Month: March 2021

Obesity is a key factor in the severity of a COVID-19 diagnosis, according to a new study published Monday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC found that of the 148,494 adults across 238 hospitals who were diagnosed with COVID-19, nearly 51 percent were obese, and nearly 28 percent were overweight. Overweight is defined as having a body mass index of 25 or more, while obesity is defined as having a BMI of 30 or more. Just over 42 percent of the U.S. population was considered obese in 2018, according to the CDC's most recent data. Being overweight and/or obese were risk factors for invasive mechanical ventilation, and obesity was a risk factor for hospitalization and death, particularly among adults under the age of 65, the CDC said. The CDC study found th...

A more infectious COVID-19 variant has been detected in Vermont for the first time, state health officials said Monday. The B.1.1.7 variant, first discovered in the United Kingdom, was discovered in a test for a Chittenden County resident. Health officials announced a "likely presence" of the variant in mid-February after wastewater sampling detected variant mutations. Vermont Health Commissioner Mark Levine said the findings did not come as a surprise. "This and other variants have been circulating throughout the U.S. for some time, so we expected to find evidence here," Levine said. "In fact, we are the last New England state where it has been detected."Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show only two states — South Dakota and Oklahoma — have not recorded a c...

HOUSTON – The Houston Health Department announced Monday the U.K. variant (B.1.1.7) of the virus that causes COVID-19 was found in most of the city’s wastewater treatment plants. Wastewater samples collected on Feb. 22, detected the U.K. variant at 31 of the city’s 39 wastewater treatment plants. That’s an increase from Feb. 8 when it was detected at 21 of the treatment plants. “The prevalence of the U.K. variant in our wastewater shows it’s actively spreading in our city,” said Dr. David Persse, chief medical officer for the city of Houston. “This is another clear indication that we must continue to mask up, practice social distancing, wash our hands, get tested and, get vaccinated when possible.” Of the wastewater samples collected on Feb. 22, approximately 19% detected the U.K. varia...

Two health care workers prepare syringes with AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine in London Monday. A U.K. study will expose volunteers to the coronavirus and could help development of future vaccines. Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images Two health care workers prepare syringes with AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine in London Monday. A U.K. study will expose volunteers to the coronavirus and could help de...

Despite the increasing global circulation of COVID-19 vaccines, the variants of the virus that emerged in late 2020 may disrupt the world’s mission to achieve herd immunity, according to a new study approved for publishing in the journal Nature. Researchers specifically look at the South African COVID-19 mutation, scientifically dubbed B.1.351, analyzing whether or not these pathogens are more resistant to immune responses prompted by the available vaccines. Samples of biological fluids, namely convalescent plasma and vaccinee sera, were collected and studied for the volume of COVID-19-neutralizing antibodies contained among volunteers who recovered from a documented COVID-19 infection. This highlights concern for potential reinfection. When analyzing volunteer vaccinee sera — or ...

March 8, 2021 3:39 PM Scott Bauer, Associated Press Posted: March 8, 2021 3:39 PM MADISON, Wis. (AP) — About 2 million more Wisconsin residents, including those with certain pre-existing conditions, will be eligible for the coronavirus vaccine in the next round to be announced later this week, the state’s deputy health secretary said Monday. That would be the single largest expansion of vaccine-eligible people in Wisconsin since the first doses began trickling into the state in the mid-December. Those were targeted to front-line health care workers, then expanded to those over age 65 and this m...