Month: August 2020

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI/KIDK) - Idaho officials reported 495 new COVID-19 cases and 7 new deaths on Tuesday. This brings the total confirmed and probable cases reported since March to 25,595. There are a total of 23,950 confirmed cases and 1,645 probable cases in 43 of the 44 Idaho counties, according to numbers released from the local health districts and the state. See the chart below. Southeastern Idaho Public Health has 51 new confirmed cases of COVID-19. The first case in Butte County has been reported. You can view more here. Eastern Idaho Public Health reported 54 new cases Tuesday. There are 31 new cases in Bonneville, 1 in Clark, 1 in Custer, 1 in Fremont, 11 in Jefferson, 3 in Lemhi, 1 in Madison and 5 in Teton. There are 349 active cases. You c...

Synthetic antibodies that researchers believe neutralize the coronavirus have been created at UCSF and could be available for use in nose sprays or inhalers within a few months if clinical trials go well. They hope the development will be a game changer in the worldwide effort to halt the pandemic. The tiny, engineered protein molecules, developed in two UCSF laboratories by a team of 60 scientists, including doctoral and graduate students, are modeled after super-strength antibodies found in llamas and camels. Dubbed AeroNabs, the synthetic antibodies bind to and inactivate the infamous spik...

CDC discovered new natural tick and mosquito repellent, according to CDC news release (Credit:Nataba / iStock) Scientists have found a new way to repel and kill ticks and mosquitos using a natural ingredient found in grapefruit and cedar trees, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  Nootkatone, the ingredient responsible for the smell and taste of grapefruit, and found in some perfumes, is able to repel and kill ticks, mosquitos and other biting pests, according to a CDC news release. “Studies show that when nootkatone is formulated into insect repellents, they may protect from bites at similar rates as products with other active ingredients already available and can provide up to several hours of protection,” the release by the CDC ...

The results of a new clinical trial may provide more hope for children with myopia, commonly known as nearsightedness. The study found that kids as young as 7 who regularly wore powerful bifocal contact lenses experienced less worsening of their myopia than kids who wore less powerful or single-vision lenses over a three-year period. That suggests these children may be able to preserve more of their eyesight into adulthood. Myopia is one of the most common vision conditions to affect people under the age of 40. Though the causes of myopia are complex, genetics and environment are both thought to play an important role. In particular, studies have suggested that too much schoolwork and reduced outdoor play before preschool may contribute to myopia, likely because kids spend too much tim...

Last Updated Aug 11, 2020 7:18 PM EDT As students head back to school, parents and teachers are increasingly concerned about how the coronavirus could spread — especially in buildings with inadequate ventilation.  John Lednicky studies viruses at the University of Florida. "There was a lot of controversy about SARS-CoV-2 being transmitted or not being transmitted through airborne routes," Lednicky told CBS News. Analyzing air samples in a hospital room, Lednicky's team found infectious virus can spread through the air — up to 16 feet away from an infected patient — through tiny droplets called aerosols. "Oh, this is the smoking gun everyone has been asking for!" said Linsey Marr, a civil and environmental engineering professor at Vi...