StemCell Therapy

Despite false assertions by the president to the contrary, any potential treatments to counter or prevent COVID-19 are still only at the stage of early investigations, which include one-off treatment with special individual case authorizations, and small-scale clinical examinations. Nothing so far has approached the level of scrutiny needed to actually say anything definitively about their actual ability to treat COVID-19 or the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes it, but the first large-scale U.S. clinical study for one treatment candidate is seeking volunteers and looking to get underway.

The study will be conducted by the Henry Ford Health System, which is seeking 3,000 volunteers from healthcare and first responder working environments. Depending on response, the researchers behind the study are looking to begin as early as next week. Study lead researcher Dr. William W. ONeil said in a press release announcing the study that the goal is to seek a more definitive scientific answer to the question of whether or not hydroxychloroquine might work as a preventative medicine to help protect medical front-line workers with greater risk exposure from contracting the coronavirus.

Hydroxychloroquine (as well as chloroquine) has been in the spotlight as a potential COVID-19 treatment due mostly to repeated name-check that President Trump has given the drug during his daily White House coronavirus task force press briefings. Trump has gone too far in suggesting that the drug, which is commonly used both as an anti-malarial and in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, could be an effective treatment and should be thrust into use. At one point, he claimed that he FDA had granted an emergency approval for its use as a COVID-19 treatment, but Dr. Anthony Fauci clarified that it was not approved for that use, and that clinical studies still need to be performed to evaluate how it works in addressing COVID-19.

Studies thus far around hydroxychloroquine have been small-scale, as mentioned. One, conducted by researchers in France, produced results that indicated the drug was effective in treating those already infected, particularly when paired with a specific antibiotic. Another, more recent study from China, showed that there was no difference in terms of viral duration or symptoms when comparing treatment with hydroxychloroquine with treatment using standard anti-viral drugs, already a common practice in addressing cases of the disease.

This Henry Ford study looks like it could provide better answers to some of these questions around the drug, though the specific approach of seeking to validate prophylactic (preventative) use will mean treatment-oriented applications will still have to be studied separately. The design of the study will be a true blind study, with participants split into three groups that receive unidentified, specific pills (possibly anti-virals or some equivalent); hydroxychloroquine; or placebo pills, respectively. They wont know which theyve received, and theyll be contacted weekly by researchers running the study, then in-person both at week four and week eight to determine if they have any symptoms of COVID-19, or any side effects from the medication. Theyll get regular blood draws, and the results will be compared to see if theres any difference between each cohort in terms of how many contracted COVID-19.

These are front-line healthcare workers, so in theory they should unfortunately be at high risk of contracting the disease. That, plus the large sample size, should provide results that provide much clearer answers about hydroxychloroquines potential preventative effects. Even after the study is complete, other competing large-scale trials would ideally be run to prove out or cast doubt on these results, but well be in a better position than we are now to say anything scientifically valid about the drug and its use.

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Henry Ford Health System to conduct first large US study of hydroxychloroquines ability to prevent COVID-19 - TechCrunch

Scientists are learning more each day about the mysterious novel coronavirus and the symptoms of Covid-19, the disease it causes.

Fever, cough and shortness of breath are found in the vast majority of all Covid-19 cases. But there are additional signals of the virus, some that are very much like cold or flu, and some that are more unusual.

Any or all symptoms can appear anywhere from two to 14 days after exposure to the virus, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Here are 10 signs that you or a loved one may have Covid-19 -- and what to do to protect yourself and your family.

Shortness of breath is not usually an early symptom of Covid-19, but it is the most serious. It can occur on its own, without a cough. If your chest becomes tight or you begin to feel as if you cannot breathe deeply enough to fill your lungs with air, that's a sign to act quickly, experts say.

"If there's any shortness of breath immediately call your health care provider, a local urgent care or the emergency department," said American Medical Association president Dr. Patrice Harris.

"If the shortness of breath is severe enough, you should call 911," Harris added.

The CDC lists other emergency warning signs for Covid-19 as a "persistent pain or pressure in the chest," and "bluish lips or face," which can indicate a lack of oxygen.

Get medical attention immediately, the CDC says.

Fever is a key sign of Covid-19. Because some people can have a core body temperature lower or higher than the typical 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius), experts say not to fixate on a number.

CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, who is battling the virus from his home in New York, is one of those people.

"I run a little cool. My normal temperature is 97.6, not 98.6. So, even when I'm at 99 that would not be a big deal for most people. But, for me, I'm already warm," Cuomo told CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta in a CNN Town Hall.

Most children and adults, however, will not be considered feverish until their temperature reaches 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.7 degrees Celsius).

"There are many misconceptions about fever," said Dr. John Williams, chief of the division of pediatric infectious diseases at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.

"We all actually go up and down quite a bit during the day as much as half of a degree or a degree," Williams said, adding that for most people "99.0 degrees or 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit is not a fever."

Don't rely on a temperature taken in the morning, said infectious disease expert Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of preventative medicine and infectious disease at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville. Instead, take your temperature in the late afternoon and early evening.

"Our temperature is not the same during the day. If you take it at eight o'clock in the morning, it may be normal," Schaffner explained.

"One of the most common presentations of fever is that your temperature goes up in the late afternoon and early evening. It's a common way that viruses produce fever."

Coughing is another common symptom, but it's not just any cough.

"It's not a tickle in your throat. You're not just clearing your throat. It's not just irritated," Schaffner explained.

The cough is bothersome, a dry cough that you feel deep in your chest.

"It's coming from your breastbone or sternum, and you can tell that your bronchial tubes are inflamed or irritated," Schaffner added.

A report put out by the World Health Organization in February found over 33% of 55,924 people with laboratory confirmed cases of Covid-19 had coughed up sputum, a thick mucus sometimes called phlegm, from their lungs.

"The beast comes out at night," said Cuomo, referencing the chills, body aches and high fever that visited him on April 1.

'It was like somebody was beating me like a pinata. And I was shivering so much that ... I chipped my tooth. They call them the rigors," he said from his basement, where he is quarantined from the rest of his family.

"I was hallucinating. My dad was talking to me. I was seeing people from college, people I haven't seen in forever, it was freaky," Cuomo said.

Not everyone will have such a severe reaction, experts say. Some may have no chills or body aches at all. Others may experience milder flu-like chills, fatigue and achy joints and muscles, which can make it difficult to know if it's flu or coronavirus that's to blame.

One possible sign that you might have Covid-19 is if your symptoms don't improve after a week or so but actually worsen.

Speaking of worsening signs, the CDC says a sudden confusion or an inability to wake up and be alert may be a serious sign that emergency care may be needed. If you or a loved one has those symptoms, especially with other critical signs like bluish lips, trouble breathing or chest pain, the CDC says to seek help immediately.

At first science didn't think diarrhea or other typical gastric issues that often come with the flu applied to the noval coronavirus, also known as SARS-CoV-2. As more research on survivors becomes available, that opinion has changed.

"In a study out of China where they looked at some of the earliest patients, some 200 patients, they found that digestive or stomach GI (gastrointestinal) symptoms were actually there in about half the patients," Gupta said on CNN's New Day news program.

Overall, "I think we're getting a little bit more insight into the types of symptoms that patients might have," Gupta said.

The study described a unique subset of milder cases in which the initial symptoms were digestive issues such as diarrhea, often without fever. Those patients experienced delays in testing and diagnosis than patients with respiratory issues, and they took longer to clear the virus from their systems.

Research from China, South Korea and other parts of the world indicate that about 1% to 3% of people with Covid-19 also had conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye.

Conjunctivitis, a highly contagious condition when caused by a virus, is an inflammation of the thin, transparent layer of tissue, called conjunctiva, that covers the white part of the eye and the inside of the eyelid.

But SARS-CoV-2 is just one of many viruses that can cause conjunctivitis, so it came as no real surprise to scientists that this newly discovered virus would do the same.

Still, a pink or red eye could be one more sign that you should call your doctor if you also have other telltale symptoms of Covid-19, such as fever, cough or shortness of breath.

In mild to moderate cases of coronavirus, a loss of smell and taste is emerging as one of the most unusual early signs of Covid-19.

"What's called anosmia, which basically means loss of smell, seems to be a symptom that a number of patients developed," CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta told CNN anchor Alisyn Camerota on New Day.

"It may be linked to loss of taste, linked to loss of appetite, we're not sure -- but it's clearly something to look out for," Gupta said. "Sometimes these early symptoms aren't the classic ones."

"Anosmia, in particular, has been seen in patients ultimately testing positive for the coronavirus with no other symptoms," according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

A recent analysis of milder cases in South Korea found the major presenting symptom in 30% of patients was a loss of smell. In Germany, more than two in three confirmed cases had anosmia.

It has long been known in medical literature that a sudden loss of smell may be associated with respiratory infections caused by other types of coronaviruses, so it wasn't a surprise that the novel coronavirus would have this effect, according to ENT UK (PDF), a professional organization representing ear, nose and throat surgeons in the United Kingdom.

Is there anything you can do at home to test to see if you're suffering a loss of smell? The answer is yes, by using the "jellybean test" to tell if odors flow from the back of your mouth up through your nasal pharynx and into your nasal cavity. if you can pick out distinct flavors such as oranges and lemons, your sense of smell is functioning fine.

For some people, extreme fatigue can be an early sign of the novel coronavirus. The WHO report found nearly 40% of the nearly 6,000 people with laboratory confirmed cases experienced fatigue.

Just a few days into his quarantine, Cuomo was already exhausted by the fevers and body aches the disease brings.

"I'm so lethargic that I can stare outside, and, like, an hour-and-a-half goes by," Cuomo told Gupta on Anderson Cooper 360. "I think I took a 10-minute nap, and it was three and a half hours."

Fatigue may continue long after the virus is gone. Anecdotal reports from people who have recovered from Covid-19 say exhaustion and lack of energy continue well past the standard recovery period of a few weeks.

The WHO report also found nearly 14% of the almost 6,000 cases of Covid-19 in China had symptoms of headache and sore throat, while almost 5% had nasal congestion.

Certainly not the most common signs of the disease, but obviously similar to colds and flu. In fact, many symptoms of Covid-19 can resemble the flu, including headaches and the previously mentioned digestive issues, body aches and fatigue. Still other symptoms can resemble a cold or allergies, such as a sore throat and congestion.

Most likely, experts say, you simply have a cold or the flu -- after all, they can cause fever and cough too.

"At this moment, the current guidance -- and this may change -- is that if you have symptoms that are similar to the cold and the flu and these are mild symptoms to moderate symptoms, stay at home and try to manage them" with rest, hydration and the use of fever-reducing medications, said the AMA's Harris.

That advice does not apply if you are over age 60, since immune systems weaken as we age or if you are pregnant. Anyone with concerns about coronavirus should call their healthcare provider, according to the CDC.

It's unclear whether pregnant women have a greater chance of getting severely ill from coronavirus, but the CDC has said that women experience changes in their bodies during pregnancy that may increase their risk of some infections.

In general, Covid-19 infections are riskier if you have underlying health conditions such as diabetes, chronic lung disease or asthma, heart failure or heart disease, sickle cell anemia, cancer (or are undergoing chemotherapy), kidney disease with dialysis, a body mass index (BMI) over 40 (extremely obese) or an autoimmune disorder.

"Older patients and individuals who have underlying medical conditions or are immunocompromised should contact their physician early in the course of even mild illness," the CDC advises.

To be clear, you are at higher risk -- even if you are young -- if you have underlying health issues.

"People under 60 with underlying illnesses, with diabetes, heart disease, immunocompromised or have any kind of lung disease previously, those people are more vulnerable despite their younger age," Schaffner said.

A history of travel to an area where the novel coronavirus is widespread (and those parts of the world, including the US, are going up each day) is obviously another key factor in deciding if your symptoms may be Covid-19 or not.

If you have no symptoms, please don't ask for testing or add to backlog of calls at testing centers, clinics, hospitals and the like, experts say.

"We do not test people with no symptoms because it's a resource issue," Schaffner said about the assessment center at Vanderbilt. "However, we are emphasizing that people who have this small cluster of important symptoms -- fever and anything related to the lower respiratory tract such as cough and difficulty breathing -- reach out to be evaluated."

If you do have those three signs, where should you go?

"If you have insurance and you're looking for a provider or someone to call or connect with, there's always a number on the back of your insurance card; or if you go online, there is information for patients," Harris said.

"If you don't have insurance, you can start with the state health department or the local community health centers, those are officially known as federally qualified health centers," Harris advised, adding that some states have a 1-800 hotline number to call.

"If there is a testing and assessment center near you, you can go there directly," Schaffer said. "It's always good to notify them that you're coming. Otherwise, you need to call your healthcare provider and they will direct you what to do."

CNN's Jacqueline Howard contributed to this report.

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Coronavirus symptoms: 10 key indicators and what to do - FOX Carolina

The medical community at large is now faced with a new dimension of medicine they have never encountered. As this health crisis that is ever changing, they find themselves with greater challenges than they have ever imagined. Due to shortages on PPE and expecting greater needs for it, and with the unknown factors of what the coming months may unfold. For independent practices it poses even more obstacles as they do not have the infrastructure of the larger hospitals or a group practice might have. Such is the case of a small town doctor that has chosen a different path of medicine from her start in Olney, Illinois.

Since Dr. Jill Scherer's practice began, some might think her model is unorthodox as she chose not to bill insurance, but operates on a direct billing system instead. Dr. Scherer reports The monthly membership fee has worked well and has been well received. Patients who cannot afford insurance can at least be offered primary care services. Other patients with stellar insurance love that their appointments are on time, for however much time they need, and they have access to their provider. My practice was full within 8 months, so I would say the community.

Scherers innovative thinking brought forth a creative solution to the lack of PPE availability presently. Seeing the medical community using some old phone booth looking devices where the individual was swabbing in the booth and sticking only their arms out to swab the person gave her some insight. It also gave the problem that came from the test itself, as it goes deep into the nasal passage which can cause a reflux reaction, then can trigger a response that can cause risk. Henceforth the tent came up outside her clinic and her brainchild came to life. She gave the basic explanation as such. Notoriously they sneeze or cough, so the plexiglass provides excellent protection. My husband, and engineer, decided, why not make a testing site through the window in my exam room. That way, the patient is outside and I am inside with the barrier of plexiglass. There is a stethoscope and giant rubber gloves that protrude from the plexiglass to examine the patient from the plexiglass to exam the patient with. I can swab a patient and be shielded. Then everything is sanitized with bleach before the next patient. Her ingenuity saves on the precious commodity of PPE, and she can judiciously screen her patients she shared. If needed, patients can still enter the clinic, and proper disinfection is provided. She has used the method of patients if needed remaining in their car as well on occasions.

When asking Dr. Scherer how our local community at large is doing in regards to the recommendations the CDC has given to COVID-19, shared these thoughts in regards to reaching a better outcome. I think we need to really take the shelter in place order seriously. Grocery shop once every 2 weeks. We need to wash our hands diligently. We need to not meet up with friends or have play dates. We are a small community and we dont want to be a hot spot for the virus. While it might not seem as scary because we are not Chicago or New York, we still need to be diligent and adhere to the social distancing, shelter in place, washing hands.

The CDC and other health officials have made recommendations in terms of wearing masks for the general public, Dr. Scherer gave these thoughts in relation to these coming guidelines as well As for fabric masks, I think we will see a change in the recommendations from health officials. Much of Asia uses masks and have much lower transmission than use.

Now we do not have enough commercial grade masks for the healthcare workers let alone enough for the general population, so I do think that cotton masks will be beneficial. As of now, any tightly woven cotton or polyblend cotton will be enough. These masks will prevent the wearer from spreading his/her own germs. It doesnt necessarily protect the wearer from getting the virus, but it does make the wearer conscious of how many times they touch their face. If the wearer coughs and sneezes, it does help prevent the respiratory droplets from being expelled into the air.

As there have been various statements in regards to use of Ibuprofen during this health crisis, and the use of it, in the course of the interview Dr. Scherer her thoughts. Her recommendations were as follows. I have not read any solid data on no ibuprofen or other NSAIDs, but I know that the general recommendation is to not use them if you have fever, coughing, cold symptoms. Stick with acetaminophen. If you are on daily NSAIDs, you should call your doctor for specific recommendations regarding stopping or when to stop

As Dr. Scherer incorporates some holistic approaches to what might she suggest or preventive measures, she gave these insights. Eating a healthy diet with fruits and vegetables will promote the best immune function. Thirty minutes of daily exercise as a minimum. Getting adequate sleep, 7-8 hours per night. Shutting off social media and the news for several hours per day to decrease stress level might also help.

In terms of mental health in general terms these suggestions during these stressful times, she gave some excellent helpful tips that all ages can incorporate to aid in the balance as we are all trying to find a new normal. Find a way, while respecting social distancing, to do something nice for someone else. Practicing mindfulness or meditation can help calm anxious nerves. We know that exercise can be as powerful as antidepressants for anxiety and depression, get out and exercise. Sunshine, when it peaks out of the clouds, can also help with our mood.

Her practice is like many all across the country that are finding new ways to treat their patients. She had already used telemedicine as an option, due to not billing insurance prior to COVID. Her patients are able to call, text, or have video chats routinely as well. She routinely has three platforms she is able to utilize, so if one is not working well, she can use another one that works better for that particular patient.

As COVID-19, is only one area of health concerns for our community, I asked this very down to earth and caring physician how she thought our area could improve the total well being in general. She gave some great input. I stress in my practice, the need for lifestyle medicine. We should be using diet, nutrition, stress management, good sleep to help combat our leading causes of death like heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. My advice is not always welcomed, but at least patients know they have a choice in their health outcomes for a majority of diseases.

When asked for her best advice for our area in terms of addressing this ever changing and concerning health crisis upon us she shared these final insights. My goal right now is to take the best care of my patients especially during COVID19 because the rest of health conditions didnt take a break when COVID-19 got here. There are still ear infections, heart attacks, etc. So my immediate goal is to provide excellent care even with the pandemic. My long term goals

are put on hold right now, I will be patient and see how things are in 6-9 months. I think people should know that I am a small business owner trying to provide the best in a strange situation. I want to protect myself and my patients. I dont want to be a super spreader of COVID-19, and that is why I have changed the way I see people. Yes, their visit will be on the phone, then in the parking lot. Only if truly needed will it be in person and at that time, I will look like I have hazmat gear on. I might look a little nutty, but I want to be alive to care for my patients, I dont want to bring COVID-19 home to my family, and I dont want to spread it to my patients. Direct primary care, membership medicine, allows me to be flexible and keep everyone as safe as possible.

Scherer grew up in Streamwood, Illinois, and attended the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois. After completing her bachelor's of science in Biology, she earned her Doctor of Medicine at Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine. She completed her training at the Waukesha Family Medicine Residency in Waukesha, Wisconsin, specializing in Family Practice. Dr. Scherer most recently practiced at the Richland Medical Center in Richland Center, Wisconsin, providing general family practice, obstetrical care, inpatient hospital care, and urgent care. Her areas of interest are preventative medicine, lifestyle medicine, and lactation/breastfeeding medicine. Her continuing education focuses on lifestyle medicine and she will have board certification in it by fall 2018. She is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, IBCLC.

Dr. Scherer and her husband, Mark, recently moved to Olney, Illinois to be closer to his family as they raise their two children. She is thrilled to be practicing in the community and helping to improve the lives of her patients.

It was a rare and refreshing experience, to meet a physician who is dedicated completely to the calling of medicine in its truest sense. She is indeed a great asset to our community. She is accepting patients and can be reached at 618-746-2676 her practice, Whole Family Health Medical Clinic is at 131 Boone St. in Olney, Illinois. The clinic has a facebook page, might note Dr. Scherer, has routine posts on COVID-19 with current updates for the community as well.

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Small town Doctor...finds solutions to the big issues - Pontiac Daily Leader

As the official U.S. death toll from COVID-19 passed 10,000, Surgeon General Jerome Adams warned that Americans should brace for the hardest and saddest week of their lives. During a press appearance over the weekend, he called the coming days our Pearl Harbor moment, our 9/11 moment. Inside New Yorkarea hospitals, the prospects match his grim tone. In addition to struggling with widely-reported supply shortages, working seemingly endless shifts, and struggling to manage the influx of patients, infectious disease experts say that even as theyre racing to develop an effective vaccine, they are essentially learning on the job.

The infection itself does have some perplexing features, said Dr. Megan Coffee, a clinical assistant professor at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine specializing in infectious diseases and immunology, who coauthored a study about an experimental A.I. tool that predicts which patients with the virus will develop a serious respiratory illness. She listed just a few of the many unanswered questions: We dont yet know what we can do to prevent this immunologic response. We also dont fully understand why some, who are healthy, go on to have severe disease and others, with more risk, do not.

Specific characteristics of the virus likewise remain a mystery. The pandemic of 1918was associated with bacterial as well as viral pneumonia, which does not seem to be the case with the novel coronavirus, said Dr. Joseph M. Vinetz, a professor at Yale School of Medicine who also specializes in infectious diseases. But we still dont know whether coronavirus can lead to secondary or superimposed bacterial pneumonia in addition to [causing] immune damage to the lungs, which is the primary cause of severe illness and death. This coronavirus, he said, is puzzling due to its unique combination of asymptomatic infectiousness, and the delayed onset of severe disease. Very perplexing.

Dr. Sandra Gelbard, a Manhattan-based internist who specializes in preventative medicine and one of the first doctors in New York City to begin COVID-19 testing, described the current epidemic as way, way more concerning than the first two coronavirusesSARS and MERSwhich is surprising because the first two were more lethal. But those viruses were contained. With this novel coronavirus, 25 to 50% walk around without symptoms. It is the right combination of lethality and transmissibility. This makes this virus a real global threat.

Dr. Coffee concurred. This is the disease weve always feared as infectious disease doctorsa respiratory-borne virus that spreads easily person-to-person, but with a high mortality, she said. Those of us who have worked on Ebola and other crises have feared for a while [that] this would be worse than anything we have ever seen.

The results, said Dr. Gelbard, could be more devastating than current predictions suggest. If we did intense social isolation like they did in China and South Korea, the number might have been around [100,000 deaths], but we missed the boat on that, she said. I dont expect it to be 100,000 to 200,000 people dead. It could easily be 1 million.

She added, we really dont know the mortality of this virus. Were assuming at best its somewhere around the 1% mark. We cant know at this point. No one knows.

Meanwhile, as it spreads, the virus is changing. The issue is that [it] is mutating, said a New York Citybased doctor treating COVID-19 patients. We cannot predict what strain it will mutate to, and in some populations strains may be more virulent than others, so all we can do is prepare for the worst. She added, Its scary because it is a disease that is ever-evolving. Just when we think we have figured out the pathophysiology of the disease process and how to manage it effectively, we realize there is a new loophole or nuance that the disease presents us with.

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Worse Than Anything Weve Ever Seen: Frontline Doctors Race to Learn the Mysteries of a Deadly Virus - Vanity Fair

A newly hatched study out of China, so raw that its not yet been peer-reviewed, has some disturbing news for cat lovers.

Our furry feline friends appear to be susceptible to catching COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2. Even worse, the cats in the study were able to infect each other, although they showed no signs of illness.

Ferrets were also able to catch the virus, although it didnt appear to harm them. Dogs, on the other hand, were not susceptible, according to the study. The virus showed up in the feces of five dogs, but no infectious virus was found. Pigs, chickens and ducks were also not very hospitable places for the virus.

But theres no need for cat or ferret lovers to panic, experts say. Theres no evidence their pets could get very sick or die from the novel coronavirus.

Yes, people should embrace their pets. These researchers squirted the virus down the cats nose in high concentration, which is pretty artificial, said Dr. John Williams, chief of the division of pediatric infectious diseases at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh.

The lab experiment used a scenario that is completely unrealistic, experts say. First, researchers forced extremely high doses of virus up the nostrils of five 8-month-old domesticated cats.

Cats in our homes or even in the wild would never be exposed to that level of virus.

Thats a whole lot more than an average human would get, said infectious disease expert Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of preventative medicine and infectious disease at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville.

So this is an artificial circumstance and we dont know that it happens in nature at all, Schaffner added.

Two of the five cats were euthanized six days later. Researchers found virus particles in their upper respiratory systems.

The remaining three infected cats were put into a cage adjacent to three non-infected cats. One of those three cats later tested positive for the virus, while the other two did not. Still, the researchers felt that showed the virus could be transmitted via respiratory drops.

Or did it? None of the infected cats exhibited signs of illness. And even if they did pass the virus to each other, that doesnt mean they would be able to pass it on to humans.

Thats what happened nearly two decades ago with a sister coronavirus called SARS-CoV, which causes the deadly pneumonia-like respiratory disease called SARS.

Just like now, science found cats could be infected with SARS-CoV and infect other cats. But the virus didnt transmit widely among house cats during the 2002 to 2004 pandemic, nor were there any known cases of transmission to humans.

The study found ferrets were also efficient replicators of the virus meaning that the virus can easily grow and reproduce in their long, slinky bodies.

SARS-CoV-2 can replicate in the upper respiratory tract of ferrets for up to eight days, without causing severe disease or death, the study said. The study did not look at a longer time frame.

Thats good news for researchers looking for a way to test any future vaccines for SARS-CoV-2, also called the novel coronavirus.

Its necessary to have an animal model to do initial tests of vaccines and understand how viruses cause disease. So, this will be useful to the field, Williams said.

Its actually not surprising that ferrets appear to respond to the novel coronavirus. A ferrets lung and airways are strikingly similar to a humans. In fact, biologically and physiologically ferrets are more similar to humans than they are to a mouse or rat.

Ferrets are classical animals in which to study influenza its been done for decades, Schaffner said. If scientists were looking for an animal model, they would reach for the ferrets first.

Will your cat or ferret come down with coronavirus? Highly unlikely, experts say, pointing to the fact that we would certainly have heard of many cases in pets by now, considering the significant spread of the virus in the us and Europe.

Hong Kong has been quarantining animals belonging to people diagnosed with COVID-19 and have found only two cases of positive results in dogs. The dogs showed no signs of illness during the quarantine.

Rare as it may be, it appears one cat in Belgium may have gotten the virus in March from her owner, who was ill with COVID-19 after returning from a visit to Italy. But even though the cat had respiratory problems and high levels of the virus in vomit and feces, researchers arent yet sure if the cat was sick from COVID-19 or another illness.

While 2 dogs (Hong Kong) and 1 cat (Belgium) have been reported to have been infected with SARS-CoV-2, infectious disease experts and multiple international and domestic human and animal health organizations agree there is no evidence at this point to indicate that pets spread COVID-19 to other animals, including people, the American Veterinary Medical Association says on its website.

The AVMA and the us Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend taking normal precautions when cleaning litter boxes and feeding animals.

Out of an abundance of caution, the AVMA suggests anyone ill with COVID-19 symptoms limit contact at this time, until more information is known about the virus.

Have another member of your household take care of walking, feeding, and playing with your pet, the AVMA states. If you have a service animal or you must care for your pet, then wear a facemask; dont share food, kiss, or hug them; and wash your hands before and after any contact with them.

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Cats may get coronavirus, but it's nothing to worry about - The Philadelphia Tribune

A new trial led by the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania will evaluate whether the drug hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) can benefit people infected with COVID-19, as well as whether taking the drug preventatively may help people avoid infection altogether. The study, called Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19 with HCQ (PATCH), is currently enrolling patients in three separate sub-studies (NCT04329923).

PATCH sub-study 1 will evaluate HCQ compared to placebo in infected patients who are quarantined at home. PATCH sub-study 2 will evaluate high dose compared to low dose HCQ in hospitalized patients. PATCH sub-study 3 will evealuate HCQ compared to placebo prophylactically in health care workers working with COVID-19 patients to evaluate whether it can prevent infection. Sub-studies 1 and 3 are double-blind placebo controlled studies, meaning neither the patient nor the doctor will know whether they are taking HCQ or placebo until the end of the study. Importantly, if the patient or health care worker starts getting worse, they can be unblinded, and the trial allows crossover to HCQ if the patient was assigned placebo.

We know HCQ can be an effective anti-viral in a lab setting, but despite recent public conversation, there is no definitive evidence it can work in humans infected with COVID-19. It is our hope that this trial will provide critical evidence as to whether this drug may be effective in combating the current pandemic, said the studys principal investigator Ravi K. Amaravadi, MD, an associate professor of Hematology-Oncology who has spent his career studying HCQ and related compounds.

For this trial, Amaravadi is working with a multidisciplinary team at Penn, including Benjamin S. Abella, MD, MPhil, a professor of Emergency Medicine, and Ian D. Frank, MD, associate chief of Infectious Diseases, as well as colleagues in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Cardiology, Statistics, and the Abramson Cancer Center.

The first sub-study of the trial will test HCQ in patients who are infected and are well enough to go home, but who need to be in quarantine. Quarantine can be prolonged for some people who have a worse case of the illness, and can impose significant economic, emotional, and psychological hardship on the patient and his or her family. Family members living with a quarantined COVID-19 patient are at high risk of getting the disease themselves. In order to be released from quarantine, they must meet certain criteria according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC): patients must go 72 hours without a fever, see their symptoms improve, and go seven days since their symptoms first appeared. The primary goal of PATCH sub-study 1 is to find out whether the drug reduces the number of days the patient stays quarantined. Researchers were forced to overcome unique logistical hurdles, including arranging for virtual consents from patients and home delivery of HCQ doses.

The second sub-study of the trial will test HCQ in patients who are hospitalized with COVID-19 to see if it can reduce the time to discharge. Patients in this group will also be randomized into a high dose or low dose group. No one will receive a placebo. The correct dose of HCQ for treating COVID-19 is not currently known and this study will provide valuable information to answer that question. The third sub-study will test whether HCQ can work as a preventative medicine to stop infection in health care workers at risk of exposure to COVID-19. Researchers plan to enroll 200 workers in the sub-study.

The need for the third sub-study here is critical, as we try to keep the people working on the front lines of this pandemic healthy so they can continue to keep the nations health care infrastructure up and running, Abella said.

Given the rapid spread of the virus, researchers had to work quickly not only to organize the trial and get it approved from a regulatory standpoint, but also to solve practical problems. In the span of less than a month, they were able to secure funding, arrange for a donation of HCQ, and partner with a group to manufacture an appropriate placebo. The researchers say they are grateful to their partners, and also to their leadership for the support that helped it all come together.

This is an unprecedented time, and it will take unprecedented cooperation, resources, and leadership to get through it. This trial shows Penns ability to step up to meet that responsibility and investigate the scientific questions the world desperately needs to answer, said J. Larry Jameson, MD, PhD, dean of the Perelman School of Medicine.

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Hydroxychloroquine evaluated to treat, prevent COVID-19: University of Pennsylvania trial - Outbreak News Today

(CNN) -- A newly-hatched study out of China, so raw that it's not yet been peer-reviewed, has some disturbing news for cat lovers.

Our furry feline friends appear to be susceptible to catching Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2. Even worse, the cats in the study were able to infect each other, although they showed no signs of illness.

Ferrets were also able to "catch" the virus, although it didn't appear to harm them. Dogs, on the other hand, were not susceptible, according to the study. The virus showed up in the feces of five dogs, but no infectious virus was found. Pigs, chickens and ducks were also not very hospitable places for the virus.

But there's no need for cat or ferret lovers to panic, experts say. There's no evidence their pets could get very sick or die from the novel coroneavirus.

"Yes, people should embrace their pets. These researchers squirted the virus down the cats nose in high concentration, which is pretty artificial," said Dr. John Williams, chief of the division of pediatric infectious diseases at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.

No realistic exposure

The lab experiment used a scenario that is completely unrealistic, experts say. First, researchers forced extremely high doses of virus up the nostrils of five 8-month-old domesticated cats.

Cats in our homes or even in the wild would never be exposed to that level of virus.

"That's a whole lot more than an average human would get," said infectious disease expert Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of preventative medicine and infectious disease at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville.

"So this is an artificial circumstance and we don't know that it happens in nature at all," Schaffner added.

Two of the five cats were euthanized six days later. Researchers found virus particles in their upper respiratory systems.

The remaining three infected cats were put into a cage adjacent to three non-infected cats. One of those three cats later tested positive for the virus, while the other two did not. Still, the researchers felt that showed the virus could be transmitted via respiratory drops.

Or did it? None of the infected cats exhibited signs of illness. And even if they did pass the virus to each other, that doesn't mean they would be able to pass it on to humans.

That's what happened nearly two decades ago with a sister coronavirus called SARS-CoV, which causes the deadly pneumonia-like respiratory disease called SARS.

Just like now, science found cats could be infected with SARS-CoV and infect other cats. But the virus didn't transmit widely among house cats during the 2002 to 2004 pandemic, nor were there any known cases of transmission to humans.

Ferrets affected too

The study found ferrets were also "efficient" replicators of the virus -- meaning that the virus can easily grow and reproduce in their long, slinky bodies.

"SARS-CoV-2 can replicate in the upper respiratory tract of ferrets for up to eight days, without causing severe disease or death," the study said. The study did not look at a longer time frame.

That's good news for researchers looking for a way to test any future vaccines for SARS-CoV-2, also called the novel coronavirus.

"It's necessary to have an animal model to do initial tests of vaccines and understand how viruses cause disease. So, this will be useful to the field," Williams said.

It's actually not surprising that ferrets appear to respond to the novel coronavirus. A ferret's lung and airways are strikingly similar to a human's. In fact, biologically and physiologically ferrets are more similar to humans than they are to a mouse or rat.

"Ferrets are classical animals in which to study influenza -- it's been done for decades," Schaffner said. "If scientists were looking for an animal model, they would reach for the ferrets first."

What this means

Will your cat or ferret come down with coronavirus? Highly unlikely, experts say, pointing to the fact that we would certainly have heard of many cases in pets by now, considering the significant spread of the virus in the US and Europe.

Hong Kong has been quarantining animals belonging to people diagnosed with Covid-19 and have found only two cases of positive results in dogs. The dogs showed no signs of illness during the quarantine.

Rare as it may be, it appears one cat in Belgium may have gotten the virus in March from her owner, who was ill with Covid-19 after returning from a visit to Italy. But even though the cat had respiratory problems and high levels of the virus in vomit and feces, researchers aren't yet sure if the cat was sick from Covid-19 or another illness.

"While 2 dogs (Hong Kong) and 1 cat (Belgium) have been reported to have been infected with SARS-CoV-2, infectious disease experts and multiple international and domestic human and animal health organizations agree there is no evidence at this point to indicate that pets spread COVID-19 to other animals, including people," the American Veterinary Medical Association says on its website.

The AVMA and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend taking normal precautions when cleaning litter boxes and feeding animals.

"Out of an abundance of caution," the AVMA suggests anyone ill with COVID-19 symptoms limit contact at this time, "until more information is known about the virus."

Have another member of your household take care of walking, feeding, and playing with your pet, the AVMA states. If you have a service animal or you must care for your pet, then wear a facemask; dont share food, kiss, or hug them; and wash your hands before and after any contact with them.

The-CNN-Wire & 2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.

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Study: Cats may get coronavirus, but experts say its nothing to worry about - KSAT San Antonio

During the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention andWorld Health Organization made it clear that, unless you're sick or are a medical professional, you do not need to wear a face mask.

On February 29th, U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams tweeted:"Seriously people- STOP BUYING MASKS! They are NOT effective in preventing general public from catching #Coronavirus, but if healthcare providers can't get them to care for sick patients, it puts them and our communities at risk!"

Adams' message comes with good intentions. With COVID-19 cases soaring, doctors, nurses and other frontline health-care workers confront a severe shortage of masks and cautioning people against buying them can help offset the problem.

Butother countries have already taken aggressive measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by telling citizens to wear masks, even if the masksare homemade.

Last week, George Gao,director-general of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, told ScienceMag.comthat the "big mistake in the U.S." is that people aren't wearing masks. "This virus is transmitted by droplets and close contact. Droplets play a very important role," he said. You've got to wear a mask, because when you speak, there are always droplets coming out of your mouth."

Gao has done significant research on virusesthat have fragile lipid membranes called envelopes a group that includes SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) and how they enter cells and move between species.

"Many people have asymptomatic or presymptomatic infections," he continued. "If they're wearing face masks, it can [help] prevent droplets that carry the virus from escaping and infecting others."

So far, U.S. health officials have not offered guidelines or regulations around homemade masks and since commercially made ones are almost impossible to find, your last resort is just starting making your own.

You can find a variety of mask designs online, but simple yet promising one comes from a recent study published in the medical journal Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness.

Researchers analyzed 2008 studiesfrom Public Health England(which evaluated a range of household materials that, in the event of a pandemic, could be used by the general public to make masks) to create a D.I.Y. guide.

"These studies found that T-shirts and pillowcases made into a mask using the design [below] may act as a barrier against influenza, or help limit spread by a person with symptoms," according to the study's authors. "We have no data on COVID-19, but it's not unreasonable to assume similarity."

They also stressed that "the wearing of face masks will only offer limitedprotected, and should notbe considered as sufficient protection. Additional preventative measures need to be adopted."

Face mask template:

(Template and instructions C/O:Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness. Click here to enlarge.)

Supplies:

Simplified version of step-by-step instructions:

Important reminders:

Most people have the basic materials tomake a mask right now. It's time to call forth the "can do" American spirit and encourage people stuck at home to start sewing.

Doing so can save existing stock for healthcare professionals as manufacturers ramp up production in the coming months. If you're healthy have any unused commercial or medical-grade masks lying around, consider donating them to local hospitals.

Instead of obsessing over ill-conceived mixed messages, let's starting viewing mask-wearing as an act of solidarity and make it the new norm (at least until this pandemic over).

Nir Eyalis a behavioral psychology expert and instructor at Stanford's Graduate School of Business. He is the author of the best-selling books"Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life"and "Hooked: How to Build Habit-Building Products" andhas written for Harvard Business Review, TIME and Psychology Today. Follow him on Twitter @NirEyal.

Check out: The best credit cards of 2020 could earn you over $1,000 in 5 years

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Why we should all start making our own face masks during coronavirusand an expert-approved guide on how - CNBC

Dr. Steven Kalkanis, CEO of the Henry Ford Medical Group. (Photo: Courtesy of the Henry Ford Medical Group)

DETROIT According to a news release dated April 2, Henry Ford Health System will lead the first large-scale study in the United States of the effectiveness of an anti-malarial drug in preventing COVID-19 in healthcare workers and first responders who volunteer to participate.

The study of hydroxychloroquine used prophylactically could begin as early as next week, after a plea to the federal government by Detroit Mayor Michael Duggan and Metro Detroit healthcare experts.

This is going to be the first major, definitive study in healthcare workers and first responders of hydroxychloroquine as a preventative medication, said the studys organizer, Henry Ford Health Systems Dr. William W. ONeill, a world-renowned interventional cardiologist and researcher who has pioneered multiple treatments for heart disease. There has been a lot of talk about this drug, but only a small, non-blinded study in Europe. We are going to change that in Metro Detroit and produce a scientific answer to the question: Does it work?

Participation in the study is strictly on a volunteer basis. Greek-American Dr. Marcus Zervos, division head of Infectious Disease for Henry Ford Health System, will oversee this study with Dr. ONeill.

We are glad to see Henry Fords lead on this volunteer study that could help protect medical workers and first responders across southeast Michigan, Mayor Duggan said, acknowledging U.S. Food & Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Stephen M. Hahn. I also deeply appreciate Dr. Hahns prompt support for this important effort.

Both health care workers and first responders will be enrolled at Henry Ford Hospital Detroit. Currently, there are no FDA-approved therapies to prevent or treat COVID-19. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, hydroxychloroquine (also known as hydroxychloroquine sulfate) is an FDA-approved arthritis medicine that also can be used to prevent or treat malaria. It is available in the United States by prescription only. The drug is sold under the brand name Plaquenil and it is also sold as a generic medicine. It is commonly used by patients with arthritis, lupus or other rheumatic conditions.

Metro Detroit has a history of stepping up when things get tough, said Dr. Adnan Munkarah, Henry Ford Health System Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer. We have a commitment to do that right now to look at all options in a scientific way in the face of this worldwide pandemic.

The study, titled WHIP COVID-19 Study, is a 3,000+ subject look at whether the drug prevents front-line workers from contracting the virus. Once they provide a blood sample, the study subjects will receive vials with unidentified, specific pills to take over the next eight weeks: a once-a-week dose of hydroxychloroquine, a once-a-day dose, or a placebo (a pill that looks like the medication, but does not contain any medication or other active ingredients). The study medication was specially procured for this study and will not impact the supply of medication for people who already take the medication for other conditions.

Participants will not know what group they are in. They will then be contacted weekly and in person at week 4 and week 8 of the study to see if they are exhibiting any symptoms of COVID-19, including dry cough, fever or breathing issues, as well as any medication side effects. At eight weeks, they will be checked again for symptoms, medication side effects, and have blood drawn. Results will be compared among the three groups to see if the medication had any effect.

Given our broad clinical trials and translational research infrastructure, we are grateful to bring this type of large-scale effort to the COVID-19 battle, said Greek-American Dr. Steven Kalkanis, CEO, Henry Ford Medical Group and Senior Vice President and Chief Academic Officer of Henry Ford Health System. We see the heroics of the frontline responders in healthcare, public safety and service. Henry Ford Health System is poised to do anything we can to help them stay safe.

The FDA will provide the drug directly to Henry Ford Health System physicians to distribute. Recruiting has not yet begun. More information can be found at http://www.HenryFord.com/whipCOVID19.

The CDC describes hydroxychloroquine, which has been used for 75 years, as a relatively well-tolerated medicine. The most common adverse reactions reported are stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and headache. These side effects can often be lessened by taking hydroxychloroquine with food. Hydroxychloroquine may also cause itching in some people. Minor side effects such as nausea, occasional vomiting, or diarrhea usually do not require stopping the antimalarial drug. Although rare, serious side effects can occur while taking this medication.

If the study finds the drug effective as a preventative medication for COVID-19, it is possible that the study could expand to include hydroxychloroquine in other COVID-19 treatment options, the doctors said. Henry Ford Health System doctors are prescribing hydroxychloroquine as an off-label treatment for only hospitalized COVID-19 positive patients who meet specific criteria as outlined by the hospital systems Division of Infectious Diseases. As required by the state of Michigans Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, the physicians are documenting the prescribed use in the patients electronic medical record.

Henry Ford, as one of the regions major academic medical centers with more than $100 million in annual research funding, is already involved in numerous COVID-19 trials with partners around the world. Henry Ford is also becoming involved in an Abbott-led study of a rapid, point-of-care test for COVID-19. The equipment, about the size of a toaster, delivers positive results in as little as five minutes and negative results in 13 minutes.

Read more here:
Henry Ford Health System to Lead Nat'l Study of Drug's Effectiveness vs. COVID-19 - The National Herald

By Dr. Hemant Gupta DaYM, BAMS and Amita Nathwani, MA

Last week, Eric Garcetti, the mayor of Los Angeles, gave the people of his city a message regarding masks: if you really must go out on the street, for whatever reason, cover your mouth and nose. This measure was given to begin the first step to protecting ones self from the virus.

As we study the impact of stopping the virus outbreak trajectory, the question remains; what can we, as ordinary citizens do to stay healthy in the midst of the exposure?

Enhancing the bodys natural defense system plays an important role in maintaining optimum health and while there is no medicine for COVID-19 as of now, taking preventive measures to boost our immunity is what is called for in these times.

Ayurvedic Medicine, a 5,000 year-old approach to health, which addresses both pathology and prevention, says it starts in the gut. Without a strong and healthy digestive system, with balanced flora and the necessary enzymes to help break down pathogens, our first line of defense is compromised.

Ayurveda has a number of immune building formulas which are recommended to support the immune system. It is important to note, however, Ayurvedas fundamental approach in using plants as medicine is that the individual person as a whole is who advocates the use of herbs instead of isolating, extracting, and administering active ingredients. Ayurveda supports the synergistic approach as opposed to the reductionist approach of each plant.

Before we get to the considerations of the intake of any formula or supplement capable of increasing immunity or fighting disease, we must stress the importance of starting with supporting a weak digestion. Without this step, the efficacy of the remedies will remain low, and the body will not be able to fully breakdown the needed nutrients.

One of the methods of diagnosis by Ayurveda is to determine its weakness by looking at the tongue. If there is a white coating or film, we recommend the following preemptive steps:

These actions over a period of a couple of days will help to increase digestion and help the body begin its ability to receive therapeutic remedies for building the immune system and fighting pathogens. Without this step, the efficacy of the remedies will remain low, and the body will not be able to fully breakdown the needed nutrients.

The second stage of building immunity is to ensure that you are avoiding all causative factors. Studies show that reducing stress through meditation, staying active, yoga and breathing exercises can significantly reduce inflammation in the body and therefore increase the bodys resistance to pathogens and disease. Healthy eating and getting an adequate amount of sleep is also imperative for the bodys natural resistance to be sustained.

In addition to the recommended CDC guidelines for minimizing exposure, Ayurveda offers help in protecting the nose, mouth or eyes, the first entry point of the COVID-19 virus. It is recommended to follow these simple procedures that can be practiced on a daily basis.

And finally, once the digestion is strong, causative factors are eliminated and preventative measures are in place, we can start recommending herbal formulas.

The classic Ayurvedic formula called Chywanprash, serves as a general tonic to increase what Ayurveda calls Ojas or immune building substance in the body. The formula is broken down into about 50 ingredients that work synergistically. Its primary ingredient is the Amla Berry, or Emblica officinalis, which supports antioxidant activity via the encouragement of collagen and elastic production. This formula is available everywhere online in Ayurvedic stores, in both a fresh and dried form, depending on the health needs of the patient.

In this way, Amla supports both the health of the outer skin and the inner skin that lines the gut, respiratory tract, and all mucus membranes of the body. Amla is also well known as a source for natural Vitamin C. Along with other immuno-modulating active plant ingredients like Ashwagandha, Guduchi and Holy Basil, this formula works synergistically to promote health.

Founding professor of John Hopkins University, Sir William Oslar said it best, Let us not treat the disease, but let us treat the patient who has the disease.

Dr. Hemant Gupta is a renowned scholar, researcher and practitioner of Ayurvedic Medicine. Along with a degree in Natural Medicine, Dr. Gupta completed his Masters in Kayachikitsa (Internal Medicine) from National Institute of Ayurveda in Jaipur.

Amita Nathwani is a practitioner and professor with a Masters in Ayurvedic Medicine. She is an adjunct faculty member with the Dr. Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine and a Public Voices Fellow with the OpEd Project.

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The Ayurvedic approach to immunity and the coronavirus - Thrive Global

ZLIs Save a Billion Birds Campaign to Send Songbirds to Biodiversity Hotspots

NEW YORK, Apr. 06 /CSRwire/ - The Zoological Lighting Institute (ZLI) and its ZLI Save a Billion Birds! Campaign announced plans to offset expected devastation to wildlife due to the inevitable economic pressures stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. By advocating and offering planning to achieve bird protections in the northern hemisphere, direct exploitation of impoverished biodiversity hotspots in the southern hemisphere will be offset by songbirds sent to these regions. ZLIs Save a Billion Birds! campaign now provides planning services and access to design services, that identify opportunities for corporations, private institutions and public agencies to effectively offset the devastating loss of birds internationally that most likely will, in post-pandemic days, get worse.

ZLI focuses upon the role of natural light in biology. The charity funds research as to how light affects animal physiology, animal senses and the ways in which it influences relationships between animals in space and time. ZLIs Save a Billion Birds! campaign gets a bit more specific, concentrating on these subjects as they matter for birds. As significant research suggests that artificial light at night (ALAN) and exposed transparent/reflective glass kill several billion birds (including birds representing over a thousand species) annually, ZLIs Save a Billion Birds! has expanded from serving as a research funding initiative to include solution facilitating resources <<https://zoolighting.org/subdepartment/zli-wildlife-friendly-design/>>. COVID-19 makes the urgency of such planning more evident than ever, as migratory birds are necessary to keep ecosystems functioning in areas most susceptible to the emergence of zoonotic diseases. The intent is to link corporations and government agencies to wildlife sensitive development, and to include the financial value of ecosystem services (over $44 trillion US Dollars by peer-reviewed estimates) within design and development decisions.

The emphasis is on bird-friendly planning, rather than bird-friendly product. Despite the devastating news of declining bird populations, bird-friendly design has been pursued on a project by project basis, often relying on the ad-hoc adoption of privately tested products. Yet just as preventative medicine requires a coordinated and international approach, preventative wildlife conservation requires planning and public engagement to mitigate and remove the devastating effects of ALAN and exposed glass. A recent study at Cornell University, showed that birds in developed areas are currently at higher risk than those in soon to be over-stressed areas <<https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2018/09/more-4-billion-birds-stream-overhead-during-fall-migration>>. Bird-friendly planning offers community leaders and responsible companies the opportunity to keep seemingly distant biodiversity hot-spots safer by taking meaningful action in our campuses, offices and development here at home. ZLIs Save a Billion Birds! advocacy of planning (rather than product) recognizes the financial realities of development as well, by providing a platform to engage audiences to help fund necessary change. Planning, and recognizing that birds are a resource in kind that can be sent back to over-stressed biodiversity hot-spots, is an underemphasized means of corporate social responsibility.

We have to take our cue from UNEP (the United Nations Environmental Program) and the CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity), offers ZLI Executive Director James Karl Fischer. In times of financial stress, people without substantial resources turn to nature for sustenance. Hunting, fishing, agriculture; all of these provide food from nature when none is available to be had from industrialized sources. But if wild populations arent managed or supported, individuals can do more harm than good. There are many ways to help of course, but it is important to save the animals in those ecosystems because when they are gone, they are gone, and people will starve while also creating future pandemics. No one is as disconnected from this as we like to imagine

Dr. Fischer continuesIn the northern hemisphere, people are connected to global wildlife habitat more than they realize. Many migratory birds that we see in our cities, backyards and parks are the same birds that help to keep local environments going in the southern hemisphere. If they are killed here, they do not contribute to the rainforests or other biodiversity hot-spots there. Losing birds makes it that much more difficult for habitats to recover from improper resource-acquisition damage. With rising likelihood of human suffering due to economic pressures, it is more important than ever to protect birds from meaningless threats in the north. That means paying attention to the billions of birds killed by glass and artificial light, and making the necessary adjustments to our buildings. That is what Save a Billion Birds! has always been about, but it is more important than ever that resourced groups, companies, institutions and governmental agencies take action now through preventative planning.

The United Nations has been clear as to the value of birds to the economy (see links below). The loss of migratory birds destroys ecosystems and lowers environmental quality, while requiring increased financial expenditures to make up for resources that nature would otherwise provide freely. Birds are essential to agriculture, disaster mitigation, and human health care through the ecological services that they provide (such as improved air and water quality). As we have seen, contact with stressed and monolithic wildlife populations enhances zoonotic diseases. Migratory birds face numerous threats as they travel from one nation to another, across the southern to northern hemisphere and back. Billions across the northern hemisphere die by striking glass, and so cannot replenish their value in African, South American and Southeast Asian biodiversity hotspots. Many specific alternatives to exposed exterior bird-killing glass are available to prevent bird deaths, but adoption depends on leadership and a strategy to effect it. ZLIs Save a Billion Birds! campaign seeks to create leaders willing to take on the challenge of protecting birds, and to engage sympathetic audiences and markets through their commitment to public health, safety and welfare.

ZLIs Save a Billion Birds! Send a Songbird Planning Program is available to private, corporate and institutional stakeholders, and is described at greater length at https://zoolighting.org/subdepartment/zli-wildlife-friendly-design/. An upcoming documentary film Save a Billion Birds! describes the need and process of bird-friendly planning, and will begin shooting in California and Chile, (in conjunction with coordinated versions from South Africa to the UK and Thailand to South Korea) as investments and sponsorships are secured. For more information about ZLIs Save a Billion Birds! campaign, and how to engage the charity to ensure that development mitigates biodiversity-loss, please ask to speak with one of ZLIs Save a Billion Birds! Campaign Committee Leaders directly at saveabillionbirds@zoolighting.org.

About The Zoological Lighting Institute:

A unique charitable 501 c(3) with a mission to Support the Sciences of Light and Life through the Arts for Animal Welfare and Wildlife Conservation, The Zoological Lighting Institute embraces the concept of PhotoDiversity, referring to the importance that the diversity of natural light holds for living things, as well as the importance of cultural, social and human diversity has for science and its application. With an international Board of Directors overseeing four departments, including Film & Media, Education, Sustainable Design and the PhotoSciences, The Zoological Lighting Institute is breaking new terrain in the application of science to address the under appreciated realm of light and life.

Current Campaigns include Beached, Bearanoia, Insect Apocalypse, Otohimes Time, Precious Light and Save a Billion Birds!. Please visit http://www.zoolighting.org for more information on Sponsorships, Donor Advisory Fund (DAF) Giving Opportunities and Matching Contribution Programs.

References and Resources:

https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/video/message-nature-coronavirushttps://www.cbd.int/financial/values/unitedkingdom-valueliterature.pdfhttps://science.sciencemag.org/content/366/6461/120https://www.muhlenberg.edu/academics/biology/faculty/klem/aco/Bird-window.htmlhttps://www.3billionbirds.orghttps://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/bring-birds-back/

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After the Pandemic: Inter-nationalist Wildlife Conservation Initiative - CSRwire.com

Henry Ford is leading a large-scale study on the effectiveness on malaria drugs in preventing COVID-19. // Stock photo

Detroits Henry Ford Health System on Thursday announced it will lead the first large-scale study in the U.S. of the effectiveness of an anti-malarial drug in preventing COVID-19 in health care workers and first responders who volunteer to participate.

The study of hydroxychloroquine used preventatively could begin as early as next week.

This is going to be the first major, definitive study in health care workers and first responders of hydroxychloroquine as a preventative medication, says Dr. William W. ONeill, a world-renowned interventional cardiologist and researcher who has pioneered multiple treatments for heart disease, and the studys organizer at Henry Ford. There has been a lot of talk about this drug, but only a small, non-blinded study in Europe. We are going to change that in metro Detroit and produce a scientific answer to the question: Does it work?

Dr. Marcus Zervos, division head of infectious disease at Henry Ford, will oversee the study with ONeill.

We are glad to see Henry Fords lead on this volunteer study that could help protect medical workers and first responders across southeast Michigan, says Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, acknowledging U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Stephen M. Hahn. I also deeply appreciate Dr. Hahns prompt support for this important effort.

Health care workers and first responders will be enrolled at Henry Ford Hospital Detroit. There are currently no FDA-approved therapies to prevent or treat COVID-19. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hydroxychloroquine, or hydroxychloroquine sulfate, is an FDA-approved arthritis medicine that can also be used to prevent or treat malaria. It is available in the U.S. by prescription only. It is sold under the drug name Plaquenil and is also sold as a generic medicine.

Metro Detroit has a history of stepping up when things get tough, says Dr. Adnan Munkarah, executive vice president and chief clinical officer of Henry Ford. We have a commitment to do that right now to look at all options in a scientific way in the face of this worldwide pandemic.

The study is called WHIP COVID-19 Study and is a more than 3,000-subject look at whether the drug prevents front-line workers from contracting the virus. Once they provide a blood sample, the study subjects will receive vials with unidentified pills to take over the following eight weeks. Participants could be given a once-a-week dose of hydroxychloroquine, a once-a-day dose, or a placebo. The study medicine was specially procured for the study and will not impact the supply of medicine for people who already take the medicine for other conditions.

Participants will not know what group they are in. They will be contacted weekly and in-person at week four and week eight of the study to see if they are exhibiting any symptoms of COVID-19 such as a dry cough, fever, or breathing issues, as well as medication side effects. At eight weeks, they will have blood drawn again. Results will be compared among the three groups to see if the medication had any effect.

Given ourbroadclinical trials and translational research infrastructure, we are grateful to bring this type of large-scale effort to the COVID-19 battle, says Dr. Steven Kalkanis, CEO of Henry Ford Medical Group and senior vice president and chief academic officer of Henry Ford Health System. We see the heroics of the frontline responders in health care, public safety, and service. Henry Ford Health System is poised to do anything we can to help them stay safe.

The CDC describes hydroxychloroquine, which has been used for 75 years, as a relatively well-tolerated medicine. The most common adverse reactions reported are stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and headache. The side effects can often be lessened by taking hydroxychloroquine with food. Hydroxychloroquine may also cause itching in some people. Minor side effects including nausea, occasional vomiting, or diarrhea do not usually require stopping the drug. Serious side effects are rare but can occur.

If the study finds the drug effective as a preventative measure, it is possible the study could expand to include hydroxychloroquine in other COVID-19 treatment options. Henry Ford doctors are prescribing hydroxychloroquine as an off-label treatment for only hospitalized COVID-19 positive patients who meet specific criteria as outlined by the hospital systems Division of Infectious Diseases.

The FDA will provide the drug to the health system to distribute. Recruiting for the study has not yet begun. More information is available here.

Henry Ford has more than $100 million in annual research funding and is already involved in numerous COVID-19 trials with partners around the world.

The health system is a $6 billion integrated health system comprised of six hospitals, a health plan, and more than 250 other sites. It was established in 1915 and has 32,000 employees.

See the original post:
Detroit's HFHS to Lead First Large-scale Study in US of Effectiveness of Anti-malarial Drug in COVID-19 Prevention - dbusiness.com

A century ago, after the 1918-1919 Spanish influenza pandemic, few Canadians had to be reminded about how deadly a respiratory viral infection could be. Estimates vary, but 50 million to 100 million people worldwide perished in the most devastating pandemic in history an event that, strangely, has largely receded from memory.

Older people will also remember the polio epidemics. The Crippler left in its wake close to 50,000 children, as well as adults, with varying degrees of muscle weakness and paralysis, and over 4,100 dead. These worsened across Canada from the late 1920s through the late 1950s during the years before polio vaccines were widely available.

During the 1980s and 1990s, HIV spread rapidly around the world. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) was lethal until the development of treatment regimes, public education campaigns and other prevention measures.

In 2003, thousands of people fell ill, and many died, during an especially severe outbreak in Toronto that seemed to target hospitals and health care workers. This was SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), a pneumonia-like infection caused by a novel coronavirus (similar to COVID-19) that began in China and was imported into Canada.[3]

But until the COVID-19 pandemic contemporary urbanized societies were no longer especially preoccupied with the threat of widespread infectious disease outbreaks. While this prevailing sense of security is rooted in genuine confidence in public health protections and medical science, it also reveals a kind of social complacency and amnesia about the damage that infectious diseases are capable of inflicting.

SPANISH FLU

Among all of these earlier examples, the Spanish influenza pandemic was unique in its intensity and extent. Its story also offers powerful insights into the impact and aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. We understand much more today, but our well-being still depends not just on science, but also on a broad and deep understanding of the stories of past tragedies.

During the Middle Ages and through the 19th century, urban populations in much of Europe and Asia were regularly decimated by pandemics. Bubonic plague was one of the most deadly diseases, transmitted by fleas and parasites. According to the World Health Organization, the bubonic plague also known as The Black Death killed about 50 million people in 14th century Europe and continued to circulate for centuries.

Later on, the conditions of urban life as well as mass migration became key factors driving the rapid spread of highly infectious and deadly diseases such as smallpox, typhus and cholera. Successive epidemics of cholera swept through Europe and spread to North America on ships filled with migrants from Britain. In Canada, cholera arrived in the 1830s and triggered health emergencies in cities like Montreal and Toronto, prompting unprepared authorities to establish the earliest public health boards.

At the time no one knew how most infectious diseases spread from one individual to another. Scientists hadnt yet discovered bacteria or viruses (germs), the microscope hadnt been invented and the concept of vaccination was in its infancy. Colonial governments enacted draconian quarantine laws, but these often failed to be enforced by local officials.

BREAKTHROUGH

A turning point in the containment of infectious disease outbreaks occurred during a cholera epidemic in London, England, in 1854. Tens of thousands of Londoners had died of cholera epidemics in 1849 and 1853. During an 1854 cholera outbreak, a young physician named John Snow came up with the idea of mapping the addresses of victims in a west-end neighbourhood centred on Broad Street. When he analyzed his famous ghost map, he realized that many of the sick and dead lived close to an outdoor water pump that drew on a well contaminated by a nearby privy. Snows empirical observations, considered to be among the first breakthroughs of modern epidemiology, prompted local officials to remove the handle on the Broad Street water pump, a turning point in public health policy.

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many public health advocates and governments pushed to implement prevention-oriented improvements geared at limiting the spread of diseases. The mass production of vaccines and the advent of large-scale inoculation campaigns shifted the fight against infectious disease and epidemics into the realm of preventative medicine.

Routine vaccinations have become one of the principal prevention measures against a range of infectious diseases. Smallpox was declared eradicated from the globe in 1979, and polio is close to the same goal.

What are the connections between todays national and global public health practices and the pandemic that ravaged so much of the world in 1918? Epidemiologists today understand more about the vectors of infection because theyve examined how pandemic influenza spread from troops traveling to and from European battlefields. We drew on some of these lessons during and after the SARS pandemic, in 2003, although dramatic evidence thats surfaced during the COVID-19 pandemic about critical shortages of medical supplies and equipment reveal what can happen when shocking events recede from memory.

ABOUT

The Defining Moments Canada website provides a wealth of information about the way Canadians were affected by this pandemic.

Our goal is inoculate ourselves from the lethal consequences of collective amnesia. We seek to remember not just for its own sake, but to ward off the complacency that can leave our communities vulnerable to, and ravaged by, future epidemics.

John Lorinc is Senior Editor, Defining Moments Canada

Excerpted from Defining Moments Canada, published March 30, 2020.

Visit link:
Infectious disease outbreaks: from The Plague to COVID-19 - Virden Empire Advance

TORONTO Increasingly frustrated health officials say they are prepared to take more aggressive measures to track and contain people with COVID-19 as the number of sick and dead continues to soar.

And that could involve employing some of the digital and mobile strategies seen in countries including Singapore and South Korea where suppression has been more successful, they suggest with caveats.

All of this is under review by various public health bodies, but a York University expert in infectious disease modelling warns that delayed action risks allowing the virus to continue its rapid spread, and force even more intense physical distancing measures.

That may be the painful lesson Canada needs to learn, said Jianhong Wu, an experienced modeller who has led multiple national projects on SARS, pandemic influenza, and immunization evaluation.

Every country has had to go through this first before they learned how serious it is, said Wu, a distinguished research professor whose work includes analysis of epidemic data in Wuhan, China, where the virus was first detected late last year.

The argument for more stringent contact tracing was laid bare in a directive from Ontarios chief medical officer of health this week. Dr. David Williams instructed the provinces public health units to use their authority to isolate COVID-19 cases and anyone with whom those infected people came into close contact.

Williams reiterated that in a press conference, noting the social contacts of those infected must also be traced and contained if were ever to bring the virus to heel.

Even if we were able to flatten the curve, the real grunt work of public health really then kicks into gear even more, explained Williams, referring to the famous line graph that depicts the steep rise in cases that would result without interventions.

(With) all these cases youre going to have to do a lot more contacting, more phone calling, more investigating.

Williams said his office is looking at how to add more staff, volunteers and the use of technology towards this effort.

That work will have to persist through the spring and summer in order to make sure infections dont spark flare-ups.

Were looking at quickly how to ramp that up not only for today, but tomorrow and in the future, because this is going to be very important in the days and weeks going ahead, said Williams.

Its very much intensive work, he added, and thats where technology can help. Whether that includes the use of mobile tracking tools to keep tabs on the infected is an open question, and one hes not ready to rule out.

We have many proposals coming in, and nothing is being rejected outright, said Williams.

Canadas biggest hurdle to tech-assisted tracking is public and political aversion to measures that threaten individual privacy, said Wu, but he argued public safety concerns should trump those worries here.

For now, Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott has suggested the emphasis continues to be on people power. She said Thursday that she hoped medical students can help carry that load.

Such a strategy is already in use in Alberta, where approximately 300 University of Calgary medical students have bolstered that provinces ability to contact the infected and make sure they and their contacts self-isolate.

Dr. Richelle Schindler, a resident physician at the U of C who specializes in public health and preventative medicine, said by email that nursing students may be added to the monumental task, in which trackers chase individuals by phone but can send paramedics to check on those they cant reach.

Albertans who violate isolation orders face a $1,000 fine, but courts have been given increased powers to administer fines of up to $100,000 for a first offence and up to $500,000 for subsequent, more serious violations.

Student trackers must have clinical experience but also get two days of training before hitting the phones. They also get program credit for their time.

While the importance of contact tracing has received less attention than testing in Canada, Wu insisted it is a crucial step to suppressing an epidemic.

He noted that test results provide a snapshot of infections that are days, and even weeks, old. But contact tracing can indicate where the virus is as it jumps from person-to-person.

The public should know that if you want to go back to normal you have to know who is exposed, said Wu, pointing to regions in Asia where the use of mobile data is credited with allowing schools and busy markets to remain open.

Contact tracing generally involves notifying the infected and their close contacts, but really effective tracing would also notify contacts of those close contacts, said Wu.

Thats because by the time youve identified people who have the virus, their close contacts may already be infected and spreading it to others.

Then you can say that the community is safe we know who is impacted, or exposed, who is infected, and therefore you can go back to resuming some social activities, Wu said.

Toronto Public Healths associate medical officer of health said Thursday his unit is in the midst of scaling up tracing efforts by developing a web-based system that would allow more front-line staff to join the effort from home.

The Coronavirus Rapid Entry Case and Contact Management System would allow trackers to input essential case information that can be shared with the province.

Dr. Michael Finkelstein said Toronto currently has more than 100 staff following up with those who are infected and their contacts, and acknowledged that it becomes increasingly difficult to keep pace as cases grow.

But for now, mobile tracking of citizens is not part of Torontos strategy.

TPH is aware that some jurisdictions have used this technology and is investigating its use, said Finkelstein by email.

Wu described a synergistic relationship between three pillars of disease suppression: testing, tracing and social distancing. Where one falters, the others must compensate, he explained.

Even if contact tracing becomes less effective as community spread grows, people still need to know the level of infections and degree of exposure.

Its never too late so you can never give up, said Wu.

But I think we are at a stage that we really have to kick in the technologies and you really have to have the participation from the public.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 2, 2020.

With files from Allison Jones

Cassandra Szklarski, The Canadian Press

Coronavirus

Excerpt from:
The race to trace the spread of COVID-19 in Canada using disease trackers - Red Deer Advocate

Written by Anushka Jagtiani | New Delhi | Published: April 7, 2020 10:00:56 am

As we battle coronavirus, it is important to know that chronic ailments such as diabetes, heart diseases and obesity continue to increase at an alarming rate in India. Indianexpress.com caught up with physician and award-winning nutritionist Dr Vishakha Shivdasani on World Health Day for her perspective and advice on treating chronic illnesses and building immunity.

On this World Health Day, what health conditions (other than coronavirus) concern you the most?

The fact that diabetes and obesity are the fastest-growing epidemics in human history, and not very much is being done at a preventive level to change that.

Amongst the chronic diseases which one are the most widespread in India? Which ones are growing at an alarming rate?

Well, we are the diabetic capital of the world, though China seems to be beating us at that one. Besides Type 2 diabetes, other chronic ailments growing at an alarming rate are obesity, heart disease, polycystic ovarian disease and certain cancers.

What in your opinion has lead to this rapid increase in diabetes , obesity, and other chronic ailments?

Lifestyle. From the way we eat (high carbohydrates and omega 6 fats) to lack of exercise, to high levels of stress and inadequate sleep. All lead to chronic disease.

Can you elaborate more on the role of processed foods and refined sugar?

Processed foods kill. It is what causes chronic disease, and chronic disease puts us at risk for acute disease too.

Firstly, its a combination of sugar thats added to the processed carbs that in turn cause inflammation and compromises your immune function. Sugar is the enemy of a strong immune system.

Secondly, omega 6 fats that are added to processed food cause inflammation, resulting in chronic disease.

Most processed foods should not be labelled as foods. They should be called processed substances. Yes, a very small percentage of them might retain the whole grain and not use refined sugar. But most are first stripped off their original nutrients, through processing, then they are fortified with artificial vitamins and added chemicals used to increase their shelf life and make them taste good. Which is why they are so addictive. They also are often high in cheap omega 6 fats, refined vegetable and seed oils like soya oil and sunflower which are often hydrogenated and turn into trans fats. Those are the ones that cause heart disease. Not the consumption of good fats like olive, avocado and ghee. As a result, all fats get a bad name, which is wrong.

They can also be high in one of the worst forms of sugar-hfcs (high fructose corn syrup), which is the real trigger for inflammation and, therefore, of heart disease, diabetes and PCOS. Because these conditions are all inflammatory in origin, these sugars are also empty calories which mean they have zero nutritional value, but they cause sugar spikes, make you more hungry, and trigger weight gain, cause insulin resistance and diabetes. Yet you yet crave them. Its a vicious cycle.

ALSO READ | Try these simple 15-minute recipes for a healthy day ahead

Would you say Indians are less reliant on processed foods since we do believe in cooking fresh meals everyday, unlike the West? Or do you see a vast number of chronic diseases here as well, related to processed foods?

Post-lockdown, I went to the supermarket to get my essential groceries. It was so odd that the veggies and fruits and milk etc were freely available, but the aisles of Maggi and pasta, biscuits and bread and sodas were completely empty. Stocking up on junk food is not going to help us survive a pandemic. Lets rethink this strategy.

And sure we dont eat as much of processed meats, frozen foods and sodas as the West on a regular basis, but the consumption of breakfast cereals and white and brown breads, and specially biscuits is huge here. And pizzas, pasta and noodles consumption in urban India is also huge.

Which processed foods are the most harmful to consume?

The ones that are loaded with HFCS high fructose corn syrup obviously, but sugar has 56 different names. And most of the ones that say sugar free have sometimes not one but multiple forms of these sugars and the common man does not identify them as sugar but these are the ones that cause the most damage and lower immunity.

Foods which contain Omega 6 are also harmful as these are pro inflammatory. These are the ones that can cause heart disease.

Low-fat processed food is nothing but a big con. The only one benefiting from that is the food industry, so the first thing I do is take my patients off everything low-fat or fat-free.

Apart from being a GP you specialise in nutrition. Do you feel you can reverse some of these chronic ailments, often caused by lifestyle, using nutrition alone?

Most chronic illness can be reversed completely with lifestyle alone. So yes, I am not the pharma industrys favourite doctor and I am known as the doctor who reduces patients medication. But Im qualified to know when and how to do that and because the patient is directly under my supervision. I can change the medication if I spot a red flag. We have reversed so many Type II diabetics, PCOS cases and made patients drop up to 50 kg just with lifestyle interventions.

For diabetes or insulin resistance, how would you keep it under control with nutrition?

Its quite simple really. You just need to reduce the intake of carbohydrates significantly and make sure you have reasonable amount of protein but not too much (like several fads suggest) and have a good amount of good fats. Dont fear them, just make sure they are not hydrogenated vegetable oils and that they are good fats like ghee, olive oil or avocado oil.

ALSO READ | Coronavirus: Origin, symptoms, causes, treatment, precautions and other details about COVID-19

In these days of coronavirus, diabetics, asthmatics and those with cardiovascular disease are more at risk, why is that?

Covid-19 seems to affect people with compromised immune systems the most. Which is the case with most patients with these conditions. And these are also morbidities, which means you are unhealthy. And one is more likely to be hit hard if unhealthy.

What advise would you give them at a crucial time like this?

Up your immunity. Eat real food. Its your best natural defence to fight any pathogen, be it a bacteria or a virus. It may not stop you from getting the virus but its certainly your best chance to survive if you do get it. Drop the sugar. Add supplements like zinc, vitamin C, Omega 3 and Vitamin D. Also add natural anti-inflammatory foods which is available in every Indian kitchen like turmeric, black pepper, ginger, garlic and cinnamon. Drink lots of water, sleep well, exercise, but dont over-exercise. Over-exercising can backfire and reduce immunity.

Does our healthcare systems have the infrastructure to deal with the growing number of chronic diseases?

Nobody does. I think chronic lifestyle ailments are a huge financial burden on any government and from the looks of it, its only going to get worse. We are focused on medicine for symptoms not on prevention and lifestyle.

What would your advice be to the health ministry?

Lets form a governmental task force of doctors who practice functional medicine and incorporate lifestyle as first-line approach and develop programmes to make people healthy and not wait for them to fall sick and then treat them. Its really about preventative medicine.

The Indian Express is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@indianexpress) and stay updated with the latest headlines

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Here is the original post:
Eat real food, its your best natural defence to fight any virus - The Indian Express

Coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath are familiar symptoms for people who have asthma.

We know that viruses, including colds or influenza, can make asthma symptoms worse and potentially trigger an attack.

But what about SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus?

We don't know whether the new coronavirus would trigger an attack, but the assumption is that it would work like any other respiratory virus.

However, at this stage, there's no evidence to indicate that people with asthma even those with severe asthma are more prone than others to becoming seriously ill with a COVID-19 infection, said Jo Douglass, an asthma and allergy expert from the University of Melbourne and the Royal Melbourne Hospital.

"It doesn't seem that asthma is a particular risk for more severe or intensive care admission of COVID-19," Professor Douglass said.

Brian Oliver, a respiratory specialist at the University of Technology Sydney and the Woolcock Institute, agreed.

"I couldn't imagine this being good for asthma, but there's no evidence to say how bad it is for asthma at the moment," Professor Oliver said.

Of much greater risk, he said, is another respiratory disease known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD.

But if you do have asthma, it is important you take medication to prevent a flare-up that could land you in hospital, both experts said.

"The best protection against flare-ups of asthma is to have well-controlled asthma at the start," Professor Douglass said.

To understand why, let's dive deep into your lungs and explain what asthma is and how the medicines help.

Asthma is a lung condition marked by recurrent episodes of coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath.

These symptoms are caused by a tightening or constriction of the muscles in the airways.

People with asthma tend to have more lung tissue than others.

"A person with asthma's lungs are remodelled in such a way that they almost become the equivalent of an elite athlete's," Professor Oliver said.

"The airways in the lung structure are changed in such a way that it makes them easier to contract."

Constriction of the airways is often triggered by an allergic inflammatory response to things like dust, pollen or mould.

It can also be triggered by inflammation caused by a virus (but you can also have asthma without having a virus and vice versa).

The inflammatory process that underlies allergic asthma or any other allergies like hay fever usually involves different types of immune system cells than those fighting viral infections, Professor Douglass said.

"It is a different sort of inflammation than what we see with viral infections in the majority of people."

Medications are designed to either relieve asthma symptoms or prevent asthma.

Reliever medications, also known as puffers, use a drug that relaxes the smooth muscles in your airway to relieve your symptoms.

They have no impact on your immune system.

But, Professor Oliver said, viruses in general can make these medications less effective and you can still have an asthma attack.

"On a molecular level, viruses do this by desensitising the pathway through which your puffer drug is designed to work," Professor Oliver explained.

"So if your bronchodilator [medication] isn't working, when you have symptoms [caused by inflammation in response to the virus], the drugs that should be helping you don't work as well."

Many people with asthma need to take a puffer in combination with a preventer or steroid-based inhaler to prevent asthma attacks.

This drug, which is designed to reduce inflammation in your lungs, is prescribed by your doctor and is taken every day.

While there have been some concerns raised over the impact of high dose oral steroids on the immune system, the inhaled doses used by most people with asthma are low and unlikely to have an effect, Professor Oliver said.

Professor Douglass agreed.

"There's no indication that inhaled steroids are [putting us] at increased risk at all that we're aware of, and I think they are the best protection we've got against having asthma exacerbations," she said.

She said it was important that people talked to their doctors and stayed on their inhaler medications to avoid exacerbations, which could be serious, or the need to go on oral steroids if a flare up happened.

"All doctors are keen to avoid the use of high-dose continuous oral corticosteroid medications, especially in the current setting of infections," Professor Douglass said.

Newer medicines that are based on human antibodies are good options for people with severe asthma, as they cut down the use of high dose oral steroids and prevent flare-ups, she added.

While around 10 per cent of Australians have been diagnosed with asthma it is often overlooked and misdiagnosed especially in adults.

If you haven't been diagnosed, signs to look out for include:

Some people may have been diagnosed but have undertreated asthma.

As a rule of thumb, using a puffer more than twice a week means your asthma is poorly controlled, Professor Douglass said.

"If you're needing [a puffer] more than twice a week you should be on a preventive [medication]," she said.

Other people may have also been diagnosed with asthma, but gone off their preventative medications because they haven't had an attack for a while.

"You can fool yourself into thinking it has gone away, Professor Oliver said.

"But the message is if you've had asthma, you should keep taking your preventive medications."

The recent cases of thunderstorm asthma highlight why.

"When we had the thunderstorm asthma ... a lot of people with asthma weren't taking that preventive medication and then did really badly," he said.

It was also important to realise, he said, that these medications have a finite shelf life.

"So contacting your GP and talking to them and getting medical advice is really important," he said.

More here:
I have asthma. Am I more at risk of having a severe coronavirus infection? - ABC News

New Jersey, United States: Market Research Intellect has added a new research report titled, Veterinary Medicine Market Professional Survey Report 2020 to its vast collection of research reports. The Veterinary Medicine market is expected to grow positively for the next five years 2020-2026.

The Veterinary Medicine market report studies past factors that helped the market to grow as well as, the ones hampering the market potential. This report also presents facts on historical data from 2011 to 2019 and forecasts until 2026, which makes it a valuable source of information for all the individuals and industries around the world. This report gives relevant market information in readily accessible documents with clearly presented graphs and statistics. This report also includes views of various industry executives, analysts, consultants, and marketing, sales, and product managers.

Market Segment as follows:

The global Veterinary Medicine Market report highly focuses on key industry players to identify the potential growth opportunities, along with the increased marketing activities is projected to accelerate market growth throughout the forecast period. Additionally, the market is expected to grow immensely throughout the forecast period owing to some primary factors fuelling the growth of this global market. Finally, the report provides detailed profile and data information analysis of leading Veterinary Medicine company.

Veterinary Medicine Market by Regional Segments:

The chapter on regional segmentation describes the regional aspects of the Veterinary Medicine market. This chapter explains the regulatory framework that is expected to affect the entire market. It illuminates the political scenario of the market and anticipates its impact on the market for Veterinary Medicine .

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1 Introduction of Veterinary Medicine Market1.1 Overview of the Market1.2 Scope of Report1.3 Assumptions

2 Executive Summary

3 Research Methodology3.1 Data Mining3.2 Validation3.3 Primary Interviews3.4 List of Data Sources

4 Veterinary Medicine Market Outlook4.1 Overview4.2 Market Dynamics4.2.1 Drivers4.2.2 Restraints4.2.3 Opportunities4.3 Porters Five Force Model4.4 Value Chain Analysis

5 Veterinary Medicine Market, By Deployment Model5.1 Overview

6 Veterinary Medicine Market, By Solution6.1 Overview

7 Veterinary Medicine Market, By Vertical7.1 Overview

8 Veterinary Medicine Market, By Geography8.1 Overview8.2 North America8.2.1 U.S.8.2.2 Canada8.2.3 Mexico8.3 Europe8.3.1 Germany8.3.2 U.K.8.3.3 France8.3.4 Rest of Europe8.4 Asia Pacific8.4.1 China8.4.2 Japan8.4.3 India8.4.4 Rest of Asia Pacific8.5 Rest of the World8.5.1 Latin America8.5.2 Middle East

9 Veterinary Medicine Market Competitive Landscape9.1 Overview9.2 Company Market Ranking9.3 Key Development Strategies

10 Company Profiles10.1.1 Overview10.1.2 Financial Performance10.1.3 Product Outlook10.1.4 Key Developments

11 Appendix11.1 Related Research

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Tags: Veterinary Medicine Market Size, Veterinary Medicine Market Growth, Veterinary Medicine Market Forecast, Veterinary Medicine Market Analysis, Veterinary Medicine Market Trends, Veterinary Medicine Market

Original post:
Veterinary Medicine Market Size Analysis, Top Manufacturers, Shares, Growth Opportunities and Forecast to 2026 - Science In Me

This weekend a tiger at the Bronx Zoo tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 in humans. But its a leap to worry if your household feline can get or transmit the coronavirus, says Karen Terio, chief of the Zoological Pathology Program at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, which assisted in diagnosing the tiger.

A tiger is not a domestic cat, they are a completely different species of cats, she says. To date we have no evidence of the virus being transmitted from a pet to their owners. Its much, much more likely that an owner could potentially transmit it to their pet.

Even then, the risk of a pet contracting the virus is low. Globally, only two dogs and two cats have tested positive for the virus, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

The first publicly recorded instance of a pet diagnosed with COVID-19 happened in Hong Kong in late February, and Hong Kongs Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department along with veterinary experts at the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) concluded it to be a case of human-to-animal transmission. The pet dog belonged to someone who had the virus, and authorities at the Hong Kong Agriculture Department and OIE believe the dog contracted the virus from its owner.

Over 1 million human cases at this point worldwide and weve only seen four domestic animals test positive so far worldwide, so the risk is very minimal [for COVID-19] to get to pets, says William Sander, assistant professor of preventive medicine and public health, also at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine.

Keep up to date with our daily coronavirus newsletter by clicking here.

At the moment, Sander says, it appears theres little-to-no risk of pets transmitting the virus to their human owners, with no specific evidence suggesting this type of transmission has ever happened. Thats why in the U.S. were really not pushing hard to test pets at all, he says. In the U.S., there hasnt been a single case of a pet diagnosed with the virus, at least according to the countrys Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

There is no reason to think that animals, including pets, in the United States might be a source of infection with the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, a spokesperson for the AVMA wrote in an emailed statement to TIME. COVID-19 appears to be primarily transmitted by contact with an infected persons bodily secretions, such as saliva or mucus droplets in a cough or sneeze.

Terio, however, emphasizes that there is still much that is unknown. If your pet, for example, did contract the virus, it is not clear whether your animal would show signs of infection the way a human would. The tiger at the Bronx Zoo did show signs of respiratory distress, Terio says, but theres a lot that we dont know about how different animals are going to respond to a viral infection.

We dont know if an animal could be an asymptomatic carrier, or if theyd experience a mild or severe form of the disease, Terio adds. This is the tip of, you know, just trying to figure out whats going on, she says. Unfortunately there are way more questions than answers at this time, and thats toughI think this whole thing is unsettling for everybody, and its hard when we dont have good answers for people.

Out of caution, the CDC and AVMA recommend that sick humans stay away from their animal companions. Just like youre keeping your distance from other people, try to have somebody else in your house take care of your pet, just to be overly cautious, Sander says. If you are sick or showing symptoms and you have to take care of your pet, the CDC recommends avoiding snuggles or touching your pet, and washing your hands thoroughly before and after feeding.

Sander and Terio note that scientists still dont fully understand how viruses like the one that causes COVID-19 might or might not move between humans and domestic animals.

Several preliminary studies, which have not been peer reviewed yet, have been shared on public access websites in the last week, Sander says, suggesting that some groups of domestic animals can be infected with SARS-CoV-2 in laboratory settings. Similarly, during the 2003 outbreak of SARS-CoV, also caused by a coronavirus in the same family as SARS-CoV-2, researchers determined that cats and ferrets could be infected with the virusbut that was in a lab setting. Those studies determined that there was little cause for concern that transmissioneither to humans or to other animalscould happen in a natural environment, Sander says.

To understand SARS-CoV-2, we base some of our educated guesses on the previous SARS-CoV that came out in 2003, Sander says. As of now, researchers believe SARS-CoV-2, like the previous SARS, is not likely to transmit from pets to humans.

The AVMA also cautions against over-interpreting the results described in more recent studies, some of which may report on data from a very small number of animals or provide only preliminary results.

Though studies have shown that the virus can live on a variety of surfaces for several hours or days, both Sander and the AVMA say it is unlikely the virus can live on an animals fur, though Terio notes that there isnt enough research to say that with 100% certainty.

According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, SARS-CoV-2 can live on plastics for 72 hours, on stainless steel for 48 hours, on cardboard for 24 hours and on copper for 4 hours.

Obviously, pet fur was not one of the [surfaces] they tested, Terio says. There are a number of variables involved, but you have the presume that [the virus] could potentially survive for a period of timeof potentially a day or so on the surface. Again, we dont know the answer.

In its emailed statement, the AVMA spokesperson writes that while the virus can be transmitted by touching a contaminated surface or object and then touching your nose, mouth or eyes, this appears to be a secondary route. In addition, smooth, non-porous surfaces such as countertops and doorknobs transmit viruses better than porous materials; because your pets hair is porous and also fibrous, it is very unlikely that you would contract COVID-19 by petting or playing with your pet. However, its always a good idea to practice good hygiene around animals, including washing your hands before and after interacting with them.

Though there remain a lot of unknowns, the experts TIME spoke with agree that it is unlikely that a pet can be infected with the virus or that a pet can transmit the virus to humans. But if you are sick, take extra precautions around your animals, because there is a small chance they could catch the virus from you.

In this time of social isolation, pets are actually a great comfort for the mental health side of things too, Sander says. If you arent showing any clinical signs of anything, take advantage of having that mental support.

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Write to Jasmine Aguilera at jasmine.aguilera@time.com.

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Your Pets Are Not Likely to Get or Transmit Coronavirus. Here's What the Experts Say - TIME

As COVID-19 spreads across the globe, a common question is, can infectious diseases be connected to environmental change? Yes, indicates a study published today from the University of California, Davis One Health Institute.

Exploitation of wildlife by humans through hunting, trade, habitat degradation and urbanization facilitates close contact between wildlife and humans, which increases the risk of virus spillover, found a study published April 8 in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. Many of these same activities also drive wildlife population declines and the risk of extinction.

The study provides new evidence for assessing spillover risk in animal species and highlights how the processes that create wildlife population declines also enable the transmission of animal viruses to humans.

Spillover of viruses from animals is a direct result of our actions involving wildlife and their habitat, said lead author Christine Kreuder Johnson, project director of USAID PREDICT and director of the EpiCenter for Disease Dynamics at the One Health Institute, a program of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. The consequence is theyre sharing their viruses with us. These actions simultaneously threaten species survival and increase the risk of spillover. In an unfortunate convergence of many factors, this brings about the kind of mess were in now.

For the study, the scientists assembled a large dataset of the 142 known viruses that spill over from animals to humans and the species that have been implicated as potential hosts. Using the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, they examined patterns in those species abundance, extinction risks and underlying causes for species declines.

The data show clear trends in spillover risk that highlight how people have interacted with animals throughout history. Among the findings:

We need to be really attentive to how we interact with wildlife and the activities that bring humans and wildlife together, Johnson said. We obviously dont want pandemics of this scale. We need to find ways to co-exist safely with wildlife, as they have no shortages of viruses to give us.

Study co-authors include Peta Hitchens of the University of Melbourne Veterinary Clinic and Hospital, and Pranav Pandit, Julie Rushmore, Tierra Smiley Evans, Cristin Weekley Young and Megan Doyle of the UC Davis One Health Institutes EpiCenter for Disease Dynamics.

The study was supported by funding through the USAID Emerging Pandemic Threat PREDICT program and the National Institutes of Health.

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The Link Between Virus Spillover, Wildlife Extinction and the Environment - UC Davis

COLLEGE STATION In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated restrictions on public activity, many people are looking for ways to safely go about their daily lives indoors and online. Luckily, telemedicine supports this goal, and allows individuals to ensure their health and the health of their pets digitally.

Dr. Lori Teller, a clinical associate professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, speaks to pet owners about the basics of veterinary telemedicine and how this tool can be especially useful in the midst of a pandemic.

Telemedicine is the exchange of medical information from one location to another using electronic communications to diagnose, treat or improve a patients health status, Teller said. In most cases, all that an animal owner needs to connect is a smartphone with a working camera, microphone and chat feature.

A computer or tablet may also be used, provided that it is capable of two-way communication and has internet access. In many cases, a telemedicine appointment will be a real-time, live video and audio exchange.

A veterinarian can evaluate many things via telemedicine, Teller said. The first thing will be to obtain a patients history and determine what the current problem is. If the problem is something that can be visualized, such as a skin lesion or limping, then pictures or videos will be helpful. Behavioral and nutritional problems can often be handled via telemedicine as well.

Telemedicine appointments are most effective when there is an established veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR), as the veterinarian may be able to more accurately make a diagnosis and create a treatment plan. If there is no established VCPR, a veterinarian will still be able to provide general advice.

Rules on what the outcome of a telemedicine appointment can be, including the prescription of medications, vary by state.

It is important to note that telemedicine does not replace a physical exam, so there will be times when the veterinarian will tell the client that the patient needs to be seen, Teller said. Telemedicine can play a huge role, especially in times of disaster, such as a pandemic or hurricane, in helping a client determine if a trip to the veterinarian is needed and, if so, when is it needed.

If a pet has a life-threatening emergency, difficulty breathing, pale or bluish gums, has ingested a toxic substance or something large enough to cause an obstruction, is unable to urinate or to stand, has increased seizures, is non-responsive, is experiencing difficulty during labor, has vomiting and diarrhea and lethargy, or is experiencing other serious veterinary conditions, they should be brought to a veterinary clinic.

Teller recommends calling ahead of time to let the clinic know youre coming and what the problem appears to be.

Telemedicine is an extremely valuable tool to help provide care for a patient, she said. It is not a substitute for in-person veterinary care that requires a physical exam or diagnostic tests, such as blood work or imaging, but is a way to manage patients in-between visits to the hospital.

During times of disruption, such as the current pandemic, telemedicine can be an excellent way to ensure that your furry friend continues to get the care they need while also following social distancing requirements and staying safely indoors.

Telemedicine is especially valuable during a pandemic because it can be used to help the veterinarian and the client determine if and when the patient needs to be seen in the hospital or if the problem can be managed at home, at least for the short term, Teller said. It also helps conserve PPE (personal protective equipment) and other resources for emergencies and for human health care facilities.

Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be found on the Pet Talk website. Suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvm.tamu.edu.

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Pet talk: Veterinary telemedicine in the age of COVID-19 - Marshall News Messenger