Paxlovid reduces risk of COVID-19 death by 81%, Clalit study shows – The Jerusalem Post

Among patients 65 years of age or older, the rate of hospitalization due to COVID-19 was 14.7 cases per 100,000 person-days among treated patients, compared with 58.9 cases per 100,000 person-days among untreated ones.

“The results of the study show unequivocally that treatment with Paxlovid significantly reduces the risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19.” 

Source: Paxlovid reduces risk of COVID-19 death by 81%, Clalit study shows – The Jerusalem Post

DNR Issues Guidelines in Anticipation of Fall Surge of Avian Influenza – 9 & 10 News

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is asking all hunters to be observant and careful when harvesting and handling wild birds because of the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus.

“As Michigan waterfowl hunters get out in the fields and marshes this season, we want them to know there is a lot they can do both to help prevent the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza and to keep themselves, others and our bird and wildlife populations safe,” Megan Moriarty, the state wildlife veterinarian with the DNR, said.

The DNR released guidelines for waterfowl hunters that include the following:

  • Harvest only waterfowl that act and look healthy, make sure you are not handling or eating sick game
  • Field dress and prepare game outdoors or in a well-ventilated area
  • Wear rubber or disposable latex gloves while handling and cleaning game
  • Remove and discard intestines soon after harvesting and avoid direct contact with the intestinal contents
  • Do not eat, drink, smoke or vape while handling carcasses
  • When done handling game, wash hands thoroughly with soap and water, clean knives, equipment and surfaces that came in contact with the game, and wash hands before and after handling any meat
  • Keep waterfowl cool, below 45 degrees Fahrenheit, until processed and then refrigerate or freeze
  • Thoroughly cook all game to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit before eating it

Although the rate of positive cases has slowed over the summer, a recent uptick in cases of wild bird die-offs, neurologically abnormal wild birds and HPAI detections has caused the DNR to issue additional guidance. According to the DNR, influenza experts are expecting a resurgence of avian influenza as waterfowl starts to migrate and the fall hunting season begins.

Source: DNR Issues Guidelines in Anticipation of Fall Surge of Avian Influenza – 9 & 10 News

Universal flu vaccine protects against variants of both influenza A and B viruses, researchers find — ScienceDaily

Vaccinating mice with this universal vaccine candidate induced broad neuraminidase inhibition, M2 ectodomain specific antibodies and T cell immune responses. Comparable cross protection was induced in aged mice.

The study warrants further testing of this unique, universal vaccine candidate in ferrets, which have similar respiratory tracts to humans.

Co-authors of the study include Ki-Hye Kim (co-first author), Zhuo Li (co-first author), Noopur Bhatnagar, Jeeva Subbiah, Bo Ryoung Park, Chong Hyun Shin, Bao-Zhong Wang and Sang-Moo Kang of the Institute for Biomedical Sciences at Georgia State; and Peter Pushko of Medigen Inc.

The study is funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Source: Universal flu vaccine protects against variants of both influenza A and B viruses, researchers find — ScienceDaily

Not 3, but 4 Musketeers???

Context, Thought, and Learning: ShiraDest Offers Project Do Better

This was a book I found highly entertaining, easy to follow, never boring, yet not nearly as profound nor as captivating (read that: thought-provoking) as The Count of Monte-Cristo, and hence, not a book I would purchase to keep at home. dumas_by_nadar2c_1855
I listened to the book via LibreVox, and the reader was good, except for the fact that, I really hate to say it, I literally had to grit my teeth through the mercifully few sections where she sang (sorry, some folks just do not have good singing voices, and this reader was one of them). But apart from that, the listening experience was ok, saving me the time of reading since I can listen as I clean, cook, eat, and clean.
(yes, in that order, due to slovenly roommates…)

Reading Progress

October 25, 2020 – Started Reading
October 25, 2020 – Shelved as: livres
October 25, 2020 –…

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Are Many New Yorkers Infected with Poliovirus? — Precision Vaccinations

The New York Department of Health issued a HEALTH ADVISORY: Update on August 19, 2022, stating: All children, adolescents, and adults who are unvaccinated or under-vaccinated should be brought up to date with all routine CDC-recommended IPV doses.

This is particularly important and urgent if they live, work, attend school, or have frequent social interactions with Rockland and Orange Counties communities.

The U.S. CDC’s website says, ‘for best protection, children should get multiple doses of a polio vaccine, and previously vaccinated people can get a one-time polio vaccine booster, under certain conditions.’

There are two types of vaccines that can prevent polio, the Inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) and the Oral poliovirus vaccine, which is offered abroad.

The IPV protects against both wild-type polio and this weakened poliovirus strain.

The good news is that IPV is readily available in the USA.

In addition to public health clinics, local pharmacies and pediatricians offer polio vaccination services.

‘Until poliovirus eradication is achieved worldwide, importations of both wild polioviruses and VDPVs into the United States are possible,’ says the CDC.

Source: Are Many New Yorkers Infected with Poliovirus? — Precision Vaccinations

« Today, we have more environmental groups and less forests, more ‘protected areas’ and less species, more carbon taxes and greater carbon emissions,…

Yes, it’s sobering to recognize that, indeed: “Today, we have more environmental groups and less forests, more ‘protected areas’ and less species, …

« Today, we have more environmental groups and less forests, more ‘protected areas’ and less species, more carbon taxes and greater carbon emissions,…