Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
COVID-Related Medical Research Findings
Reuters: Japan Researchers Say Ozone Effective In Neutralising Coronavirus
Japanese researchers said on Wednesday that low concentrations of ozone can neutralise coronavirus particles, potentially providing a way for hospitals to disinfect examination rooms and waiting areas. Scientists at Fujita Health University told a news conference they had proven that ozone gas in concentrations of 0.05 to 0.1 parts per million (ppm), levels considered harmless to humans, could kill the virus. (Swift, 8/26)
The New York Times: Why Does The Coronavirus Hit Men Harder? A New Clue
The coronavirus may infect anyone, young or old, but older men are up to twice as likely to become severely sick and to die as women of the same age. Why? The first study to look at immune response by sex has turned up a clue: Men produce a weaker immune response to the virus than do women, the researchers concluded. (Mandavilli, 8/26)
CIDRAP: Study Identifies Sex Differences In Levels Of Antibodies Against COVID-19
Concentrations of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 began to decline 4 to 5 weeks after diagnosis in 159 patients who recovered from COVID-19, with men showing a significantly stronger immune response than women—which could account for the poorer outcomes seen in men, according to a Swiss study published yesterday in the Journal of Infection. Researchers analyzed participants' antibody concentrations for 8 weeks, starting 2 weeks after a positive coronavirus test result. After a median of 5 weeks after diagnosis, 4.6% to 6.5% of participants had not developed measurable levels of one of three types of coronavirus antibodies, which the investigators said may be due to a missing or delayed immune response to COVID-19. "We speculate this to be secondary to a suspected virus' ability to modify or suppress innate immune responses," they wrote. (8/25)
Stateline: Controversial Antigen Tests Could Be Key To Defeating COVID-19
Many, including members of the Trump administration’s coronavirus task force, say rapid result tests have the potential to cure the nation’s COVID-19 testing shortage — a problem that has hobbled public health efforts to control the virus from the beginning. At the same time, public health officials worry that the less sensitive tests — which are increasingly used in doctor’s offices, nursing homes, jails, schools and workplaces — could muddy the surveillance data epidemiologists rely on to monitor the spread of the virus. (Vestal, 8/26)
CIDRAP: 12% Of Adults Hospitalized For Flu Have Acute Heart Problems, Study Finds
A study today in the Annals of Internal Medicine shows that acute cardiovascular events, including heart failure and ischemic heart disease, occur in almost 12% of adult patients hospitalized for influenza. The study was based on more than 80,000 US patients whose outcomes were tracked via the US Influenza Hospitalization Surveillance Network during the 2010-11 through 2017-18 flu seasons. (8/25)
