STM kerää THL:n rokotetutkimuksesta huolestuneet lääkärit koolle: ”Suomessa ei tehdä ihmiskokeita, joista ihmisten itsensä kanssa ei sovita”. STM:n kansliapäällikkö pitää infektiolääkärien syytöksiä hyvin vakavina. Ministeri Saarikko ei kommentoi asiaa. ilta=sanomat.6.7.2018.

IS-reportaasi: Joukko lääkäreitä pitää THL:n rokotetutkimusta haitallisena. (Taustalla on miljoonarahoitteinen tutkimus, jossa GSK:n rokotetta on annettu suomalaisväestölle. Lääkärien arvion mukaan tuhannet ikäihmiset ja lapset ovat sairastuneet turhaan, kun heille ei ole annettu eikä anneta kattavampaa rokotetta. THL pitää lääkärien väitteitä perusteettomina.
Useat korkeassa asemassa työskentelevät ja alallaan arvostetut lääkärit arvostelevat kovin sanoin rokotustutkimusta, jota Terveyden ja hyvinvoinnin laitos THL tekee lääkejätti GlaxoSmithKlinen (GSK) rokotteella. He kyseenalaistavat tutkimuksen eettisyyden. He arvioivat, että tutkimuksen seurauksena ihmishenkiä vaarantuu, kun lapsia rokotetaan vähemmän kattavalla rokotteella ja ikäihmisille ei suositella rokotetta.). ilta=sanomat. 1.7.2018. https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000005738377.html

Syyte 21-vuotiaan kuolemantuottamuksesta: Anestesialääkäri ei käyttänyt kasvosuojainta – otimme selvää, miten leikkaussalissa yleensä toimitaan. Aamulehti. 16.5.2018. https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000005745353.html https://www.aamulehti.fi/uutiset/art-2000007303868.html

Using thermodynamic parameters to calibrate a mechanistic dose-response for infection of a host by a virus. Microb Risk Anal. 4.1.2018. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7103988/

An open resource for transdiagnostic research in pediatric mental health and learning disorders (The Child Mind Institute has launched the Healthy Brain Network (HBN), an ongoing initiative focused on creating and sharing a biobank of data from 10,000 New York area participants (ages 5–21). The HBN Biobank houses data about psychiatric, behavioral, cognitive, and lifestyle phenotypes, as well as multimodal brain imaging (resting and naturalistic viewing fMRI, diffusion MRI, morphometric MRI), electroencephalography, eye-tracking, voice and video recordings, genetics and actigraphy. Here, we present the rationale, design and implementation of HBN protocols. We describe the first data release (n=664) and the potential of the biobank to advance related areas (e.g., biophysical modeling, voice analysis).). Scientific Data. 19.12.2017. https://www.nature.com/articles/sdata2017181

This Neighbourhood Is the Most Densely Populated Place on Earth. With an average of 130,000 people packed inside each square kilometre, Hong Kong’s Mong Kok district is the most densely populated place on Earth.. Culture Trip. 9.11.2017. https://theculturetrip.com/asia/china/hong-kong/articles/this-neighbourhood-is-the-most-densely-populated-place-on-earth/

The efficacy of medical masks and respirators against respiratory infection in healthcare workers. Influenza… [N95 in all tests outperformed medical masks] 11.8.2017. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/irv.12474

The Vicious Circle of Hypometabolism in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Ways and Mechanisms of Metabolic Correction.  Journal of Neuroscience Research. 2.5.2017. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/jnr.24064

How AIDS denialism spreads in Russia through online social networks. The CONVERSATION. 3.4.2017. https://theconversation.com/how-aids-denialism-spreads-in-russia-through-online-social-networks-73875

Cleaning up the hygiene hypothesis. The rise of allergy and autoimmune diseases is due to much more than rampant cleanliness. Is it time to throw out the hygiene hypothesis? PNAS. 14.2.2017. https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1700688114

Tartuntatautilaki. Finlex. 21.12.2016. https://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/ajantasa/2016/20161227

The Respiratory Protection Effectiveness. Clinical Trial (ResPECT): a clusterrandomized comparison of respirator and medical mask effectiveness against respiratory infections in healthcare personnel. Study plan, N95, FFP2. BMC Infectious diseases. 2016. file:///C:/Users/JanDIng%20Oy/Downloads/The_Respiratory_Protection_Effectiveness_Clinical_.pdf

Indoor inhalation intake fractions of fine particulate matter: review of influencing factors. Indoor AIr. 12.2016. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26562829/

Engineered bat virus stirs debate over risky research. nature. 12.11.2015. https://www.nature.com/articles/nature.2015.18787

Epidemiologic features of the first MERS outbreak in Korea: focus on Pyeongtaek St. Mary’s Hospital. Epidemiol Health. 17.9.2015. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26725225/

Aerosolized Ebola vaccine protects primates and elicits lung-resident T cell responses. J Clin Investig. 13.7.2015. https://www.jci.org/articles/view/81532

Understanding Ebola Virus Transmission. Viruses. 3.2.2015. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4353901/

Will today’s children die earlier than their parents? (Obesity, diabetes, kidney disease and neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s are all on the rise, both in the US and in much of the developed world.So while we can expect extra years, they may not necessarily be golden – which is itself a good reason to stay away from the pies.) BBC News. 8.7.2014. https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-28191865

Psychological impact on SARS survivors: Critical review of the English language literature.  APA PsycNetg. 13.1.2014. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2014-43048-001

SARS 2013: 10 Years Ago SARS Went Around The World, Where Is It Now? Huffington Post. 3.11.2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20150116020750/http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/03/11/sars-2013_n_2854568.html

Effectiveness of cough etiquette maneuvers in disrupting the chain of transmission of infectious respiratory diseases (All the assessed cough etiquette maneuvers, performed as recommended, do not block droplets expelled as aerosol when coughing. This aerosol can penetrate profound levels of the respiratory system. Practicing these assessed primary respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette maneuvers would still permit direct, indirect, and/or airborne transmission and spread of IRD, such as influenza and Tuberculosis. All the assessed cough etiquette maneuvers, as recommended, do not fully interrupt the chain of transmission of IRD.) BMC Public Health 8.9.2013. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24010919/

Impact of Summer Heat on Urban Population Mortality in Europe during the 1990s: An Evaluation of Years of Life Lost Adjusted for Harvesting. PLOS One. July 2013. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Michela-Baccini/publication/253336614_Impact_of_Summer_Heat_on_Urban_Population_Mortality_in_Europe_during_the_1990s_An_Evaluation_of_Years_of_Life_Lost_Adjusted_for_Harvesting/links/0c960539eb7aac2c74000000/Impact-of-Summer-Heat-on-Urban-Population-Mortality-in-Europe-during-the-1990s-An-Evaluation-of-Years-of-Life-Lost-Adjusted-for-Harvesting.pdf?origin=publication_detail

Early Life Exposure to the 1918 Influenza Pandemic and Old-Age Mortality by Cause of Death (Cohorts born during pandemic peaks had excess all-cause mortality attributed to increased noncancer mortality. We found evidence for a trade-off between noncancer and cancer causes: cohorts with high noncancer mortality had low cancer mortality, and vice versa.). Am J Public Health. July 2013. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3682600/

Bad air, amulets and mosquitoes: 2,000 years of changing perspectives on malaria. Malaria Journal. 9.7.2013. https://malariajournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1475-2875-12-232

SARS 10 years later: How are survivors faring now (Chronic fatigue: About 40 to 50 per cent of her sample was unable to return to work. “These are professionals, this is an identity they had,” she explains. The overwhelming tiredness changes their lives. “We’re not just talking about feeling a little bit tired each day. This is a disabling fatigue,” Gardner says.  Some patients take on an activity for nearly 20 minutes and need to return to rest.)? Global News. 6.3.2013.  https://globalnews.ca/news/404562/sars-10-years-later-how-are-survivors-faring-now/

Dynamic Neural Retraining (DNR, Conclusion: “Brain training” remains a problematic area. Evidence-based recommendations include basic advice, such as – keep mentally active, keep physically active, and engage in novel activities. Until there is rigorous research demonstrating specific and significant advantages for a particular “brain training” program, I would not believe the hype.). Science-Based Medicine. 6.2.2013. https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/dynamic-neural-retraining/

A Randomized Clinical Trial of Three Options for N95 Respirators and Medical Masks in Health Workers. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. 24.1.2013. https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/full/10.1164/rccm.201207-1164OC

Facemasks, hand hygiene, and influenza among young adults: a randomized intervention trial. PLOS One. 25.1.2012. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22295066/

Cognitive Impairment: An Independent Predictor of Excess Mortality: A Cohort Study (At baseline, 3157 patients had no cognitive impairment, 533 had mild impairment, and 267 had moderate to severe impairment. Overall, 2385 of the 3957 patients (60.3%) died during the observation period: 1812 (57.4%) patients with no cognitive impairment, 363 (68.1%) patients with mild impairment, and 210 (78.7%) patients with moderate to severe impairment. Both mild and moderate to severe cognitive impairment were associated with increased mortality hazard independent of other mortality risk factors (hazard ratio, 1.184 [95% CI, 1.051 to 1.334] and for mild impairment 1.447 [CI, 1.235 to 1.695] for moderate to severe impairment). Median survival for all 3957 participants was 129 months. Median survival for participants with no, mild, and moderate to severe cognitive impairment was 138, 106, and 63 months, respectively.) Annals of Internal Medicine. 6.9.2011. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/0003-4819-155-5-201109060-00007?rss=1

SARS survivors struggle with symptoms years later. Painful muscles and joints, shortness of breath and lack of energy are all unwanted gifts of a disease that keeps on giving, say researchers. In addition, many victims suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (What surprised the researchers was that patients not only weren’t getting better as time went on — many seemed to be getting significantly worse.  The study found that in 2007, almost 88 per cent of patients were below average for measures of general health, compared with about 49 per cent three years earlier.). Toronto Star. 2.9.2010. https://www.thestar.com/life/health-wellness/sars-survivors-struggle-with-symptoms-years-later/article_e1a016e2-c2f5-53cd-af20-8efa6fc6db03.html

Development of a Dose-Response Model for SARS Coronavirus. Risk Analysis. 14.10.2010. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1539-6924.2010.01427.x

Performance of an N95 Filtering Facepiece Particulate Respirator and a Surgical Mask During Human Breathing: Two Pathways for Particle Penetration. J Occup Environ Hyg. 22.7.2010. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7196699/

Asleep: the Forgotten Epidemic That Remains One of Medicine’s Greatest Mysteries (Between 1916-1931 a mysterious illness swept across the globe, afflicting millions, killing one-third outright and leaving another third permanently disabled. Encephalitis lethargica (also known as epidemic encephalitis) usually appeared in a person who had had recent symptoms of a sore throat or flu-like illness, and was characterized by the patient appearing to fall into a deep sleep that could last for weeks or months. Some patients were stricken so suddenly that they seemed to lose consciousness while in the midst of eating, their partially chewed food still in their mouths. Others developed oculogyric crises, with many also developing signs of Parkinson’s disease. Half of those who survived (and up to 70% of children who survived) emerged with significant personality changes and/or other disabilities.). Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. 15.6.2010. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2883045/

The effect of mask use on the spread of influenza during a pandemic. Risk Analysis. 20.5.2010. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20497389/

Public Avoidance and the Epidemiology of novel H1N1 Influenza A. National Bureau of Economic Research. February 2010. https://www.nber.org/papers/w15752

Lingering prenatal effects of the 1918 influenza pandemic on cardiovascular disease (Prenatal exposure to the 1918 influenza pandemic (Influenza A, H1N1 subtype) is associated with ≥20% excess cardiovascular disease at 60 to 82 years of age, relative to cohorts born without exposure to the influenza epidemic, either prenatally or postnatally (defined by the quarter of birth), in the 1982–1996 National Health Interview Surveys of the USA. Males showed stronger effects of influenza on increased later ischemic heart disease than females. Adult height at World War II enlistment was lower for the 1919 birth cohort than for those born in adjacent years, suggesting growth retardation. Calculations on the prevalence of maternal infections indicate that prenatal exposure to even uncomplicated maternal influenza may have lasting consequences later in life.). J Dev Orig Health Dis. 1.2.2010. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2826837/

Vesirokkorokotus kansalliseen rokotusohjelmaan? Duodecim. 1.2010. https://www.duodecimlehti.fi/duo98512

Infections and autoimmunity – friends or foes?. Trends in Immunology. 29.8.2009. https://www.cell.com/trends/immunology/fulltext/S1471-4906(09)00125-2

Pandemics: avoiding the mistakes of 1918. Nature 20.5.2009. https://www.nature.com/articles/459324a

“Filoviruses”: a real pandemic threat?EMBO Moleculare Medicine. 1.4.2009. https://www.embopress.org/doi/full/10.1002/emmm.200900005?cookieSet=1

Inequalities in healthy life years in the 25 countries of the European Union in 2005: a cross-national meta-regression analysis (Europe, Life expectancy, Healthy years of life expectancy. In 2005, an average 50-year-old man in the 25 EU countries could expect to live until 67·3 years free of activity limitation, and a woman to 68·1 years. HLYs at 50 years for both men and women varied more between countries than did life expectancy (HLY range for men: from 9·1 years in Estonia to 23·6 years in Denmark; for women: from 10·4 years in Estonia to 24·1 years in Denmark). Gross domestic product and expenditure on elderly care were both positively associated with HLYs at 50 years in men and women (p<0·039 for both indicators and sexes); however, in men alone, long-term unemployment was negatively associated (p=0·023) and life-long learning positively associated (p=0·021) with HLYs at 50 years of age.). Lancet.17.11.2008. https://naturaleater.com/Science-articles/Healthy-life-years-EU.pdf

When can dispersal synchronize populations? Theoretical Population Biology. nn.5.2008. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0040580907001396

Will a pandemic bring down civilisation? (There is a widespread belief that our society has achieved a scale, complexity and level of innovation that make it immune from collapse. “It’s an argument so ingrained both in our subconscious and in public discourse that it has assumed the status of objective reality,” writes biologist and geographer Jared Diamond of the University of California, Los Angeles, author of the 2005 book Collapse. “We think we are different.”). New Scientist. 2.4.2008.  https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19826501-400-will-a-pandemic-bring-down-civilisation/

Evaluation of Respirator Filters for Asbestos Fibers. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene.. 24.10.2007. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15459620500444046

Intake fraction distributions for indoor VOC sources in five European cities. Indoor Air 10.2007. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17880633/

Darwin, social Darwinism and eugenics,  from Chpt 9. PART II – HISTORICAL CONTEXTS. (How does Darwin’s Darwinism relate to social Darwinism and eugenics? Like many foes of Darwinism, past and present, the American populist and creationist William Jennings Bryan thought a straight line ran from Darwin’s theory (’a dogma of darkness and death’) to beliefs that it is right for the strong to crowd out the weak, and that the only hope for human improvement lay in selective breeding. Darwin’s defenders, on the other hand, have typically viewed social Darwinism and eugenics as perversions of his theory. Daniel Dennett speaks for many biologists and philosophers of science when he characterises social Darwinism as ’an odious misapplication of Darwinian thinking’.) Cambridge University Press. 28.5.2006. https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/abs/cambridge-companion-to-darwin/darwin-social-darwinism-and-eugenics/514EF4EAE6DD4F0E167D7EB554DDFF0B

Coronavirus infection of the central nervous system: host–virus stand-off. (Key Points / Coronaviruses infect humans, rodents and several agriculturally important animals. / Mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) causes acute infections of the murine liver and lungs and persistent infections of the gastrointestinal tract and central nervous system (CNS). / Interactions of immune effectors and cells of the CNS can be studied using a non-lethal gliatropic strain of MHV. This model sheds light on the interplay of cytokines, chemokines and innate and adaptive immune effectors during acute infection, as well as their role in regulating coronavirus persistence. / This review summarizes data that show how distinct phases of CNS infection are associated with the induction of innate danger signals, altered patterns of inflammatory cells and expression of antiviral effector functions. This leads to a state of virus–host coexistence that is beneficial to the survival of both. / During acute infection, the principal antiviral effectors are virus-specific T cells, which use distinct mechanisms to control virus replication in a CNS-cell-type specific manner. Control of viral replication in CNS-resident macrophages (microglia) and astrocytes is dependent on CD8+ T-cell perforin-mediated cytolysis. By contrast, control of replication in oligodendrocytes requires secretion of the soluble mediator, interferon-γ. / Control of virus replication is accompanied by downregulation of CD8+ T-cell cytolytic function and recruitment of virus-specific antibody-secreting cells into the CNS. Maintenance of local secretion of neutralizing antibody is crucial in preventing the re-emergence of infectious virus, indicating that virus persists in a replication-competent form. / In the MHV model, the limitation of prolonged cytolytic activity sustains CNS function, while soluble mediators control, but cannot eradicate, persistent infection.) Nature. 1.2.2006. https://www.nature.com/articles/nrmicro1343

Why Most Published Research Findings Are False. OLOS Medicine. 30.8.2005. https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.0020124

The Effects of the 1918–1919 Influenza Pandemic on Infant and Child Health in Derbyshire (). Med Hist. 1.1.2005. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1088249/

Meta-analysis of the Italian studies on short-term effects of air pollution–MISA 1996-2002. [harvesting] Epidemiol Prec. Jul-Oct 2004. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15730075/

SARS – finaali vai alkusoitto? (Jussi Huttunen)  Duodecim. 2003. https://www.duodecimlehti.fi/duo93750

The Temporal Pattern of Mortality Responses to Air Pollution: A Multicity Assessment of Mortality Displacement (Joel Schwarz. Harvesting effect. Air pollution, especially airborne particles, has been consistently reported to be associated with daily deaths in reports from all over the world.  More recently, systematic multicity analyses have confirmed these findings. Nevertheless, some have questioned the public health significance of these associations, arguing that if these deaths are occurring only in those who would have died in a few days anyway, the public health significance of exposure is small. Were that the case, the increase in deaths during and immediately after exposure would be counterbalanced by a deficit in daily deaths a few days later, when those deaths would have otherwise occurred. If such a pattern were true, the positive correlation seen between daily deaths and exposure shortly before the death would be counterbalanced by a negative correlation between exposure and daily deaths at some longer lag. An example of such a hypothetical pattern, called mortality displacement or harvesting effect, is seen in Figure 1. Were such a phenomenon to exist, it should be detected readily in studies of acute episodes, but those patterns have not been observed in air pollution episodes.) Epidemiology. Jan 2002. https://journals.lww.com/epidem/fulltext/2002/01000/Confounding_and_Effect_Modification_in_the.14.aspx

Death and miasma in Victorian London: an obstinate belief. BMJ. 22.12.2001. https://www.bmj.com/content/323/7327/1469

How It Really Happened: What Nobody Needs to Know About Airborne Infection. Am J Respir Crit Care Med Vol 163. pp 7–8, 2001. https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1164/ajrccm.163.1.hh11-00

Killer mousepox virus raises bioterror fears. New Scientist. 10.1.2001. https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn311-killer-mousepox-virus-raises-bioterror-fears/

Theory and methods: Life expectancy as a summary of mortality in a population: statistical considerations and suitability for use by health authorities. BMJ. 7.6.2000. https://jech.bmj.com/content/55/1/38

Survival of mycobacteria on N95 personal respirators. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 04.1999. doi: 10.1086/501618.

Brain positron emission tomography (PET) in chronic fatigue syndrome: preliminary data. Am J Med. 1998. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9790483/

Human monkeypox in Kasaï Oriental, Zaire (1996-1997). Eurosurveillance. 11.4.1997. https://www.eurosurveillance.org/content/10.2807/esm.02.05.00161-en

Increase in Incidence of Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus among Children in Finland. Int J Epidemiology. 1.10.1995. https://academic.oup.com/ije/article-abstract/24/5/984/704832

Transmission of Ebola virus (Zaire strain) to uninfected control monkeys in a biocontainment laboratory. Lancet. 30.12.1995. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(95)92841-3/fulltext

CDC and the smallpox crusade. CDC. 1987. https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/21534

Epidemic cholera: its history, causes, pathology, and treatment. medicalheritagelibrary. 1849. https://archive.org/details/39002086311546.med.yale.edu

A Journal of the Plague Year by Daniel Defoe – being Observations or Memorials of the most remarkable occurrences, as well public as private, which happened in London during the last great visitation in 1665.
Written by a CITIZEN who continued all the while in London. Never made publick before. 1722.  https://www.gutenberg.org/files/376/376-h/376-h.htm

Päiväämättömät

5-11-vuotiaiden lasten rokottaminen COVID-19 tautia vastaan Suomessa. THL Nohynek. https://www.julkari.fi/handle/10024/143460

Public health management during COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic is a public health emergency. Learn about the public health management actions we are taking, and your responsibilities as a healthcare provider. Australian Government  Department of Health and Aged Care. https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/covid-19-vaccines/advice-for-providers/clinical-guidance/public-health-management

Dynamic Neural Retraining System (DNRS). [opened on 22.2.2022.] https://fraudlisting.com/index.php/dnrs/

Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). WHO The Global Health Observatory. https://www.who.int/data/gho/indicator-metadata-registry/imr-details/158

Years of life lost (YLL) (per 100 000 population). WHO The Global Health Observatory. https://www.who.int/data/gho/indicator-metadata-registry/imr-details/4427

Potential years of life lost (PYLL). OECD Data. https://data.oecd.org/healthstat/potential-years-of-life-lost.htm

World Development Indicators: Population dynamics, The World Bank. http://wdi.worldbank.org/table/2.1

Jatkuvasti päivittyvät

Home (google.com)

Valtakunnallinen rokotusrekisteri ja rokotusohjelman seuranta Avohilmo
Terveyden ja hyvinvoinnin laitos (THL) ylläpitää valtakunnallista rokotusrekisteriä. Rokotustiedot kerätään suoraan potilastietojärjestelmistä. Rokotusrekisteri kattaa julkisessa perusterveydenhuollossa annetut rokotukset. Tietoa saadaan myös erikoissairaanhoidossa ja yksityisessä terveydenhuollossa annetuista rokotuksista. THL. https://thl.fi/aiheet/infektiotaudit-ja-rokotukset/seurantajarjestelmat-ja-rekisterit/valtakunnallinen-rokotusrekisteri-ja-rokotusohjelman-seuranta. https://sampo.thl.fi/pivot/prod/fi/vaccreg/cov19cov/summary_cov19covareatime?alue_0=518362&alue_1=&rokoteannos_0=701924#

Koronarokotusten kausiraportointi. THL. https://sampo.thl.fi/pivot/prod/fi/vaccreg/cov19season/fact_cov19season?row=measure-533172.433796.533185.&row=season-1003329.1017232.&column=isoweek-1003321

Koronarokotukset Suomessa (PÄIVITYS LAKKAA 1.1.2024) Rokotusten edistyminen sairaanhoitopiireissä viikoittain eri ikäryhmissä. Annetut annokset ikäryhmittäin alueella Kaikki alueet. THL. https://sampo.thl.fi/pivot/prod/fi/vaccreg/cov19cov/summary_cov19covareatime?alue_0=518362&alue_1=&rokoteannos_0=533174#

Top 50: Cumulative deaths per capita by income (last 12 months). Updated daily
Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people (last 12 months). Tracker. https://pandem-ic.com/top-50-cumulative-deaths-per-capita-by-income-last-12-months/

Age dependency ratio, old (% of working-age population). World Bank staff estimates based on age distributions of United Nations Population Division’s World Population Prospects: 2022 Revision. The World Bank. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.DPND.OL

Top 50: Cumulative deaths per capita by income (last 12 months)
Updated daily. Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people (last 12 months). [Johns Hopkins] https://pandem-ic.com/top-50-cumulative-deaths-per-capita-by-income-last-12-months/

Excess mortality by month. EuroStat. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/DEMO_MEXRT__custom_4634345/default/table?lang=en

File:Map01 Excess Mortality 2022 Dec.png. EuroStat Statistic explained. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=File:Map01_Excess_Mortality_2022_Dec.png.

Glossary:Excess mortality. EuroStat Statistics explained. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Glossary:Excess_mortality

Weekly death statistics. Eurostat Statistics explained. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Weekly_death_statistics#Data_sources

Excess mortality by month (online data code: DEMO_MEXRT ) Eurostat. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/demo_mexrt/default/table?lang=en

Excess mortality – statistics Eurostat. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Excess_mortality_-_statistics

Mortality by Week – Excess deeaths per week 2020-2022. . OECD.Stat. https://stats.oecd.org/index.aspx?queryid=104676

Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 deaths per million people in the last 12 months. Johns Hopkins. Ouir World in Data. https://ourworldindata.org/explorers/coronavirus-data-explorer?zoomToSelection=true&time=2020-03-01..latest&facet=none&pickerSort=asc&pickerMetric=location&Metric=Confirmed+deaths&Interval=Cumulative+%28last+12+months%29&Relative+to+Population=true&Color+by+test+positivity=false&country=GBR~DEU~ITA~AUT~BEL~CZE~DNK~FIN~FRA~HUN~LVA~LTU~NOR~POL~PRT~SVK~SVN~CHE~SWE~ESP~EST~GRC~LUX

Estimated cumulative excess deaths durinng COVID. Our World in Data. https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/excess-deaths-cumulative-economist?tab=table&time=2021-06-21..latest&country=DNK~FIN~AUT~NOR~NZL~SWE

Excess mortality during the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). Our World in Data. https://ourworldindata.org/excess-mortality-covid

Mortality (by week) : Excess deaths by week, 2020-2022. OECD-Stat. https://stats.oecd.org/index.aspx?queryid=104676

Johns Hopkina Coronavirus Resources Center.  https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Varmistetut koronatapaukset Suomessa (COVID-19).  esri-Finland. https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/d40b2aaf08be4b9c8ec38de30b714f26

12ng — Kuolleet viikoittain sukupuolen, iän ja maakunnan mukaan (Pikaennakko), 1990W01-2022W49*. Tilastokeskus. https://pxdata.stat.fi/PxWeb/pxweb/fi/Kokeelliset_tilastot/Kokeelliset_tilastot__vamuu_koke/koeti_vamuu_pxt_12ng.px/

Koronavirus COVID-19 tilanne Suomessa. Lähde THL. Tiedot päivitetty: tartunnat ja kuolemat 22.12.2022, sairaanhoito 27.12.2022 (eilen). Jätevesi päivitetty 25.12.2022.  https://www.koronatilastot.fi/fi/sairaala/

Variant report 2022-11-23 (continuously updated). GitHub.  https://github.com/neherlab/SARS-CoV-2_variant-reports/blob/main/reports/variant_report_latest_draft.md

COVID-19 vaccine surveillance report. Week 24. (regularly updated) UK Health Security Agency.  https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1083443/Vaccine-surveillance-report-week-24.pdf

Graphs and Maps. EUROMOMO. last update 2022 wk 44. https://www.euromomo.eu/graphs-and-maps

Tartuntatautirekisterin COVID-19-tapaukset. THL https://sampo.thl.fi/pivot/prod/fi/epirapo/covid19case/fact_epirapo_covid19case?row=dateweek20200101-509030&column=measure-444833.445356.492118.816930.816957.&fo=1

Tartunnat ja hoidon tarve rokotussuojan mukaan- Sivun aineisto päivitetään kuukausittain, kuukauden 15. päivästä seuraavana arkipäivänä, jolloin aineistoon päivitetään tiedot edellisen kuukauden loppuun saakka. THL. https://sampo.thl.fi/pivot/prod/fi/epirapo/covid19inci/summary_cov19incisummary?kvartaali_0=669812&ikaryhma_0=650914&mittari_0=642064#

Koronavirusepidemiaa koskevat infot ja tilannekuvat. https://stm.fi/korona-tilannekuvat

Tilannekatsaus koronaviruksesta – Tilannetietoa koronasta lukuina. Koronakartta päivittyy kerran viikossa torstaisin. Tälle sivulle on koostettu lähteet ajankohtaisiin tilannetietoihin koronaviruksesta. https://thl.fi/fi/web/infektiotaudit-ja-rokotukset/ajankohtaista/ajankohtaista-koronaviruksesta-covid-19/tilannekatsaus-koronaviruksesta

Excess mortality in England (onwards from 21.3.2022). Office for Health Improvement and Disparities. https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiYmUwNmFhMjYtNGZhYS00NDk2LWFlMTAtOTg0OGNhNmFiNGM0IiwidCI6ImVlNGUxNDk5LTRhMzUtNGIyZS1hZDQ3LTVmM2NmOWRlODY2NiIsImMiOjh9

Advice for the public: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). WHO [frequently updated 2019…10.5.2022]. https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public

Rates of COVID-19 Cases and Deaths by Vaccination Status. CDC Covid Data Tracker. Updated monthly. CDC COVID Data Tracker: Rates of COVID-19 Cases and Deaths by Vaccination Status

Coronavirus (COVID-19) deaths worldwide per one million population as of April 26, 2022, by country https://www.statista.com/statistics/1104709/coronavirus-deaths-worldwide-per-million-inhabitants/

Demographic Trends of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the US reported to CDC. Maps, charts, and data provided by CDC, updates Tues-Sun by 8 pm ET. CDC COVID Data Tracker. https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#demographics

Graphs and maps. Euromomo. https://www.euromomo.eu/graphs-and-maps

WHO Coronavirus (COVID-19) Dashboard. WHO. https://covid19.who.int/table

Lesson 1: Introduction to Epidemiology. Section 11: Epidemic Disease Occurrence. Level of disease. CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/csels/dsepd/ss1978/lesson1/section11.html

Maps in support of the Council Recommendation on a coordinated approach to travel measures in the EU. ECDC. https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/covid-19/situation-updates/weekly-maps-coordinated-restriction-free-movement

Tracking COVID-19 variant Omicron. https://bnonews.com/index.php/2021/11/omicron-tracker/

Suomen riski ja tartuntakartat. Suomen COVID-19 riskikartta ja tartuntatilanne kunnissa – Epidemia.fi

[New Zealand] Alert Level 4: Information on what Alert Level 4 means for you. Alert Level 4 | Unite against COVID-19 (covid19.govt.nz)

COVID Data Tracker. CDC. https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#variant-proportions  https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#covidnet-hospitalizations-vaccination

COVID-19 Alberta statistics. Interactive aggregate data on COVID-19 cases in Alberta. https://www.alberta.ca/stats/covid-19-alberta-statistics.htm#severe-outcomes

Coronavirus tracked: see how your country compares. Financial Times. https://ig.ft.com/coronavirus-chart/

More Than 2.3 Billion Shots Given: Covid-19 Tracker. In the U.S., 307 million doses have been administered. https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/covid-vaccine-tracker-global-distribution/?cmpid=BBD052721_CORONAVIRUS&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_term=210527&utm_campaign=coronavirus

UK summary. The official UK government website for data and insights on coronavirus (COVID-19). https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/

Choosing Safer Activities. Vaccinated – not vaccinated. CDC. 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/pdfs/324153_choosingSaferActivities11.pdf

Global Report Investigating Novel Coronavirus Haplotypes. These lineages are being tracked because they have mutations of interest and evidence of international spread.Pango lineages. Global report investigating novel coronavirus haplotypes. 2021. https://cov-lineages.org/global_report.html.

KUOLEMAT JA KUOLINSYYT: MITÄ ISTAT TUOTTAA. Institut Nationale di Statistica. https://www.istat.it/it/archivio/240401

Päivittyvä koronaseuranta. Helsingin Sanomat. https://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000007780238.html

Excess mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic. https://github.com/dkobak/excess-mortality

Italia, yksityiskohtaiset Covid-19 tiedot alueittain: https://github.com/pcm-dpc/COVID-19/blob/master/dati-province/dpc-covid19-ita-province-20201231.csv

Altistumiset, tietokanta. https://altistumiset.fi/ords/f?p=102:17:504074001699701:::::

Tracking covid-19 excess deaths across countries. In many parts of the world, official death tolls undercount the total number of fatalities. The Economist. https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/coronavirus-excess-deaths-tracker

COVID-NET A Weekly Summary of U.S. COVID-19- Associated Hospitalisations. CDC.  https://gis.cdc.gov/grasp/covidnet/COVID19_3.html

Population receiving at least one dose of a covid-19 vaccine, % of total. The Economist. https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/tracking-coronavirus-across-the-world

Our coverage of the coronavirus. A selection of our stories about covid-19 and its consequences. The Economist. https://www.economist.com/coronavirus-pandemic

Hallituksen tiedotustilaisuudet sekä tilannekatsaukset koronavirusepidemiasta. Valtioneuvosto Statsrådet. https://valtioneuvosto.fi/tietoa-koronaviruksesta/tilannekatsaukset

General information and news. LitCov.   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/research/coronavirus/docsum?filters=topics.General%20Info

Globaalit ja maakohtaiset koronatilastot.  https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

WHO daily situation reports and corona statistics since 21.1.2020.   https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/situation-reports

Maps & Trends. Follow global cases and trends. Johns Hopkins coronavirus Resource Center.   https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/data

Coronavirus Source Data. Hannah Ritchie. The data on the coronavirus pandemic is updated daily.    https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus-source-data

covid-19-data/public/data/owid-covid-data.xlsx. Global GitHub database.   https://github.com/owid/covid-19-data/blob/master/public/data/owid-covid-data.xlsx

Korean CDC Press Releases. Public Health Weekly Reports. https://www.cdc.go.kr/board/board.es?mid=a30501000000&bid=0031&cg_code=C04

Global research on coronavirus disease (COVID-19), WHO Database.    https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/global-research-on-novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov

SSRN’s Coronavirus and Infectious Disease Research page provides a curated view into the early-stage research to help researchers, public health authorities, clinicians and the public understand, contain and manage this disease. https://www.ssrn.com/index.cfm/en/coronavirus/

I.Stat il tuo accesso diretto alla statistica italiana.  https://www.istat.it/it/archivio/240401

All you need to Crush covid-19.  https://www.endcoronavirus.org/

See how your community is moving around differently due to COVID-19. Community Mobility Reports.  https://www.google.com/covid19/mobility/

Tämä artikkeli käsittelee COVID-19-tautia. Sen aiheuttavaa virusta käsittelee artikkeli SARS-CoV-2 ja viruksen aiheuttamaa pandemiaa käsittelee artikkeli koronaviruspandemia 2019–2020. WIKIPEDIA. (Sisältää lukuisia täältä puuttuvia viitteitä ja linkkejä – Ajoittain päivittyvä).    https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19

COVID-19  https://informationisbeautiful.net/visualizations/covid-19-coronavirus-infographic-datapack/#activities

COVID-19: Latest news updates from around the world. Twitter  https://twitter.com/i/events/1219057585707315201

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Annals of Internal Medicine. (139 articles up to 9.7.2020.) https://www.acpjournals.org/topic/category/coronavirus

COVID-19 Dashboard by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University (JHU).  https://gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6

Jatkuvasti päivittyvä koronagrafiikkakooste.  N.M.2020. http://pitkaranta.blogspot.com/search/label/koronavirus

Morbidity and Mortalioty Weekly Report (MMWR). CDC. N.M.  https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/index2020.html

Download data on the weekly subnational 14-day notification rate of new COVID-19 cases. ECDC. Weekly.  https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/weekly-subnational-14-day-notification-rate-covid-19

Koronavirusepidemian aikaiset rajoitukset. Valtioneuvosto.  https://valtioneuvosto.fi/tietoa-koronaviruksesta/rajoitukset-ja-suositukset

https://coronavirus-staging.data.gov.uk/

https://tradingeconomics.com/country-list/gdp-annual-growth-rate

Daily COVID-19 tests per thousand people: Because not all countries report testing data on a daily basis, daily test figures are not available for some countries in our dataset. https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/full-list-daily-covid-19-tests-per-thousand?time=2020-02-18..latest&country=BEL~DNK~FIN~FRA~GRC~ISL~ITA~NOR~SWE~CHE~GBR

The Atlantic – Covid Tracking Project: https://covidtracking.com/data/charts/us-all-key-metrics

Covid in the U.S.: Latest Map and Case Count. New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/coronavirus-us-cases.html

Sonderseite, Coronavirus. Frankfurter Allegemenine Zeitung. https://www.faz.net/aktuell/gesellschaft/gesundheit/coronavirus/

COVID-19: Current cases.  Information about confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in New Zealand. Ministry of Health. https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-data-and-statistics/covid-19-current-cases

COVID-19 Projections. IHME. https://covid19.healthdata.org/global?view=total-deaths&tab=trend

COVID-19 Information Hub. Astra Zeneca. https://www.astrazeneca.com/covid-19.html

RECOVERY Trial: This national clinical trial aims to identify treatments that may be beneficial for people hospitalised with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.  University of Oxford. https://www.recoverytrial.net/

Covid-19 updates. New Scientist. https://www.newscientist.com/article-topic/covid-19/#top

Template:COVID-19 pandemic data. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data

COVID-19 lockdowns. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lockdowns#Canada

Statistics and Research. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Vaccinations. Our World in Data. https://ourworldindata.org/covid-vaccinations

Osuus positiivisista COVID-19-testeistä. Vahvistettujen tapausten kokonaismäärä osuutena testattujen ihmisten kokonaismäärästä tai suoritettujen testien määrästä – sen mukaan, miten maa raportoi testitiedot. Luvut esitetään ajan mittaan viidennen vahvistetun kuoleman jälkeen kuluneiden päivien mukaan.  https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/covid19-positive-rate-since-5th-death?time=2020-02-23 .. viimeisin

GOV.UK-koronavirus (COVID-19) Isossa-Britanniassa. https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/deaths

 

. 25.2.2021