Curious to know the top #ConspiracyTheory themes or #misinformation sub-topics in the #COVID19 #infodemic? Check this out & vaccinate yourself against false information. Excellent study by @Sarah_Evanega @mark_lynas Jordan Adams & Karinne Smolenyak @ScienceAlly #thread 🧵
The “miracle cures” sub-topic accounts for more #misinformation coverage than the other ten sub-topics combined. It is dominated by a peak on April 24 corresponding with President Trump’s press conference statements about the potential of using #bleach or other #disinfectants.
Mentions of #conspiracytheories linked to alleged "secret new world orders” or “deep state” government bodies existed throughout the time period and were referenced in passing in conversations that mentioned or listed widespread conspiracies.
A #ConspiracyTheory emerged in January that suggested the #COVID19 #pandemic was intentional and manufactured to coincide with President Trump’s impeachment trial. #misinformation #disinformation
#ConspiracyTheories surrounding the Wuhan Institute of Virology emerged early in #COVID19 #misinformation coverage, including theories that it was a secret bioweapons facility and that it was the origin point for a deliberate or accidental release of #SARSCoV2.
Conspiracies connecting Bill Gates to #COVID19 emerged early on in the #pandemic. Bill’s long-standing interest in #vaccinations as a #publichealth measure were further taken as evidence of nefarious intent by those spreading #misinformation & #disinformation.
The #5G / #COVID19 #ConspiracyTheory broke into mainstream media coverage on April 5 with widespread reporting of vandalism of 5G towers in the United Kingdom & later other countries. More #misInformation #disinformation here: allianceforscience.cornell.edu/wp-content/upl…

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More from @Vaccinologist

25 Oct
The 1st large study looking at #SARSCoV2 viral loads (VL) in asymptomatic children found that viral loads (VL) were significantly lower compared with symptomatic kids - consistent with the difference in median cycle threshold (Ct) values - 10.3 cycles - between the 2 groups.
Findings published in @JClinMicro were consistent across age (0 - 17 yo), race / ethnicity, sex, institution, although the researchers found that both magnitude of Ct difference & VL lessened with older subgroups. #PCR tests were used for initial #COVID19 detection.
Median adjusted Ct value was 8.6 cycles in asymptomatic children vs. -1.7 cycles in symptomatic kids. Median VL was 2.0 X 103 in asymptomatic children & 1.3 X 107 in symptomatic children. Asymptomatic children with diabetes were most likely to be in the top 25% of asymptomatic VL
Read 4 tweets
9 Jul
#Airborne transmission: defined as the spread of an infectious agent caused by the dissemination of droplet nuclei (#aerosols) that remain infectious when suspended in air over long distances & time. What do we know about this route for #COVID19 #SARSCoV2? A #thread 🧵
Experimental studies have generated #aerosols of infectious samples using high-powered jet nebulizers under controlled laboratory conditions. #SARSCoV2 #Covid_19 #IDtwitter
Some studies in #healthcare settings where symptomatic #COVID19 patients were cared for but where #aerosol generating procedures were not performed found #SARSCoV2 #RNA but the quantity of RNA detected was in extremely low numbers. #airborne #transmission
Read 4 tweets
29 Apr
At least 7 teams are developing #SARSCoV2 #vaccines using a weakened / inactivated virus. Several existing vaccines are made this way, i.e. #measles & #polio #vaccine. Sinovac Biotech started to test an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 #COVID19 vaccine. #scicomm
At least 25 groups are working on viral-vector #SARSCoV2 #COVID19 #vaccines. A #virus such as #measles or #adenovirus is genetically engineered so it can produce #coronavirus #proteins in the body. These #viruses are weakened so they CANNOT cause disease.
At least 20 teams are using genetic instructions (#DNA or #RNA) for a #SARSCoV2 #coronavirus #protein that prompts an immune response. The nucleic acid is inserted into human cells, which churn out copies of the #virus protein; most encode the virus’s spike protein. #COVID19
Read 5 tweets
25 Apr
Some have suggested that detection of #SARSCoV2 antibodies could be a basis for an “immunity passport” / “risk-free certificate” that will enable individuals to return to work. Currently, there is no evidence those who have recovered from #COVID19 are protected from re-infection.
Immunity to a pathogen through natural infection is a multi-step process that usually takes place over 1-2 weeks. The body responds to a viral infection immediately with a non-specific innate response: macrophages, neutrophils, dendritic cells slow the progress of the virus.
This non-specific response is followed by an adaptive response i.e. body makes #antibodies that specifically bind to the #virus. These #antibodies are proteins called #immunoglobulins. The body also makes T-cells that recognize & eliminate other cells infected with the virus.
Read 8 tweets
23 Apr
A #thread on the origin of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome #coronavirus-2 #SARSCoV2, the #virus causing #COVID19. SARS-CoV-2 was identified early January 2020; genetic sequence shared publicly on 11 January. #scicomm [image 감사합니다 @IBS_media] @Virologist_11 @dirgarambe
Full genetic sequence of #SARSCoV2 from early human cases & sequences of other virus isolated from human cases from China & all over the world since then show that SARS-CoV-2 has an ecological origin in #bats.
All available evidence to date suggests that #SARSCoV2 #coronavirus has a natural animal origin and is not a manipulated or constructed virus. nature.com/articles/s4159…
Read 8 tweets
13 Apr
There is no evidence that the Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) #vaccine protects people against #infection with #SARSCoV2 #coronavirus causing #COVID19. But, 2 #clinicaltrials addressing this question are underway. WHO does not recommend BCG vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19.
There is EXPERIMENTAL evidence from animal & human studies that #BCG #vaccine has non-specific effects on the immune system. These effects have not been well characterized; clinical relevance is unknown. WHO updated its evidence review of major scientific databases on this topic
The review yielded 3 pre-prints (before peer-review), where authors compared incidence of #COVID19 cases in countries where the #BCGvaccine is used vs. countries where it is not used & observed countries that routinely used BCG in neonates had less #COVID19 cases to date.
Read 7 tweets

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