Scientists finally know why people get more colds and flu in winter

“Cold air is associated with increased viral infection because you’ve essentially lost half of your immunity just by that small drop in temperature,” said rhinologist Dr. Benjamin Bleier, director of otolaryngology at Massachusetts Eye and Ear and an associate professor at Harvard Medical School in Boston.

Source: Scientists finally know why people get more colds and flu in winter

Op-Ed: COVID wave is rising in U.S. because immunity is down and precautions have grown lax – Los Angeles Times

Over recent weeks, since before Thanksgiving, there has been a significant and steep rise in COVID-19-related hospitalizations for Americans 70 and older. Nationally, that rate now exceeds the peak of the BA.5 summer wave and the Delta wave in the summer of 2021 — and this surge is still in sharp ascent. This is a signal that we are in for some trouble.

Source: Op-Ed: COVID wave is rising in U.S. because immunity is down and precautions have grown lax – Los Angeles Times

Chikungunya vaccine candidate: Antibody levels remained stable from month 6 to month 12 – Outbreak News Today

By NewsDesk  @bactiman63 Vaccine company, Valneva, announced Monday positive antibody persistence data twelve months after vaccination with a single dose of its chikungunya vaccine candidate, VLA1553. Following positive immunogenicity and safety data for Phase 3 study VLA1553-301 in March 2022, Valneva set up a dedicated antibody persistence trial (VLA1553-303) to monitor a subset of participants for […]

Source: Chikungunya vaccine candidate: Antibody levels remained stable from month 6 to month 12 – Outbreak News Today

EU: deforestation products deal | EUROPE DIPLOMATIC

The provisional agreement sets mandatory due diligence rules for all operators and traders who place, make available or export the following commodities from the EU market: palm oil, beef, timber, coffee, cocoa, rubber and soy. The rules also apply to a number of derived products such as chocolate, furniture, printed paper and selected palm oil based derivates (used for example as components in personal care products). A review will be carried out in two years to see if other products need to be covered.

Source: EU: deforestation products deal | EUROPE DIPLOMATIC

Our Vote … In The Hands Of SCOTUS

Filosofa's Word

Governor Roy Cooper of North Carolina knows of what he speaks:  A Democrat, he was re-elected to a second term as governor in 2020. Before becoming governor, he served four terms as attorney general. He was a state senator for 10 years before that, including serving a few years as the majority leader. He also held a seat in the State House of Representatives earlier in his career.  And when he speaks, I think we should sit up and take note.  Yesterday, he spoke in the form of an OpEd in the New York Times on the subject of Moore v Harper, the case before the Supreme Court that could upend fair and honest elections in the U.S.  His views help clarify just what is at stake, and should be required reading!


North Carolina’s Governor Says a Fringe Claim Before the Supreme Court Would Upend Democracy

Governor Roy Cooper

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