In 2022, COVID-19 was the second leading cause of death globally, with the repercussions of the virus far from over. The lasting impact of the pandemic continues to affect lives around the world.
Recent research may have identified a key factor contributing to long COVID: microscopic clots intertwined with immune system debris in the blood. These unusual structures were found to be nearly 20 times more prevalent ...
2) ...in long COVID patients compared to healthy individuals. The clots, associated with neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), suggest a potential biological marker for persistent symptoms.
3) These microclots could impede blood flow in small vessels, leading to issues like brain fog, fatigue, and shortness of breath.
Unlocking the Secrets: A Comprehensive Megathread on Key Virus Subtypes of Human and Avian Influenza !"🧵
First, a quick overview of the different subtypes:
HUMAN INFLUENZA
H1N1 : The 2009 pandemic strain, which continues to circulate
...
2) H3N2: Strain spreading fast actually and causing significant morbidity
H6N1: Notable for potential human impact.
AVIAN INFLUENZA :
H5N1: High pathogenicity, zoonotic concerns.
H3N8: Emerging strain of interest.
H7N9: Associated with human infections, sporadic outbreaks.
3) H5N8: Emerging strain with health implications.
H5N6: Recent cases in birds and humans.
H7N7: Impact on poultry and occasional human cases.
H9N2: Common in birds, history of human infections.
There's a French saying, "It’s no use being right if you’re the only one who believes it." Regarding H3N2, which is spreading rapidly, we've sounded the alarm multiple times. However, perhaps discussing it too early is of little value 😏
I have always been wary of this virus, perhaps because it belongs to the coronavirus family. Despite its significance, it rarely makes headlines. Over the past three years, there have been 2,658 reported cases, resulting in 958 deaths ...
2) ...figures that only reflect confirmed cases.
So why should we remain cautious about MERS? This megathread aims to provide some answers. ecdc.europa.eu/en/publication…
"Understanding Viral Evolution: The Shift and Drift Dynamics of Influenza and SARS-CoV-2"
(2nd part)
Antigenic drift and shift are key concepts in virology, particularly for influenza and SARS-CoV-2.
2) Drift refers to small genetic mutations over time, while shift involves major changes, often through reassortment.
For instance, seasonal flu viruses undergo drift, leading to new strains each year. In contrast, SARS-CoV-2 exhibits drift but ...
3) ...infrequently undergoes shift, making it relatively stable compared to influenza.
Recent research highlights that shift for coronaviruses, like SARS-CoV-2, can occur through recombination with other coronaviruses, such as MERS-CoV.