Found lots of news this morning, so let's start with the quickies.
The FDA has authorized boosters for children ages five through 11 years.
Well-trained scent dogs can detect covid. Attempts may be made to see if they can differentiate different variants.
Shanghai health officials say that the outbreak there is under control and the goal is to reopen fully by June.
New York City is moving to a high covid risk level. Masks are recommended though not required ... yet.
A growing body of scientific evidence suggests that long-term exposure to air pollution leads to worse outcomes for people exposed to covid. Even short-term exposure can have an impact, just not as strong.
Dr. Fauci, when asked, replied that were our ex-POTUS to become POTUS a second time, he would not continue to work in that POTUS's administration.
The government is providing more covid test kits. This time, they will send two packs of four tests each. Lots of people may end up needing them. The seven-day rolling average number of cases Sunday was the highest in almost three months and 150 percent up from one month ago.
North Korea is up to 56 deaths and 1.5 million cases. Experts differ in assessments of what North Korea needs most right now. It may not be vaccines since so many people have already gotten covid; however, a South Korean professor of preventive medicine counsels that vaccines might be good to send if they can be given to elderly people and people with pre-existing conditions. North Korea could probably also use fever reducers, test kits, masks, and daily necessities. I don't think it's going to end at all well there.
The CDC is urging all domestic travelers to "consider getting tested as close to the time of departure as possible (no more than three days) before your trip." Consider? I'm thinking the language used there should be a little bit stronger. How about replacing "consider" with "plan on"? Or drop "consider" and change "getting" to plain old "get"? In terms of international travel, the CDC has added four countries to its highest level of risk: South Africa, Lesotho, Antigua and Barbuda, and Taiwan.
More than one scientist will tell you that the coronavirus is here to stay, that it is adept at dodging defenses, and that it may come in waves two to three times annually. Some people who had Omicron BA.1 already have had a reinfection with BA.2, BA.2.12.1, BA.4, or BA.5. These people could actually have a third or even fourth infection before 2023 rolls around. Says a South African epidemiologist, "The virus is going to keep evolving, and there are probably going to be a lot of people getting many, many reinfections throughout their lives." A virologist at the Scripps Research Institute adds, "If we manage it the way we manage it now, then most people will get infected with it at least a couple of times a year. I would be very surprised if that's not how it's going to play out. ... Every single time we think we're through this, every single time we think we have the upper hand, the virus pulls a trick on us. The way to get it under control is not 'Let's all get infected a few times a year and then hope for the best.'"
Could I post something without referring to monkeypox? Not today. There are new cases in England not linked to Africa. People suspected of having monkeypox should be isolated in a negative pressure room as soon as possible. They should be masked and their lesions covered for any interaction. The last case in the US was in November 2021, so within the time frame of the pandemic. The first time monkeypox was found outside Africa was in the US in 2003. There were 47 cases. The infection came from animals imported from Africa including two African giant pouched rats, nine dormice, and three rope squirrels. These African animals passed it to US lab animals who then passed it to humans.
Intrigued by African giant pouched rats, I lifted the photo below from National Geographic:
They're actually kind of cute if they don't have monkeypox.
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