Equatorial Guinea confirmed its first-ever Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreak today. This highly infectious virus causes hemorrhagic fever, with a fatality ratio of up to 88%.
MVD is in the same virus family that causes Ebola virus disease.
Preliminary tests carried out following the deaths of at least nine people in the country's western Kie Ntem Province turned out positive for MVD, wrote the World Health Organization (WHO) on February 13, 2023.
Marburg Virus Disease Outbreak Confirmed in Equatorial Guinea
Can COVID-19 Immunity Hide in DNA?
Nearly everyone you know has had it at least once, if not multiple times. But, even considering those who have had COVID-19 and not realized it, there are probably still people out there who have managed to avoid being infected by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, wrote Dr. Lindsay Broadbent at the University of Surrey.
That said, some new research examines whether a genetic element explains why certain people have never caught COVID.
U.S. Orders 1.5 Million Protein-based COVID-19 Vaccines
Novavax, Inc. today announced a new agreement that would maintain the U.S. public's access to Novavax's protein-based COBID-19 vaccine.
And this contract will support the U.S. government's continued efforts to make Novavax's vaccine available for free to states, jurisdictions, federal pharmacy partners, and federally qualified health centers.
Nepal's Resurgent Measles Outbreak Can be Contained
Arjun Poudel with The Kathmandu Post recently reported the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal's Health Department is aggressively confronting the recent outbreak of measles that began in early 2023.
Nepal has committed to eliminating measles by 2023. But, to declare measles as eliminated, the number of cases should be less than five per one million people yearly.
Since measles is a vaccine-preventable disease, this goal indicates new initiatives are needed.
Practicing Physicians Saw Excess Mortality During COVID-19 Pandemic
However, physicians had substantially lower excess mortality than the general U.S. population
COVID-19 Pneumonia More Fatal for Older Adults
COVID-19 tied to approximately doubled in-hospital mortality rates versus bacterial or other viral pneumonias
Long-Term Sequelae Specific to SARS-CoV-2 Infection Identified
Palpitations, hair loss, fatigue, chest pain, dyspnea, joint pain, obesity seen after SARS-CoV-2 versus other viral respiratory infections
Risk for Alcohol Use Disorder Increased After COVID-19 Infection
Elevated risk for AUD after COVID-19 infection observed in some time periods during the pandemic