KPFA - Corona Calls KPFA

Discussed in this episode:

Singapore is warning its estimated COVID case count doubled in a week, with 2/3 of cases involving newer subvariants in the FLiRT lineage (KP.1 and KP.2)
CDC modeling suggests the COVID is “likely growing” in all states on the West Coast.

This week’s show is abbreviated because KPFA’s in the midst of fundraising. We trim the pitching out of the podcast version, but still need donations. You can show your support by mentioning “Corona Calls” in your comment when you donate at kpfa.org
To send us a question in advance of next week’s show, write to: coronacalls@kpfa.org . Tune in live Monday mornings at 7:30am Pacific at kpfa.org
Podcast music credit:  Now Son by Podington Bear, licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License.
The post Corona Calls in 05.20.2024: a new wave building appeared first on KPFA.

Discussed in this episode:

Although COVID levels remain *very* low by every metric still available, there’s growing concern that one subvariant, called KP.2, makes up a rapidly-increasing share of COVID samples. That’s because a sub-variant that rapidly out-competes other sub-variants in circulation often has the properties required to drive a new case surge.
The federal government is starting to fund some limited counter-measures to prevent cow-to-human transmission of H5N1 avian influenza in dairy operations.

This week’s show is abbreviated because KPFA’s in the midst of fundraising. We trim the pitching out of the podcast version, but still need donations. You can show your support by mentioning “Corona Calls” in your comment when you donate at kpfa.org
To send us a question in advance of next week’s show, write to: coronacalls@kpfa.org . Tune in live Monday mornings at 7:30am Pacific at kpfa.org
Podcast music credit:  Now Son by Podington Bear, licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License.
The post Corona Calls for 05.14.2024 – KP.2 appeared first on KPFA.

Discussed in this episode:

A detailed report on the investigation into the case of H5N1 avian influenza in a dairy worker has been published as a letter to the editor in the New England Journal of Medicine. It exposes some weak points  in the public health response–the worker didn’t disclose what dairy they work at, and didn’t identify close contacts for testing–and some holes in our public health infrastructure, especially where it overlaps with the jurisdiction of the USDA.

To send us a question in advance of next week’s show, write to: coronacalls@kpfa.org . Tune in live Monday mornings at 7:30am Pacific at kpfa.org
Podcast music credit:  Now Son by Podington Bear, licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License.
 
The post Corona Calls for 05.06.2024 – H5N1 Bird Flu, part 2 appeared first on KPFA.

Discussed in this episode: 

Testing has found viral DNA from H5N1 Avian Influenza in samples representing about 20% of the American milk supply, suggesting the virus could be much more widespread in this country’s dairy herds than previously reported.
New research reduced the transmission of SARS-COV2 and influenza by swabbing the nostrils of mice and hamsters with antibiotic ointment. The the ointment isn’t anti-viral, it appears to trigger a response by the cells’ innate immune system that increases production of interferons.
Dr. Swartzberg’s thoughts on how a layperson can recognize an unreliable medical paper.

To send us a question in advance of next week’s show, write to: coronacalls@kpfa.org . Tune in live Monday mornings at 7:30am Pacific at kpfa.org
Podcast music credit:  Now Son by Podington Bear, licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License.
 
The post Corona Calls for 04.29.2024 – H5N1 Bird Flu in Milk appeared first on KPFA.

Discussed in this episode:

Four and a half years after the start of a pandemic spread by an airborne pathogen, the World Health Organization has released consensus guidance on how to describe and characterize pathogens that travel through the air.
California will stop publishing data on COVID hospitalizations, because of dwindling federal support. (The state will continue to publish data on COVID deaths, and SARS-CoV-2 levels in wastewater)

To send us a question in advance of next week’s show, write to: coronacalls@kpfa.org . Tune in live Monday mornings at 7:30am Pacific at kpfa.org
Podcast music credit:  Now Son by Podington Bear, licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License.
The post Corona Calls for 04.22.2024 – WHO defines airborne appeared first on KPFA.

Discussed in this episode:

A new paper finds that SARS-COV2 infects a type of immune cell the in the lungs called interstitial macrophages, helping to explain the cascade of inflammation, lung damage, and scarring seen in severe COVID-19. The virus enters those cells using a receptor (CD209) different from the ACE2 receptor targeted by current COVID vaccines.
An analysis in the San Jose Mercury News of COVID deaths in California over the past six  months shows the death burden has become disportionately old (70% of deaths are people over the age of 75) and White (60%).

To send us a question in advance of next week’s show, write to: coronacalls@kpfa.org . Tune in live Monday mornings at 7:30am Pacific at kpfa.org
Podcast music credit:  Now Son by Podington Bear, licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License.
The post Corona Calls for 04.16.2024 – COVID and Interstitial Macrophages appeared first on KPFA.