COVID-19 Coronavirus and other virus UK and World News Update 2nd August 2024
The UK's JCVI (Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation) have announced who will get COVID boosters this Autumn. They haven't expanded the list to include all children, nor do they include people who live or work with vulnerable people, but they have expanded the age range for older people. Folk in the following categories will be sent an invitation to book later in the year:
- Adults aged 65 or over
- Residents in a care home for older adults
- Individuals aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group (huge list, available online).
The UK currently has high levels of COVID, and we aren't alone. Earlier Greece was warning tourists about a surge which has seen masks return to some hospitals, and travel advisories from neighbouring countries.
The FLIRT variants are being blamed. They actually appear to hospitalise slightly less people, but they can creep around some of our immunity, so more people are catching them, with a knock on effect that hospitals are still seeing more COVID patients.
Latest hospital figures for England show a peak in COVID admissions almost as high as last Winter or Autumn's peaks, and Scotland's wastewater monitoring shows the highest levels since early 2022.
Prof Christina Pagel of indieSAGE reminds us one negative test doesn't mean you don’t have COVID, test again over consecutive days to confirm:
"Basically, there is a LOT of Covid around and not a lot of other respiratory viruses.
If you have cold or flu symptoms, it's probably Covid."
GPs in England have voted overwhelmingly in favour of taking industrial action, for the first time since 1964.
98.3% of more than 8,500 GPs in England voted in favour.
It seems likely they will choose to limit daily patient consultations to 25 - which is generally regarded as the safe limit - down from an average 37 currently.
The BMA (British Medical Association) has said the new offer of a 1.9% funding increase for 2024/25 simply isn't enough, and many surgeries will struggle to stay financially afloat.
Meanwhile some upgraded pay rise offers have already been put forward to unions for members to vote on:
- Armed Forces 6% and uplift for new recruits
- Police Officers 4.75%
- Prison Officers 5% base pay increase
- Teachers 5.5%
- Junior Doctors in England 22.3% average spread over 2 years (in Scotland and Wales they have already accepted alternative offers, and in N.Ireland talks are ongoing)
Junior Doctors (many of whom are older than you or I, and have at least 1 medical degree) have also asked to be referred to as Resident Doctors in future.
Good news. Studies have been suggesting that you are less likely to develop ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) or CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) after COVID than you are after other triggering illnesses and infections, and now a large study of over 4,000 COVID patients has confirmed it.
"At 12 months, 2.8% of those in the COVID+ group & 4.5% in the COVID-19–negative group met the definition of ME/CFS"
When other triggers didn't occur (the subjects didn't catch anything exciting all year) there wasn't a notable difference between people who had or hadn't tested positive for COVID.
Long term effects of COVID are real, and a massive concern, so it's fantastic to at least get some good news.
The UK HSA (Health Security Agency) has reacted to the spread of bird flu from birds and animals to humans in the US. They have apparently declared a Level 4 outbreak, and a 'precautionary SAGE meeting' was held on 1st May.
What this means is that H5N1 Avian Flu has the potential to become another pandemic if it develops the ability to spread from human to human, and they are watching closely what is happening in the USA.
I can't actually find a source, but several mainstream media (mentioning Birmingham Post) are quoting Susan Hopkins of the UK HSA:
"While the current risk to the UK population from influenza A (H5N1) virus remains very low, an outbreak of this kind can increase the opportunities the virus has to evolve to spread between people at some point in the future."
"UKHSA has established preparations in place for detections of human cases of avian flu and stands ready to initiate an appropriate public health response should it be needed."She talks a strong game at least...
The current total US dairy herds infected with avian flu stands at 178, and includes 1 alpaca herd. This could be slowing down a little, but don't say it too loud or it'll just turn out to be late reporting or a lack of testing. 1 goat herd is also infected. Fingers crossed these other mammals do at least as well as the cows, who mostly recover within a couple of weeks.
Talking of mammals, since the first reported case of H5N1 in US cows on 24th March 2024, over 230 people exposed to infected animals have been tested. 13 humans have now tested positive.
In better news, scientists are discussing the fact that humans infected with H5N1 from cattle aren't dying at the same rate as those who catch it from birds (which is massive, just over 50%). They think it's possible the mutations which make it more easily caught by mammals may make it more likely to stay in the upper respiratory tract (e.g. nose and throat), rather than causing pneumonia, and severe illness. Fingers crossed...
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| Source Helen Branswell, Editor Stat News |
The US CDC is funding a programme to give seasonal flu jabs to workers on livestock farms who may be exposed to H5N1 bird flu. It isn't a measure intended to prevent workers catching avian flu (although it could prove helpful if it helps them achieve the right mix of antibodies). The aim is to lower the risk that the H5N1 could encounter and swap genes with human flu viruses within a host body, and create a new flu strain.
"Is it going to take giving cows flu shots to get H5N1 bird flu out of dairy herds? Views are divided about whether vaccines will actually do what we need them to do. And some scientists think resorting to vaccines is an admission containment efforts have failed."
Helen Branswell
Given the fact that some US dairy herds are immense, this wouldn't be a cheap option, and we know how reluctant many US farmers are to accept H5N1 as a genuine threat in the first place. Nonetheless, cow vaccines are in rapid development, just in case they do become a valid or even necessary option...
Parvovirus B19, commonly known as Slapped Cheek, is on the rise across Europe. It isn't usually dangerous, but can be more serious if you have a blood disorder such as sickle cell, are immunocompromised or are in the first half of a pregnancy, when it can affect your baby. There was a peak in the UK back in 2017 and 2018, and a UK peak in the last 2 months has already exceeded that.
Often young children catch Slapped Cheek at nursery or playgroups. Symptoms often include being grumpy and poorly, a pimply rash, a high temperature and bright red cheeks. It can be very difficult to tell apart from lots of other childhood illnesses, ailments or even allergies.
Never ignore a small child with a high fever, and get medical advice from 111 if you are unsure.
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| Tiger Mosquitoes can spread Dengue Fever |
Famous People With COVID:
Team GB's Adam Peaty tested positive for Covid after winning his silver medal in the 100m breaststroke. It obviously didn't hinder his performance too much thankfully.
Australian Olympic swimmer Lani Pallister
5 athletes from the Australian water p olo team
Australian Olympic swimmer Zac Stubblety-Cook
US Olympic swimmers David Johnston and Luke Whitlock
Anyone else spotting a pattern here? Lots of scientific discussion online about whether it's got anything to do with the chemicals in the water and their effect on the body or the COVID...
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have been testing their nasal COVID vaccines on hamsters.
"The findings suggest that vaccines delivered directly to the nose or mouth could play a critical role in containing the spread of respiratory infections."
The infected vaccinated hamsters didn't spread COVID to the other hamsters - so it has a 'kill it before it gets into your lungs, multiplies and you start breathing it out' kind of effect.
The WashU nasal vaccine is already licensed for use as a booster in India (since December 2022) and going through more development in the US, so hopefully it will hit the shelves where you are before too much longer.
It is the weekend! Huzzah! All of the UK schools are on holiday now, the kids are already bored, the weather is hmmm, and you definitely need to remember to treat yourself to something nice! Go out, do something for you. It doesn't have to cost, and fresh air and sunshine are free, so that's a great start. I've had my treat. I haven't mentioned it before because I'm scared of failure, but we seem to have bought a house, so before I speak to you again, I should have moved in! I still can't quite believe it, so I'll leave it there for now until it happens. It might not be so big as that, but I hope you all find something to treat yourself with - you've earnt it.
My thoughts this week with anyone who is suffering the rain, wind, heat or other weather, and those living with war. Also for the people of Southport, and the communities who have suffered violence, racism and rioting in the aftermath. It solves nothing, and brings fear and loss to the children and adults who needed your care and support. Thank you to everyone involved in peacekeeping and clean up, including the lady in Southport holding the handwritten sign - you are the people we should watch. You are our heroes. You can restore our faith that humanity still exists. Take care.
Wear A Hat, Choose Hope Not Hate, Save The NHS...
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Sources:
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/
https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/
https://ourworldindata.org/covid-vaccinations
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
Jabs Image
Jr Doctors image and factoids UK GOV
https://x.com/DHSCgovuk/status/1818195176138879277?t=rIRLnBeg0QvnQfQ_4ADOiQ&s=09
WHO 70'S immunisation image
WHO breastfeeding until 2 years
Southport
Dengue mosquitoes
https://x.com/UKHSA/status/1818278468120924477?t=K_QE5xBxZxE1oyhTCQn0Bw&s=09
H5n1 image
https://x.com/HelenBranswell/status/1819346887146647693?t=w7vafAB8AEra_d00J-AyLQ&s=19
H5N1 image by state
COVID Jabs UK Autumn 2024 who is eligible
Summer COVID
https://x.com/chrischirp/status/1819040322305114428?t=MIWvlyeHtpI2DFqJd-x3dw&s=09
Summer COVID surge
GPs vote to take collective action for first time in 60 years
Junior doctors 22% pay increase
https://www.channel4.com/news/factcheck/factcheck-what-pay-rise-are-junior-doctors-being-offered-and-will-they-accept
COVID and ME/CFS
https://x.com/AlbaDocherty/status/1816179274434633997?t=nXfFYEfrcE4qwZoNdWAw1w&s=09
Avian flu UK
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/bird-flu-pandemic-threat-rises-experts-say-risk-is-low/
H5N1
Dairy herds H5N1
https://x.com/HelenBranswell/status/1818653895142330420?t=-cbstdcirzWFvVmjfa9AMg&s=09
Human cases
https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/index.html
H5N1 and flu jabs
https://x.com/HelenBranswell/status/1818351721506386302?t=tKiP1UmkCcmZjOAz3qfcRg&s=09
https://www.statnews.com/2024/07/29/bird-flu-vaccine-for-cows-research-ongoing-many-scientists-urge-biosecurity-first/
https://x.com/HelenBranswell/status/1817898301032730868?t=v2OFOZx9b5zR7PE076ZUKw&s=09
Nasal vaccine WashU
https://medicine.wustl.edu/news/washus-nasal-covid-19-vaccine-approved-for-use-as-booster-in-india/
Parvovirus
Adam Peaty
Olympic swimmers with COVID
https://x.com/NateB_Panic/status/1816080170345812335?t=3DKqoK_bsTP4UWxy55Kx_Q&s=19
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/aug/01/covid-cluster-worsens-in-australian-olympic-camp-as-zac-stubblety-cook-reveals-infection
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