Anxiety Contagion: Science and Solutions

In the face of COVID-19 and now vaccine hesitancy, we’re seeing a viral spread of anxiety contagion. Panic is as contagious as any pathogen and is dangerous in its own right. Research shows that when we see people panicking – buying up all available water, for example – our brains respond with a similar anxiety spike. We’re built that way because it can be adaptive in certain situations. But it can also be maladaptive. Sustained anxiety is bad for your health: The more you panic, the less functional your immune system becomes.

The science of anxiety is this: in the face of a real or perceived emergency, your sympathetic nervous system (SNS) kicks on, triggering the release of stress hormones like cortisol. Over time, cortisol suppresses your immune system, causing a decrease in white blood cells – the cells that help you fight off viruses — putting you at greater risk of infection. The more you panic, the less able your body is to fight off illness, and the more prone you are to getting – and staying – sick. It’s therefore important to manage anxiety and stress. These tips can help:

1. Stop obsessively checking the news. 

Instead of doom-scrolling day and night, which is bad for your brain and body, limit your screen time. Establish a time Once a Day to read the news, watch TV headlines, and check social media. Constant updates are stressful and you don’t need them. Want the news? Here it is: The virus is still spreading, and people are dying around the world, wash your hands, wear masks when required, and get vaccinated asap. Scary, yes? Great. You know the news, friends. Check it once a day, then go do other things.

2. Check your sources. 

Read official news or none at all. Do not get your news from random people on social media, your friends, or any website that isn’t reputable. You’re prone to believing the things you read when you’re anxious, so carefully filter what information goes into your brain. The internet is flooded with fake news, inflammatory reports, and panic-inducing sensationalism. Indeed, that’s how most news outlets win followers. The CDC and the Department of Health in your state are the best sources of reliable updates.

3. Download relaxation apps 

Download relaxation apps to turn off the anxiety alarm:

• Headspace
• Calm
• Stop Breathe Think
• Relax Melodies
• Insight Timer

Plan to do one guided relaxation exercise twice a day, morning and evening, as if you’re taking anxiety medication. Research shows that these strategies are just as effective and similarly change your brain chemistry. Administer as needed anytime you feel panicky.

4. Don’t contribute to the panic. 

By all means, talk to friends and family about your fears. But do NOT flood social media with your anxieties. On Twitter today an *uninfected* man posted that he's written a will and has said goodbye to his children. People are already terrified; how does that help? Take care of your friends and loved ones by reducing anxiety contagion. Hold off on posting photos of cleaned-out grocery stores and re-sharing that horror story you just heard. Avoid shouty caps and exclamation points! If you have friends who are posting inflammatory posts, temporarily mute them. Setting boundaries isn't only okay, it's critical.

5. Stay social. 

What’s the worst punishment you can give a human being? It isn’t prison and it isn’t Thanksgiving traffic. The answer is solitary confinement, otherwise known as social isolation. What does it say about us that the worst thing you can do to us is isolate us from others…? Humans are social animals. We’re genetically wired to need each other for food, shelter, and protection against predators. This is never as true as it is during a crisis. In the presence of others, your brain releases chemicals like serotonin (which raises mood), dopamine (which confers feelings of pleasure and reward), and endorphins – your natural painkillers. Make sure to keep in close touch with friends and family. If you can't be in person, schedule Facetime dates and make phone calls. Start group threads. Plan dinner dates and online coffee dates. Start a neighborhood listserv and offer to help one another. You can even virtually watch movies with friends who live far away. And don't forget to cuddle your pets - Fuzz Therapy is real.

6. Establish a daily schedule. 

Spending more time at home presents its unique challenges, one of which is the loss of your daily routine. This can make us feel anxious and dysregulated. Create a new routine that involves as many components of your regular life as possible, including wake time, sleep time, exercise, social engagement, and three meals. Impose structure as if it were a normal work day: Set your alarm in the morning, exercise, shower, eat breakfast, sit down to do some work, and take scheduled breaks.

7. Separate work space from living space. 

If you’re working from home, carving out a workspace will help you separate work from the rest of your life. This can help you stay organized and focused; more importantly, it can help you feel less trapped and claustrophobic. Your workspace can be an office, a writing desk in the corner, or even the dining room table – as long as it’s a designated work space separate from your regular activities of daily living. When you’re done with work for the day, leave that space – and all work – behind.

8. Leave the house. 

Don’t fall into the trap of endlessly sitting on the couch in your pajamas for days on end. It will only make you feel imprisoned and increase the likelihood that you'll get *more* anxious and depressed. Get out and see the sky, even if you just stand in the sun for 10-minute intervals. Drive to a remote location and take a walk, or park at your favorite lookout. Go for a "socially distanced" walk, water your garden, and bring the dog to a park. And if nothing else, get out of your pajamas.

9. Get out into nature. 

Research shows that nature – trees, birdsong, sun, sky – improves mood, lowers stress and anxiety, reduces blood pressure, and improves overall sense of well-being. Stand outside in the sun and breathe fresh air. Go on a bird-watching walk with binoculars. Study bumblebees in the backyard. Read with friends in your garden. If you need to stay inside, jump online to witness the UC Berkeley falcons hatching their eggs.

10. Exercise. 

One of the biggest risks of staying home and inside is being sedentary. Our bodies are built to move, and we need exercise to stay healthy and sane. When we exercise, our brains produce important neurochemicals that regulate mood, like serotonin, and our bodies eat up stress hormones like cortisol. This makes exercise particularly important in times of high stress. Go for a run or walk outside someplace remote. Take a long bike ride in the hills. Craft a workout routine in your yard. Do push-ups, sit-ups, strength training, weight-lifting, yoga videos, and cardio videos at home.

Website: International Conference on Infectious Diseases

#InfectiousDiseases, #ID2024, or relevant year, #GlobalHealth, #DiseasePrevention, #InfectiousDiseaseConference, #PublicHealth, #Epidemiology, #DiseaseControl, #HealthInnovation, #VaccinationMatters, #PandemicPreparedness, #PathogenResearch, #OneHealth, #InfectionPrevention, #GlobalDiseaseOutbreak, #ViralResearch, #EmergingInfectiousDiseases, #HealthSecurity, #MedicalConference, #ICIDSummit


Visit Our Website : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com
Nomination Link : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com/award-nomination
Registration Link : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com/award-registration
Member Link : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com/conference-membership
Awards-Winners : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com/awards-winners/
Contact us : infectious@pencis.com

Get Connected Here:
==================
Social Media Link

Twitter : twitter.com/skyla00827177
Blog : infectious2021.blogspot.com
Instagram : www.instagram.com/infectious_diseases2021
Facebook : www.facebook.com/pencis.queen
YouTube : www.youtube.com/channel
LinkedIn : www.linkedin.com/in/infectious-diseases-conferences
Wikipedia : infectiousdiseases625904580.wordpress.com

The silent killer: why chronic respiratory disease deserves global attention

Each year, over 3 million lives are silently cut short by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a noncommunicable disease too often overlooked despite affecting over 380 million people globally.

COPD, the world’s fourth leading cause of death, has been largely absent from conversations on global health, despite its devastating toll on patients and families. But we can no longer ignore it.

COPD is a progressive lung condition that makes it hard to breathe, causing symptoms like coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. The primary culprits behind COPD are tobacco smoking and air pollution. Smoking damages the airways and lung tissue, leading to inflammation and reduced airflow. Similarly, exposure to pollutants, such as vehicle emissions and industrial fumes, can worsen lung function over time. For patients, living with COPD can be challenging, impacting their daily activities and overall quality of life. However, with proper management and lifestyle changes, many can find relief and improve their lung health.

Despite COPD’s prevalence, access to affordable care remains limited, especially in low- and middle-income countries, where 85% of COPD deaths occur. This must change.

At the World Health Organization, we promote integrating COPD diagnosis and treatment into primary health care systems, which is a crucial step toward reversing this trend. For many around the world, especially in poorer nations, primary care is their only point of contact to the health system. When governments build COPD control into primary health care systems and universal health coverage packages, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of millions worldwide.

Countries worldwide are increasingly recognizing the burden of COPD and incorporating it into their national health priorities.

In the United States of America and Canada, comprehensive guidelines and public health initiatives aim to improve COPD management and patient outcomes. The United Kingdom and Spain focus on early detection and reduction of risk factors like smoking. Meanwhile, India and Brazil, facing a high disease burden, are integrating COPD into broader public health strategies, addressing environmental and lifestyle factors.

China’s recent decision to include COPD in its National Basic Public Health Services programme marks a significant political commitment to care for COPD patients – nearly 100 million of them in China alone.

In parts of Africa, awareness is growing, with some regions starting to include COPD in their public health strategies. South Africa has been making strides in addressing respiratory health, including COPD, within its public health framework. Other countries are beginning to recognize the importance of air pollution and smoking, which are risk factors.

These efforts reflect a growing global commitment to tackling COPD, improving quality of life, and reducing the strain caused by this prevalent disease. As awareness continues to grow, we expect that other nations are likely to incorporate COPD into their national health strategies, aiming to reduce impact on communities.

Other effective policy tools and evidence-based technical packages are available to countries to prevent the scourge of COPD. Implementing the WHO-recommended MPOWER policy package, especially through effective tobacco taxes and smoke-free places, can prevent over 1 million people dying from COPD each year. The treatment of COPD is also considered a “best buy” policy, a suite of interventions that can support countries to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal of reducing one third premature mortality from noncommunicable diseases.

Prioritizing WHO strategies on protecting people from air pollution will also contribute greatly. Air pollution contributes to 7 million deaths annually and exacerbates respiratory diseases. Implementing WHO recommendations on enforcing strict air quality standards, promoting clean energy sources, and investing in public transportation and active transport options like cycling and walking, can significantly reduce the burden of COPD and create healthier environments for everyone.

Our message today is clear: COPD deserves urgent attention as other noncommunicable diseases, and national leaders should prioritize making COPD prevention and care accessible to all.

The time to act on COPD is now. By prioritizing action against this silent killer, we can extend lives, improve quality of life, and create healthier communities worldwide. Together, we can breathe easier!


Website: International Conference on Infectious Diseases

#InfectiousDiseases, #ICID2024, or relevant year, #GlobalHealth, #DiseasePrevention, #InfectiousDiseaseConference, #PublicHealth, #Epidemiology, #DiseaseControl, #HealthInnovation, #VaccinationMatters, #PandemicPreparedness, #PathogenResearch, #OneHealth, #InfectionPrevention, #GlobalDiseaseOutbreak, #ViralResearch, #EmergingInfectiousDiseases, #HealthSecurity, #MedicalConference, #ICIDSummit


Visit Our Website : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com
Nomination Link : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com/award-nomination
Registration Link : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com/award-registration
Member Link : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com/conference-membership
Awards-Winners : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com/awards-winners/
Contact us : infectious@pencis.com

Get Connected Here:
==================
Social Media Link

Twitter : twitter.com/skyla00827177
Blog : infectious2021.blogspot.com
Instagram : www.instagram.com/infectious_diseases2021
Facebook : www.facebook.com/pencis.queen
YouTube : www.youtube.com/channel
LinkedIn : www.linkedin.com/in/infectious-diseases-conferences
Wikipedia : infectiousdiseases625904580.wordpress.com

Zoonoses

A zoonosis is an infectious disease that has jumped from a non-human animal to humans. Zoonotic pathogens may be bacterial, viral or parasitic, or may involve unconventional agents and can spread to humans through direct contact or through food, water or the environment. They represent a major public health problem around the world due to our close relationship with animals in agriculture, as companions and in the natural environment. Zoonoses can also cause disruptions in the production and trade of animal products for food and other uses.

Zoonoses comprise a large percentage of all newly identified infectious diseases as well as many existing ones. Some diseases, such as HIV, begin as a zoonosis but later mutate into human-only strains. Other zoonoses can cause recurring disease outbreaks, such as Ebola virus disease and salmonellosis. Still others, such as the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19, have the potential to cause global pandemics.

Prevention and control

Prevention methods for zoonotic diseases differ for each pathogen; however, several practices are recognized as effective in reducing risk at the community and personal levels. Safe and appropriate guidelines for animal care in the agricultural sector help to reduce the potential for foodborne zoonotic disease outbreaks through foods such as meat, eggs, dairy or even some vegetables. Standards for clean drinking water and waste removal, as well as protections for surface water in the natural environment, are also important and effective. Education campaigns to promote handwashing after contact with animals and other behavioural adjustments can reduce community spread of zoonotic diseases when they occur.

Antimicrobial resistance is a complicating factor in the control and prevention of zoonoses. The use of antibiotics in animals raised for food is widespread and increases the potential for drug-resistant strains of zoonotic pathogens capable of spreading quickly in animal and human populations.

Who is at risk?

Zoonotic pathogens can spread to humans through any contact point with domestic, agricultural or wild animals. Markets selling the meat or by-products of wild animals are particularly high risk due to the large number of new or undocumented pathogens known to exist in some wild animal populations. Agricultural workers in areas with a high use of antibiotics for farm animals may be at increased risk of pathogens resistant to current antimicrobial drugs. People living adjacent to wilderness areas or in semi-urban areas with higher numbers of wild animals are at risk of disease from animals such as rats, foxes or raccoons. Urbanization and the destruction of natural habitats increase the risk of zoonotic diseases by increasing contact between humans and wild animals.

WHO Response

WHO works with national governments, academia, non-governmental and philanthropic organizations, and regional and international partners to prevent and manage zoonotic threats and their public health, social and economic impacts. These efforts include fostering cross-sectoral collaboration at the human-animal-environment interface among the different relevant sectors at regional, national and international levels. WHO also works to develop capacity and promote practical, evidence-based and cost-effective tools and mechanisms for zoonoses prevention, surveillance and detection through reporting, epidemiological and laboratory investigation, risk assessment and control, and assisting countries in their implementation.As part of the One Health approach, the World Health Organization collaborates with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) on the Global Early Warning System for Major Animal Diseases (GLEWS). This joint system builds on the added value of combining and coordinating alert mechanisms of the three agencies to assist in early warning, prevention and control of animal disease threats, including zoonoses, through data sharing and risk assessment.

Website: International Conference on Infectious Diseases

#InfectiousDiseases, #ICID2024, or relevant year, #GlobalHealth, #DiseasePrevention, #InfectiousDiseaseConference, #PublicHealth, #Epidemiology, #DiseaseControl, #HealthInnovation, #VaccinationMatters, #PandemicPreparedness, #PathogenResearch, #OneHealth, #InfectionPrevention, #GlobalDiseaseOutbreak, #ViralResearch, #EmergingInfectiousDiseases, #HealthSecurity, #MedicalConference, #ICIDSummit


Visit Our Website : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com
Nomination Link : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com/award-nomination
Registration Link : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com/award-registration
Member Link : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com/conference-membership
Awards-Winners : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com/awards-winners/
Contact us : infectious@pencis.com

Get Connected Here:
==================
Social Media Link

Twitter : twitter.com/skyla00827177
Blog : infectious2021.blogspot.com
Instagram : www.instagram.com/infectious_diseases2021
Facebook : www.facebook.com/pencis.queen
YouTube : www.youtube.com/channel
LinkedIn : www.linkedin.com/in/infectious-diseases-conferences
Wikipedia : infectiousdiseases625904580.wordpress.com

Guidance for One Health field epidemiology workforce development

In a significant step forward to strengthen global health security, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) released the first-ever global guidance to develop One Health field epidemiology competencies to support workforce development for prevention, preparedness, and response to health threats.

The Competencies for One Health Field Epidemiology (COHFE) Framework establishes a standardized approach to training frontline responders in the interconnected fields of human, animal, and environmental health. This critical workforce plays a vital role in detecting, investigating, and responding to disease outbreaks at the source, thus protecting health across all sectors using a One Health approach.

"A well-trained One Health field epidemiology workforce is essential for tackling today’s complex health challenges," said Julio Pinto, Animal Production and Health Division at FAO. "The new guidance provide a roadmap for building a global network of skilled professionals who can effectively collaborate to prevent and respond to endemic and emerging diseases with zoonotic potential."

The COHFE Framework outlines core competencies for frontline, intermediate, and advanced levels of field epidemiology training. It emphasizes the importance of a One Health approach, equipping trainees with the skills to investigate outbreaks across the human-animal-environment interface.

This new guidance represents a major milestone in strengthening One Health capacity worldwide,” said Dr Marion Muehlen, Head of the Field Epidemiology Strengthening Unit of WHO. “By ensuring field epidemiologists are trained with a One Health lens, we can foster a more collaborative and effective approach to outbreak preparedness and response.”

The COHFE Framework is a comprehensive resource for governments, training institutions, and health agencies. It includes guidance on curriculum development, mentorship, learning evaluation and certification, and continuing education, ensuring a holistic approach to building a skilled One Health field epidemiology workforce. Their application at country level will assure harmonised competencies while enhancing mutual recognition and stronger integration of professionals.

"Effective disease prevention and control require a unified approach across sectors," said Barbara Alessandrini, Head of the Capacity-Building Department of WOAH. “The COHFE Framework promotes collaboration among animal, human, and environment health workforce, strengthening our collective ability to safeguard global health."

The role of the environment sector in One Health is emphasized throughout the COHFE Framework and an expert from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) contributed to the work of the technical advisory group that reviewed guidance. UNEP will join FAO, WHO and WOAH as the COHFE initiative moves into an implementation phase.

“Field epidemiologists need to take a systems-based approach to their work and consider environmental factors that drive disease risk,” said Julian Blanc, lead of the One Health Team at UNEP. “The health of people, animals and ecosystems are interlinked and interdependent. Training field epidemiologists to effectively integrate environmental considerations is essential for ensuring the health of our planet.”

The release of the COHFE framework and guidance marks a significant step towards a more collaborative and effective approach to global health security. By equipping field epidemiologists with the necessary One Health competencies and skills, we can prevent potential epidemics, pandemics and build a more resilient future for all.

Website: International Conference on Infectious Diseases

#InfectiousDiseases, #ICID2024, or relevant year, #GlobalHealth, #DiseasePrevention, #InfectiousDiseaseConference, #PublicHealth, #Epidemiology, #DiseaseControl, #HealthInnovation, #VaccinationMatters, #PandemicPreparedness, #PathogenResearch, #OneHealth, #InfectionPrevention, #GlobalDiseaseOutbreak, #ViralResearch, #EmergingInfectiousDiseases, #HealthSecurity, #MedicalConference, #ICIDSummit
Visit Our Website : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com
Nomination Link : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com/award-nomination
Registration Link : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com/award-registration
Member Link : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com/conference-membership
Awards-Winners : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com/awards-winners/
Contact us : infectious@pencis.com

Get Connected Here:
==================
Social Media Link

Twitter : twitter.com/skyla00827177
Blog : infectious2021.blogspot.com
Instagram : www.instagram.com/infectious_diseases2021
Facebook : www.facebook.com/pencis.queen
YouTube : www.youtube.com/channel
LinkedIn : www.linkedin.com/in/infectious-diseases-conferences
Wikipedia : infectiousdiseases625904580.wordpress.com.

A new vaccine approach could help combat future coronavirus pandemics

A new experimental vaccine developed by researchers at MIT and Caltech could offer protection against emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2, as well as related coronaviruses, known as sarbeco viruses, that could spill over from animals to humans.

In addition to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, sarbeco viruses — a subgenus of coronaviruses — include the virus that led to the outbreak of the original SARS in the early 2000s. Sarbeco viruses that currently circulate in bats and other mammals may also hold the potential to spread to humans in the future.

By attaching up to eight different versions of sarbeco virus receptor-binding proteins (RBDs) to nanoparticles, the researchers created a vaccine that generates antibodies that recognize regions of RBDs that tend to remain unchanged across all strains of the viruses. That makes it much more difficult for viruses to evolve to escape vaccine-induced antibodies.

“This work is an example of how bringing together computation and immunological experiments can be fruitful,” says Arup K. Chakraborty, the John M. Deutch Institute Professor at MIT and a member of MIT’s Institute for Medical Engineering and Science and the Ragon Institute of MIT, MGH and Harvard University.

Chakraborty and Pamela Bjorkman, a professor of biology and biological engineering at Caltech, are the senior authors of the study, which appears today in Cell. The paper’s lead authors are Eric Wang PhD ’24, Caltech postdoc Alexander Cohen, and Caltech graduate student Luis Caldera.

Mosaic nanoparticles

The new study builds on a project begun in Bjorkman’s lab, in which she and Cohen created a “mosaic” 60-mer nanoparticle that presents eight different sarbecovirus RBD proteins. The RBD is the part of the viral spike protein that helps the virus get into host cells. It is also the region of the coronavirus spike protein that is usually targeted by antibodies against sarbecoviruses.

RBDs contain some regions that are variable and can easily mutate to escape antibodies. Most of the antibodies generated by mRNA COVID-19 vaccines target those variable regions because they are more easily accessible. That is one reason why mRNA vaccines need to be updated to keep up with the emergence of new strains.

If researchers could create a vaccine that stimulates production of antibodies that target RBD regions that can’t easily change and are shared across viral strains, it could offer broader protection against a variety of sarbecoviruses.

Such a vaccine would have to stimulate B cells that have receptors (which then become antibodies) that target those shared, or “conserved,” regions. When B cells circulating in the body encounter a vaccine or other antigen, their B cell receptors, each of which have two “arms,” are more effectively activated if two copies of the antigen are available for binding to each arm. The conserved regions tend to be less accessible to B cell receptors, so if a nanoparticle vaccine presents just one type of RBD, B cells with receptors that bind to the more accessible variable regions, are most likely to be activated.

To overcome this, the Caltech researchers designed a nanoparticle vaccine that includes 60 copies of RBDs from eight different related sarbecoviruses, which have different variable regions but similar conserved regions. Because eight different RBDs are displayed on each nanoparticle, it’s unlikely that two identical RBDs will end up next to each other. Therefore, when a B cell receptor encounters the nanoparticle immunogen, the B cell is more likely to become activated if its receptor can recognize the conserved regions of the RBD.

“The concept behind the vaccine is that by co-displaying all these different RBDs on the nanoparticle, you are selecting for B cells that recognize the conserved regions that are shared between them,” Cohen says. “As a result, you’re selecting for B cells that are more cross-reactive. Therefore, the antibody response would be more cross-reactive and you could potentially get broader protection.”

In studies conducted in animals, the researchers showed that this vaccine, known as mosaic-8, produced strong antibody responses against diverse strains of SARS-CoV-2 and other sarbeco viruses and protected from challenges by both SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV (original SARS).

Broadly neutralizing antibodies

After these studies were published in 2021 and 2022, the Caltech researchers teamed up with Chakraborty’s lab at MIT to pursue computational strategies that could allow them to identify RBD combinations that would generate even better antibody responses against a wider variety of sarbeco viruses.

Led by Wang, the MIT researchers pursued two different strategies — first, a large-scale computational screen of many possible mutations to the RBD of SARS-CoV-2, and second, an analysis of naturally occurring RBD proteins from zoonotic sarbeco viruses.

For the first approach, the researchers began with the original strain of SARS-CoV-2 and generated sequences of about 800,000 RBD candidates by making substitutions in locations that are known to affect antibody binding to variable portions of the RBD. Then, they screened those candidates for their stability and solubility, to make sure they could withstand attachment to the nanoparticle and injection as a vaccine.

From the remaining candidates, the researchers chose 10 based on how different their variable regions were. They then used these to create mosaic nanoparticles coated with either two or five different RBD proteins (mosaic-2COM and mosaic-5COM).

In their second approach, instead of mutating the RBD sequences, the researchers chose seven naturally occurring RBD proteins, using computational techniques to select RBDs that were different from each other in regions that are variable, but retained their conserved regions. They used these to create another vaccine, mosaic-7COM.

Once the researchers produced the RBD-nanoparticles, they evaluated each one in mice. After each mouse received three doses of one of the vaccines, the researchers analyzed how well the resulting antibodies bound to and neutralized seven variants of SARS-CoV-2 and four other sarbecoviruses.

They also compared the mosaic nanoparticle vaccines to a nanoparticle with only one type of RBD displayed, and to the original mosaic-8 particle from their 2021, 2022, and 2024 studies. They found that mosaic-2COM and mosaic-5COM outperformed both of those vaccines, and mosaic-7COM showed the best responses of all. Mosaic-7COM elicited antibodies with binding to most of the viruses tested, and these antibodies were also able to prevent the viruses from entering cells.

The researchers saw similar results when they tested the new vaccines in mice that were previously vaccinated with a bivalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.

“We wanted to simulate the fact that people have already been infected and/or vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2,” Wang says. “In pre-vaccinated mice, mosaic-7COM is consistently giving the highest binding titers for both SARS-CoV-2 variants and other sarbecoviruses.”

Bjorkman’s lab has received funding from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations to do a clinical trial of the mosaic-8 RBD-nanoparticle. They also hope to move mosaic-7COM, which performed better in the current study, into clinical trials. The researchers plan to work on redesigning the vaccines so that they could be delivered as mRNA, which would make them easier to manufacture.

The research was funded by a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, the National Institutes of Health, Wellcome Leap, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, and the Caltech Merkin Institute for Translational Research.


Website: International Conference on Infectious Diseases

#InfectiousDiseases, #ICID2024, or relevant year, #GlobalHealth, #DiseasePrevention, #InfectiousDiseaseConference, #PublicHealth, #Epidemiology, #DiseaseControl, #HealthInnovation, #VaccinationMatters, #PandemicPreparedness, #PathogenResearch, #OneHealth, #InfectionPrevention, #GlobalDiseaseOutbreak, #ViralResearch, #EmergingInfectiousDiseases, #HealthSecurity, #MedicalConference, #ICIDSummit
Visit Our Website : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com
Nomination Link : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com/award-nomination
Registration Link : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com/award-registration
Member Link : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com/conference-membership
Awards-Winners : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com/awards-winners/
Contact us : infectious@pencis.com

Get Connected Here:
==================
Social Media Link

Twitter : twitter.com/skyla00827177
Blog : infectious2021.blogspot.com
Instagram : www.instagram.com/infectious_diseases2021
Facebook : www.facebook.com/pencis.queen
YouTube : www.youtube.com/channel
LinkedIn : www.linkedin.com/in/infectious-diseases-conferences
Wikipedia : infectiousdiseases625904580.wordpress.com.

6 winter fruits to boost immunity and stay healthy this season

How do fruits help build immunity?

Fruits are rich in essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fibre, contributing significantly to building and strengthening immunity. “The primary way fruits help with immunity is by providing key nutrients like Vitamin C, Vitamin A, folate, and phytonutrients that support white blood cell production, reduce inflammation, and protect cells from oxidative damage,” explains dietitian Garima Goyal. A study published in Food Science & Nutrition states that Vitamin C found in citrus fruits helps the immune system. It makes it more adaptative and also helps to fight against infections. Also, it is best to eat seasonal fruits when building immunity. Therefore, eating winter fruits to boost immunity and gut health can be beneficial.

1. Orange

Oranges are one of the best winter fruits to boost immunity. They are one of the richest sources of vitamin C, a potent antioxidant that enhances white blood cell function and protects against oxidative stress. Vitamin C also supports the integrity of the skin, a primary defence barrier. Regular intake of citrus fruits like oranges has been linked to a lower incidence of infections such as colds and flu. A study published in the journal Frontiers in Immunology states that orange juice also reduces inflammation. Eating one medium-sized orange daily, which has approximately 70 mg of vitamin C, is sufficient to meet most adults’ daily requirements.

2. Kiwi

Kiwis are loaded with vitamin C and other antioxidants, including vitamin E and polyphenols. These make it one of the essential fruits to boost immunity. A study published in Food and Agricultural Immunology found that eating kiwi improves T-cell and natural killer (NK) cell activity, which are critical for fighting infections. A single kiwi provides more than 80 percent of the daily recommended vitamin C intake. Eating 1–2 kiwis daily is ideal for maximising its immune-boosting benefits.

3. Pomegranate

One of the most promising winter fruits to boost immunity is pomegranate. It is packed with polyphenols, particularly punicalagins, which exhibit strong anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. These compounds help reduce the risk of infections and support gut microbiota balance, a key factor in immunity. A study published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine states that pomegranate and its extracts can help fight against a wide range of bacterial and viral pathogens. Consuming half a pomegranate daily provides ample antioxidants and fibre to strengthen immunity.

4. Guava

There are many benefits of guavas. It is one of the best winter fruits to boost immunity. These contain a high concentration of vitamin C—nearly four times that of oranges—and are also rich in zinc, lycopene, and dietary fibre. Guava contains vitamin C which supports antibody production and zinc which is essential for immune cell function. Eating one medium guava daily can provide over 200 mg of vitamin C, promoting better immune health and respiratory system protection.

5. Apple

Apple is a source of quercetin, a flavonoid with antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. A study published in the journal Pharmacological Research states that quercetin helps reduce the severity of respiratory infections. The pectin in apples also supports gut health, further enhancing immune response. Eating one apple daily with its skin ensures a steady supply of antioxidants and soluble fibre.

6. Grapes

Rich in resveratrol and vitamin C, grapes are one of the best winter fruits to boost immunity. They are known for their anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, states this study, These compounds strengthen immune cells and reduce oxidative damage caused by pathogens. A cup of grapes daily provides a convenient and tasty way to support immunity.

Website: International Conference on Infectious Diseases

#InfectiousDiseases, #ICID2024, or relevant year, #GlobalHealth, #DiseasePrevention, #InfectiousDiseaseConference, #PublicHealth, #Epidemiology, #DiseaseControl, #HealthInnovation, #VaccinationMatters, #PandemicPreparedness, #PathogenResearch, #OneHealth, #InfectionPrevention, #GlobalDiseaseOutbreak, #ViralResearch, #EmergingInfectiousDiseases, #HealthSecurity, #MedicalConference, #ICIDSummit
Visit Our Website : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com
Nomination Link : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com/award-nomination
Registration Link : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com/award-registration
Member Link : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com/conference-membership
Awards-Winners : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com/awards-winners/
Contact us : infectious@pencis.com

Get Connected Here:
==================
Social Media Link

Twitter : twitter.com/skyla00827177
Blog : infectious2021.blogspot.com
Instagram : www.instagram.com/infectious_diseases2021
Facebook : www.facebook.com/pencis.queen
YouTube : www.youtube.com/channel
LinkedIn : www.linkedin.com/in/infectious-diseases-conferences
Wikipedia : infectiousdiseases625904580.wordpress.com.

Chagas disease

Overview

Chagas disease is an infectious disease caused by a protozoan parasite (Trypanosoma cruzi). However, this condition is the result of a complex health problem typical of neglected tropical diseases and socially determined diseases. A missed or late diagnosis with absent or incomplete treatment and follow-up can transform this infection into a life-threatening condition.

About 6–7 million people worldwide are estimated to be infected with T. cruzi, leading to approximately 12 000 deaths every year. Although a condition of increasing global presence, Chagas disease is found mainly in endemic areas of 21 continental Latin American countries (1), where transmission is largely related to the vector presence. Today, approximately 75 million people are considered at risk of infection.

Chagas disease is named after Carlos Chagas, a Brazilian physician and researcher who on 14 April 1909 diagnosed the disease in a person for the first time. Today, 14 April marks World Chagas Disease Day.

Distribution

Chagas disease was once entirely confined to continental rural areas of the Americas. Due to increased population mobility, most infected people now live in urban settings and the infection has been detected in 44 countries (including Canada, the United States of America, and many European and some Western Pacific, African and Eastern Mediterranean countries).

Transmission

In Latin America, T. cruzi parasites are mainly transmitted by contact with faeces/urine of infected blood-sucking triatomine bugs. These bugs typically live in the wall or roof cracks of homes and surrounding structures, such as chicken coops, pens and warehouses, in rural or suburban areas. Normally they hide during the day and become active at night when they feed on animal and human blood. They usually bite an exposed area of skin such as the face, and defecate or urinate close to the bite. The parasites enter the body when the person instinctively smears the bug’s faeces or urine into the bite, other skin breaks, the eyes or the mouth. T. cruzi can also infect animals; common opossums are considered one of the most important wild reservoirs of infection.

T. cruzi can also be transmitted:

• by consumption of food or beverages contaminated with T. cruzi through, for example, contact with faeces or urine of infected triatomine bugs or common opossums; this kind of transmission typically causes outbreaks;
• during pregnancy or childbirth;
• through blood or blood product transfusion;
• through transplants of some organs (such as heart or kidney); and
• through laboratory accidents.

Signs and symptoms

Chagas disease presents in two phases. The initial acute phase lasts for about two months after infection. Although a high number of parasites can circulate in the blood, in most cases symptoms are absent or mild and non-specific (fever, headache, enlarged lymph glands, pallor, muscle pain, difficulty in breathing, swelling, and abdominal or chest pain). Much less frequently people bitten by a triatomine bug show the characteristic first visible signs, which can be a skin lesion or a purplish swelling of the lids of one eye.

During the chronic phase, the parasites are hidden mainly in the heart and digestive muscles. One to three decades after infection, up to a third of patients suffer from cardiac disorders and up to 1 in 10 suffer from digestive (typically enlargement of the oesophagus or colon), neurological or mixed alterations. In later years these patients may experience the destruction of the nervous system and heart muscle, consequent cardiac arrhythmias or progressive heart failure, and sudden death.

Treatment

Chagas disease can be treated with benznidazole or nifurtimox. Both medicines kill the parasite and are fully effective in curing the disease if given early in the acute phase, including in case of congenital transmission. Their efficacy diminishes, however, the longer a person has been infected; also, adverse reactions are more frequent in older age. Treatment is also indicated for patients in whom infection has been reactivated (for example, due to immunosuppression), and during the early chronic phase, including for girls and women of childbearing age (before or after pregnancy) to prevent congenital transmission.

Adults with infection, especially those with no symptoms, should be offered treatment because antiparasitic medicines can also prevent or curb disease progression. In other cases, the potential benefits in preventing or delaying the development of Chagas disease should be weighed against the duration of treatment (up to 2 months) and possible adverse reactions (occurring in up to 40% of adults). Benznidazole and nifurtimox should not be administered to pregnant women or people with kidney or liver failure. Nifurtimox is also contraindicated for people with a background of neurological or psychiatric disorders. Additionally, specific life-lasting treatment and follow up for cardiac, digestive or neurological manifestations is required.

Control and prevention

The large reservoir of T. cruzi parasites in wild animals throughout the Americas means that the infection cannot be eradicated. Instead, the public health targets are elimination of the transmission to humans, early health-care access and life-long follow up of the infected people.

There is no vaccine to prevent Chagas disease. T. cruzi can infect many species of triatomine bugs, the majority of which are found in the Americas. Vector control has been the most effective method of prevention in Latin America. Blood screening is necessary to prevent infection through transfusion, organ transplantation, and congenital transmission, and to increase detection and care of the affected population all over the world.

Depending on the geographical area, WHO recommends the following approaches to prevention and control:

• development of information, education and communication materials and activities, contextualized for the different scenarios and actors, and based on a One Health approach;
• spraying of dwellings and surrounding areas with residual insecticides;
• house improvements and house cleanliness to prevent vector infestation;
• personal preventive measures such as bednets, good hygiene practices in food preparation, transportation, storage and consumption;
• screening of blood donors;
• testing of organ, tissue or cell donors and receivers;
• early access to diagnosis, treatment and follow up; and
• screening of newborns and other children of infected mothers.

The medical care cost of patients with chronic cardiac, digestive, neurologic or mixed forms of the disease has been calculated to be >80% higher than the cost of spraying residual insecticide to control vectors and prevent infection.

Health professionals working at the first level of care (primary health care) have a key role in strengthening detection, treatment, follow up and notification of cases.

Assessment of the available diagnostics (including rapid serologic or chemiluminescence tests, molecular biology tests) and the most cost-effective algorithms is fundamental to increase early case detection.

Promotion of biomedical, psychosocial and environmental studies focused on the determinants and risk factors of Chagas disease is essential to identify novel approaches for prevention and control.

National information systems are essential to monitor the number of acute and chronic cases and the active transmission routes, but are in place only in 6 out of the 44 countries that have reported cases so far.

WHO response

Since the 1990s there have been successful intergovernmental initiatives in the Americas, leading to a substantial reduction in transmission and increased access to diagnosis and antiparasitic treatment for Chagas disease. The risk of T. cruzi transmission by transfusion has decreased sharply following the universal screening in all blood banks of continental Latin American countries, and progressively in other countries and continents.

WHO recognized Chagas disease as a neglected tropical disease (NTD) in 2005. This facilitated its greater recognition as a global public health problem and was instrumental to strengthen prevention, early diagnosis and treatment, comprehensive care, psychosocial follow up, as well as information, education and communication activities. It also promoted the fight against misinformation, the lack of social demand and the weak political commitment to face the burden of disease. In May 2019, the 72nd World Health Assembly established World Chagas Disease Day, to be celebrated annually on 14 April.

The NTD road map 2021–2030 includes Chagas disease among the conditions targeted for elimination as a public health problem and proposes five targets:

1. verification of interruption of domiciliary vectorial transmission
2. verification of interruption of transfusional transmission
3. verification of interruption of transmission by organ transplants
4. verification of interruption congenital transmission
5. 75% coverage of antiparasitic treatment of the eligible population.

To attain the goal of elimination of Chagas disease transmission to humans and provide health care for affected people worldwide, WHO aims to strengthen networking at the global level and reinforcing regional and national capacities.

Website: International Conference on Infectious Diseases

#InfectiousDiseases, #ICID2024, or relevant year, #GlobalHealth, #DiseasePrevention, #InfectiousDiseaseConference, #PublicHealth, #Epidemiology, #DiseaseControl, #HealthInnovation, #VaccinationMatters, #PandemicPreparedness, #PathogenResearch, #OneHealth, #InfectionPrevention, #GlobalDiseaseOutbreak, #ViralResearch, #EmergingInfectiousDiseases, #HealthSecurity, #MedicalConference, #ICIDSummit
Visit Our Website : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com
Nomination Link : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com/award-nomination
Registration Link : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com/award-registration
Member Link : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com/conference-membership
Awards-Winners : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com/awards-winners/
Contact us : infectious@pencis.com

Get Connected Here:
==================
Social Media Link

Twitter : twitter.com/skyla00827177
Blog : infectious2021.blogspot.com
Instagram : www.instagram.com/infectious_diseases2021
Facebook : www.facebook.com/pencis.queen
YouTube : www.youtube.com/channel
LinkedIn : www.linkedin.com/in/infectious-diseases-conferences
Wikipedia : infectiousdiseases625904580.wordpress.com.

Did the evolution of superbugs over the years worsen antibiotic resistance?

The discovery of penicillin heralded an era of relative safety for patients. We could now treat many maladies like pneumonia and syphilis without resorting to options that were poorly effective and often came with lots of prayers. The unbridled enthusiasm that followed resulted in massive abuse, which continues unabated as of today. Unfortunately, we did not understand the consequences of our actions, either then or now. Alexander Fleming’s words in his Nobel acceptance urged us to consider being sensible in using it and protecting it from resistance development. His words have proven prophetic.

Economist Jim O Neill examined the magnitude of the problem in 2014, under the direction of the UK prime minister, and his findings were startling to everyone outside of Infectious Diseases and public health. It is expected that by 2050, more people will die of untreatable infections than those dying of cancer or diabetes. The cost of treating these extremely drug-resistant infections would be very crippling even to developed economies.

Paul Ehrlich had warned more than a century ago, that drug resistance follows the drug like a faithful shadow. To be sure, the presence of drug-resistance genes in bacteria is not new: they have been found in ancient bacteria with no exposure to current drugs. The issue is the alarming spread of such strains, replacing the “wild type” drug-sensitive strains. Infections in such situations do not respond to therapy, cause longer hospital stays, induce more complications, carry a higher risk of death and significantly increase the cost of care.

Now, we have these genes packed very nicely into a ring, called plasmid, which can conveniently be transferred between the bacteria. The plasmids often hold genes that provide resistance mechanisms to many different types of antibiotics which makes treatment options very difficult, sometimes non-existent.

The wanton abuse of antibiotics for viral infections- like azithromycin use for respiratory infections is a good example. Every household now carries antibiotics in their medicine cupboard, and most people feel that they should use an antibiotic for any fever, often seeking the advice of a pharmacist, instead of seeking a medical opinion. The bigger issue is the abuse in the animal husbandry industry worldwide, which contributes significantly to antibiotic exposure.

What is the way forward?

We need to urgently educate the general public on the risks of antibiotic misuse and abuse; have more control on use in animal feed; antimicrobial stewardship for antibiotic use in healthcare. We also need to invest in the development of new drugs- there have been very few drugs developed in the last few decades, as most pharma companies are now unwilling to invest in this field. We also need to improve the quality of care and prevent infection, so that the need for antibiotics can be reduced. We also require better diagnostics to make faster and more accurate diagnoses, so that treatment is tailored to the pathogen and overtreatment can be prevented. The United Nations had the second General Assembly special session on antimicrobial resistance on 26 September 2024, highlighting the threat it posed to the poorest countries. Without an emergent response to this crisis, this is a threat that could come true in our lifetime.

Website: International Conference on Infectious Diseases

#InfectiousDiseases, #ICID2024, or relevant year, #GlobalHealth, #DiseasePrevention, #InfectiousDiseaseConference, #PublicHealth, #Epidemiology, #DiseaseControl, #HealthInnovation, #VaccinationMatters, #PandemicPreparedness, #PathogenResearch, #OneHealth, #InfectionPrevention, #GlobalDiseaseOutbreak, #ViralResearch, #EmergingInfectiousDiseases, #HealthSecurity, #MedicalConference, #ICIDSummit
Visit Our Website : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com
Nomination Link : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com/award-nomination
Registration Link : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com/award-registration
Member Link : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com/conference-membership
Awards-Winners : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com/awards-winners/
Contact us : infectious@pencis.com

Get Connected Here:
==================
Social Media Link

Twitter : twitter.com/skyla00827177
Blog : infectious2021.blogspot.com
Instagram : www.instagram.com/infectious_diseases2021
Facebook : www.facebook.com/pencis.queen
YouTube : www.youtube.com/channel
LinkedIn : www.linkedin.com/in/infectious-diseases-conferences
Wikipedia : infectiousdiseases625904580.wordpress.com.

How To Avoid The HMPV Virus? 7 Key Facts You Should Know

1. What is the HMPV virus?

The Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), identified globally since 2001, has recently surfaced in India. According to a press release on January 7,2025 at 10:26 am, five cases of this virus have been reported in the country.

2. Symptoms

According to an article by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HMPV is a respiratory virus whose symptoms include cough, fever, nasal congestion, sore throat, and shortness of breath, similar to the common cold. Apart from this, bronchiolitis and pneumonia can also occur in severe cases.

3. Who is most at risk

According to the US National Institute of Health (NIH), small children, the elderly, and people with low immunity are most susceptible to the HMPV virus. Additional Professor of the Department of Medicine at AIIMS Delhi, Dr Neeraj Nischal says, “This virus is like a common flu, whose cases usually increase in winter.”

4. How does the virus spread?

Senior Consultant, Respiratory and Pulmonary Care, Apollo Hospitals, Dr Nikhil Modi stated, “HMPV spreads through coughing, sneezing, contact, and presence of an infected person. But this virus is not as deadly as Covid-19.”

5. Prevention

A press release from the Ministry of Health advises several measures to prevent the spread of the HMPV. These include washing hands frequently with soap and water, avoiding touching the eyes, nose, or mouth with unclean hands, maintaining distance from individuals showing symptoms, and covering the mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing. 
6. Treatment

According to the NIH website, infection of this virus can be detected through the Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test and according to Doctor Neeraj Nischal, “No antiviral is available for this virus yet, because it is just like the common flu, hence its treatment is done according to the symptoms.”

7. Health Ministry advice

According to the Health Ministry, states have been advised to spread Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) efforts and raise public awareness about preventing the spread of the virus. Measures include frequent handwashing with soap and water, among others, such as using hand sanitisers and covering the mouth while coughing or sneezing.

Website: International Conference on Infectious Diseases

#InfectiousDiseases, #ICID2024, or relevant year, #GlobalHealth, #DiseasePrevention, #InfectiousDiseaseConference, #PublicHealth, #Epidemiology, #DiseaseControl, #HealthInnovation, #VaccinationMatters, #PandemicPreparedness, #PathogenResearch, #OneHealth, #InfectionPrevention, #GlobalDiseaseOutbreak, #ViralResearch, #EmergingInfectiousDiseases, #HealthSecurity, #MedicalConference, #ICIDSummit
Visit Our Website : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com
Nomination Link : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com/award-nomination
Registration Link : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com/award-registration
Member Link : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com/conference-membership
Awards-Winners : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com/awards-winners/
Contact us : infectious@pencis.com

Get Connected Here:
==================
Social Media Link

Twitter : twitter.com/skyla00827177
Blog : infectious2021.blogspot.com
Instagram : www.instagram.com/infectious_diseases2021
Facebook : www.facebook.com/pencis.queen
YouTube : www.youtube.com/channel
LinkedIn : www.linkedin.com/in/infectious-diseases-conferences
Wikipedia : infectiousdiseases625904580.wordpress.com.

Preventing Lymphatic Filariasis

Key points

Check to see if lymphatic filariasis is spread in the region or country you will be visiting before travel.
Avoiding mosquito bites is the best way to prevent lymphatic filariasis.

Prevention steps and strategies

The best way to prevent lymphatic filariasis is to avoid mosquito bites.

Steps to prevent mosquito bites

Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents with one of the active ingredients:

• DEET (Insect repellents that contain DEET offer the best protection against mosquito bites.)
• Picaridin (known as KBR 3023 and icaridin outside the US)
• IR3535
• Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE)
• Para-menthane-diol (PMD)
• 2-undecanon
• Wear loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and pants and socks.
• Use 0.5% permethrin spray to treat clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents) or buy permethrin-treated clothing and gear.
• Do not use permethrin products directly on skin.
• Keep windows and doors closed or covered with screens to keep mosquitoes out.
• Repair broken screening on windows, doors, porches, and patios.
• Sleep in a well-screened or air-conditioned room, or sleep under a permethrin-treated bed net.

If you are traveling

• Before you travel, learn about the health risks and precautions recommended for your destination.
• Sleep under insecticide-treated nets or in rooms with the windows closed.

There is no vaccine or drug to prevent onchocerciasis infection.

Lymphatic filariasis is considered a neglected tropical disease, or NTD. There is a global campaign to eliminate lymphatic filariasis as a public health threat. The campaign focuses on interrupting transmission by controlling mosquitoes and giving medicine that kills the microscopic worms to entire affected communities. For those already affected by the disease, the global campaign aims at preventing morbidity and reducing disability by providing essential care. Successful campaigns to eliminate lymphatic filariasis have taken place in some countries.

Website: International Conference on Infectious Diseases

#InfectiousDiseases, #ICID2024, or relevant year, #GlobalHealth, #DiseasePrevention, #InfectiousDiseaseConference, #PublicHealth, #Epidemiology, #DiseaseControl, #HealthInnovation, #VaccinationMatters, #PandemicPreparedness, #PathogenResearch, #OneHealth, #InfectionPrevention, #GlobalDiseaseOutbreak, #ViralResearch, #EmergingInfectiousDiseases, #HealthSecurity, #MedicalConference, #ICIDSummit

Visit Our Website : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com
Nomination Link : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com/award-nomination
Registration Link : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com/award-registration
Member Link : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com/conference-membership
Awards-Winners : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com/awards-winners/
Contact us : infectious@pencis.com

Get Connected Here:
==================
Social Media Link

Twitter : twitter.com/skyla00827177
Blog : infectious2021.blogspot.com
Instagram : www.instagram.com/infectious_diseases2021
Facebook : www.facebook.com/pencis.queen
YouTube : www.youtube.com/channel
LinkedIn : www.linkedin.com/in/infectious-diseases-conferences
Wikipedia : infectiousdiseases625904580.wordpress.com.

Clinical Overview of CMV and Congenital CMV

Key points

• For most people, cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is not a serious health problem.
• Diagnose, treat, and monitor children with congenital CMV to help improve their health outcomes.
• Perform CMV testing, evaluation, and treatment per routine institutional protocols.

Types

CMV is a member of the herpesvirus family, which includes:

• Herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2
• Varicella-zoster virus
• Epstein-Barr virus

These viruses share a characteristic ability to establish lifelong latency. Once a person becomes infected, the virus remains latent and resides in cells without causing detectable damage or illness.

CMV may reactivate occasionally. Reactivation of CMV infection rarely causes disease unless the person’s immune system is suppressed due to therapeutic drugs or disease.

Who is at risk

For most people, CMV infection is not a serious health problem. However, certain groups are at high risk for serious complications from CMV infection:

• Infants infected in utero (congenital CMV infection)
• Very low birth weight and premature infants
• People with compromised immune systems, such as from organ and bone marrow transplants, and people infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

The risk of CMV complications to the fetus is greatest if a primary infection occurs during the first trimester.

How it spreads

CMV is spread through:

• Contact with infectious body fluids (urine, saliva, blood, tears, semen, and breast milk)
• Sexual contact
• Transplanted organs and blood transfusions
• Contact with the mother's genital secretions during delivery

Although the virus is not highly contagious, it has been shown to spread among household members and young children in daycare centers.

CMV infects people of all ages. In the United States; nearly one in three children are infected with CMV by age five. Over half of adults have been infected with CMV by age 40, most with no signs or symptoms.

CMV is transmitted by direct contact with infectious body fluids, such as urine, saliva, blood, tears, semen, and breast milk. CMV can be transmitted sexually and through transplanted organs and blood transfusions.

Prevention

CMV is common in children and can be found in especially high amounts in young children’s saliva and urine. Avoiding contact with saliva and urine from young children might reduce the risk of CMV infection. Healthcare providers should follow standard precautions.

CMV vaccines are currently in clinical trials. Learn more about how vaccines are licensed and recommended

Website: International Conference on Infectious Diseases

#InfectiousDiseases, #ICID2024, or relevant year, #GlobalHealth, #DiseasePrevention, #InfectiousDiseaseConference, #PublicHealth, #Epidemiology, #DiseaseControl, #HealthInnovation, #VaccinationMatters, #PandemicPreparedness, #PathogenResearch, #OneHealth, #InfectionPrevention, #GlobalDiseaseOutbreak, #ViralResearch, #EmergingInfectiousDiseases, #HealthSecurity, #MedicalConference, #ICIDSummit

Visit Our Website : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com
Nomination Link : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com/award-nomination
Registration Link : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com/award-registration
Member Link : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com/conference-membership
Awards-Winners : infectious-diseases-conferences.pencis.com/awards-winners/
Contact us : infectious@pencis.com

Get Connected Here:
==================
Social Media Link

Twitter : twitter.com/skyla00827177
Blog : infectious2021.blogspot.com
Instagram : www.instagram.com/infectious_diseases2021
Facebook : www.facebook.com/pencis.queen
YouTube : www.youtube.com/channel
LinkedIn : www.linkedin.com/in/infectious-diseases-conferences
Wikipedia : infectiousdiseases625904580.wordpress.com.