#Plasma from recovered #COVID19 patients with high levels of #antibodies appeared to delay / stop progression of illness in mildly ill older adults infected with #SARSCoV2, a study published in @NEJM concluded. 🧵nejm.org/doi/full/10.10… Researchers at Fundacion INFANT in Buenos Aires, #Argentina, led the small randomized, controlled, double-blind #clinicaltrial of the effects of infusing #convalescent #plasma in 160 older adults within 72 hours of symptom onset, half of whom received the treatment.

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.

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.

#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

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.

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.

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.

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

This is not a randomized controlled trial. It's a publication summarizing results of 53 #COVIDー19 patients given #remdesivir (compassionate-use). Clinical improvement observed in 36 / 53 (68%). Randomized, placebo-controlled trials should be done next. nejm.org/doi/full/10.10… Patients were enrolled in the United States (22 patients), Japan (9), Italy (12), Austria (1), France (4), Germany (2), Netherlands (1), Spain (1), Canada (1). At baseline, majority of patients were receiving invasive ventilation, 57% receiving mechanical ventilation, 8% ECMO.

We need some #GoodNews. Yes, this is a study in mice but this is so far the first peer-reviewed #coronavirus #vaccine study with promising results in @EBioMedicine published by @TheLancet from @PittTweet @UPMCnews @PittHealthSci vaccinologists When tested in mice, the #vaccine, delivered through a fingertip-sized patch, produces #antibodies specific to #SARSCoV2 #virus. Researchers were able to act quickly because they already laid the groundwork during earlier #coronavirus #epidemics.

[Pls RT] #COVID19 virus #SARSCoV2, #SARSCoV, #MERS - all #coronaviruses: are they closely related? Excellent @CMIJournal review by @oergonul1 & #InfectiousDisease experts from @INMISpallanzani @UninaIT @KU_Medicine @OmaniMOH @ESCMID #IDTwitter #MedTwitter clinicalmicrobiologyandinfection.com/article/S1198-… Although related to the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (#SARSCoV) & the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (#MERS), #COVID19 virus #SARSCoV2 shows some peculiar pathogenetic, epidemiological & clinical features which have not been completely understood to date.

#Thread on symptomatic, pre-symptomatic, asymptomatic #transmission. A symptomatic #COVID19 case is a patient who developed signs & symptoms compatible with #SARSCoV2 #coronavirus #infection. Symptomatic transmission refers to transmission from a person experiencing symptoms. Data from published epidemiology & virologic studies provide evidence that #COVID19 is PRIMARILY transmitted from symptomatic people to others in close contact through respiratory droplets, by direct contact with infected persons or by contact with contaminated objects & surfaces

Lessons from past #coronavirus & #influenza #epidemics suggest that #viral #infections can trigger acute coronary syndromes, arrhythmias, exacerbation of heart failure owing to a combination of a significant systemic inflammatory response plus localized vascular inflammation. #COVID19 may either induce new cardiac pathologies &/or exacerbate underlying cardiovascular diseases. A large proportion of patients have underlying cardiovascular disease &/or cardiac risk factors. Factors associated with mortality include male sex, advanced age, comorbidities.

The death rate is NOT a biological constant. It is not fixed to a pathogen. It reflects the severity of the disease in a particular context, at a particular time, in a particular population. The probability that one dies from a disease is not only dependent on the disease itself. It also reflects the social AND individual response to it: the level, quality, AND timing of treatment / care they receive, and the ability of the given individual to recover from it. Remember the epidemiological triangle? #epitwitter #scicomm

As the #COVID19 #outbreak evolves, comparisons have been made with #influenza. Both cause respiratory disease but there are important differences between #SARSCoV2 #virus causing COVID-19 & the influenza virus causing the #flu [from WHO COVID situation report 06.03.2020] #scicomm Similarity #1. Both #COVID19 & the #flu have a similar disease presentation. Both cause respiratory disease, which presents as a wide range of illness from asymptomatic or mild through to severe disease and even death.

🧼🚰🙌🏻#Handwashing with soap & water removes germs (i.e. #SARS_CoV_2 that causes #COVID19) from hands. This helps prevent infections because people frequently touch their 👀👃🏻👄without even realizing it. Germs can get into the body through the eyes, nose, mouth & make us sick. Germs from unwashed hands can get into food & drinks while people prepare / consume them. Germs can multiply in some types of food / drinks, under certain conditions, and make people sick. [h/t Donna Gill Allen] #handwashing #scicomm iflscience.com/chemistry/this…

There's a seasonality to many respiratory #viruses. Will #SARSCoV2 [#COVID19] follow a similar pattern? We hope so BUT we don't really know. We know when air is humid / warm ➡️droplets gather more moisture ➡️too heavy to stay airborne / fall more quickly➡️transmission harder. There was a significant correlation between #SARS cases & environmental temperature. A sharp rise or decrease in the environmental temperature related to the cold spell led to an increase of SARS cases because of the possible influence of the weather on the human immune system.

About 60% of newly emerged & re-emerging pathogens share a common origin: #animals. When we cut down the forests where they live, they roost in our backyards & farms instead. #OneHealth @dirgarambe @mdkimhsdubai @Virologist_11 @dirgarambe @mdkimhsdubai @Virologist_11 #Marburg #virus 1970s-80s: cases in #SouthAfrica & #Kenya. 1998: 2nd biggest outbreak - 154 cases in the #DRCongo. 2005: biggest outbreak - #Angola with 374 cases with 329 deaths (fatality rate: 88%). 2017: outbreak in #Uganda contained through early detection & response.

Origins of the "Vaccines cause autism" hoax. In 1998, Andrew Wakefield released a paper claiming to have linked the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine to the onset of autism. His work has since been described as “the most damaging medical hoax of the last 100 years." Wakefield also had major financial conflicts of interest. While he was discrediting the combination MMR vaccine and suggesting parents should give their children single shots over a longer period of time, he was filing patents for single-disease vaccines.