New Delhi: The coronavirus is spreading rapidly in Singapore again, causing hospital beds to fill up quickly. Authorities have reintroduced mask mandates, reminiscent of the panic seen during the initial outbreaks in 2020 and subsequent waves in 2021-22. In Today’s DNA, Zee News anchor Sourabh Raaj Jain analysed the alarming situation of coronavirus infection in Singapore and its significance globally.
The resurgence of COVID-19 in Singapore is alarming, with health officials predicting a peak in the next two to four weeks. Two strains of the FLiRT variant, KP.1 and KP.2, have spread rapidly. The Ministry of Health reported 25,900 new cases between May 5 and May 11, a significant increase from the 13,700 cases reported the previous week. Hospital admissions have risen from 181 to 250 daily, and ICU admissions have increased from two to three patients per day.
DNA: Corona returns to Singapore, will there be a new wave of corona in the world? #DNA #DNAWithSourabh #COVID19 #Singapore #Coronavirus @saurabhraajjain pic.twitter.com/MmDR8WNjIl — Zee News (@ZeeNews) May 21, 2024
In response, Singapore’s Health Ministry is ramping up preparations for the new wave. Hospitals have been instructed to increase the number of available beds and reduce elective surgeries. People are being advised to stay home and seek treatment there when possible. Health Minister Ong Ye Kung has urged individuals, especially those with serious illnesses or those aged 60 and above, to get a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The rise in cases of the KP.1 and KP.2 variants is not limited to Singapore; the United States has also seen increases, with the KP.2 variant accounting for 28 percent and the KP.1 variant for 7.1 percent of cases. Approximately 200 cases of these variants have been reported in India. While no new restrictions have been imposed in Singapore, the rapid resurgence of the virus is a cause for concern globally.
NEW YORK: In a concerning development reported by the New York Post, experts have issued warnings about a potential bird flu pandemic, which they claim could be “100 times worse than COVID.” The discovery of a rare human case in Texas has raised alarms among scientists and health officials. The H5N1 avian flu, which emerged as a new strain in 2020, has spread rapidly, affecting wild birds across all states, as well as commercial poultry and backyard flocks. Recent cases in mammals, including infected cattle herds across four states, have escalated concerns.
At a panel discussing the issue, Suresh Kuchipudi, a prominent bird flu researcher, emphasized the long-standing threat posed by the H5N1 virus. He highlighted its ability to infect various mammalian hosts, including humans, making it a global pandemic threat. John Fulton, a pharmaceutical industry consultant, echoed these concerns, suggesting that the potential impact of the virus could surpass that of COVID if it mutates while maintaining a high fatality rate. “This appears to be 100 times worse than COVID — or it could be if it mutates and maintains its high case fatality rate,” John Fulton, a pharmaceutical industry consultant for vaccines and the founder of Canada-based BioNiagara who organized the meeting, was cited as saying.
With a fatality rate of around 52% among humans infected since 2003, according to the World Health Organization, H5N1 presents a significant health risk. Symptoms are similar to other flu strains but can lead to severe pneumonia, with some cases resulting in death.
Recent Case In Texas
A dairy worker in Texas who contracted the virus reported symptoms consistent with conjunctivitis. While the CDC assured the public of low risk, the situation is being closely monitored due to the unprecedented detection of the virus in cattle.
Potential For Mutation And Rapid Spread
The detection of the virus in cattle raises concerns about mutation and potential human transmission. Experts warn that if H5N1 mutates to spread efficiently among humans, it could lead to large-scale transmission due to the lack of immune defenses.
Preventive Measures And Vaccine Development
Efforts are underway to develop vaccines and preventive measures against the virus. The US is already testing vaccine components, and candidate vaccine viruses show promise in protecting against H5N1. Both the CDC and the White House have emphasized the seriousness of the situation, with ongoing monitoring and efforts to keep the public informed and safe. As the world grapples with the evolving threat of the H5N1 avian flu, vigilance and coordinated global efforts remain crucial to prevent a potential pandemic.
A fitness employee prepares a dose of the Novavax vaccine because the Dutch Well being Provider Group begins with the Novavax vaccination program on March 21, 2022 in The Hague, Netherlands.
Patrick Van Katwijk | Getty Photographs
American citizens can in any case get their palms on Novavax’s latest Covid vaccine after U.S. regulators greenlighted the shot this week.
The vaccine’s arrival comes just about 3 weeks after new jabs from Pfizer and Moderna reached the general public, and after greater than 4 million sufferers rolled up their sleeves to get a shot in September. However Wall Boulevard analysts don’t seem to be fearful about that extend.
They stated Novavax seems neatly located to catch up and compete this autumn with the opposite firms within the U.S. Covid vaccine marketplace, specifically after logistical problems hampered the rollout of the opposite photographs and a Meals and Drug Management label that permits for vast accessibility to Novavax’s jab, amongst different elements.
“I am not involved in regards to the timeline or lag relative to the opposite photographs,” B. Riley Securities analyst Mayank Mamtani informed CNBC. He added that regulators cleared Novavax’s new shot simplest relatively later than what the corporate had estimated, which used to be past due within the 3rd quarter.
That is just right information for Novavax, which is operating to fortify its monetary place after elevating doubts about its talent to stick in trade at the start of the 12 months. The biotech corporate is banking on gross sales of its up to date Covid vaccine — its simplest commercially to be had product — and a vast cost-cutting push to lend a hand it keep afloat.
Public fitness officers see Novavax’s vaccine as a treasured selection for individuals who do not need to take messenger RNA photographs from Pfizer and Moderna, which train cells how one can make proteins that cause an immune reaction in opposition to Covid. Novavax’s shot fends off the virus with protein-based era, a decades-old manner utilized in regimen vaccinations in opposition to hepatitis B and shingles.
Silvia Taylor, Novavax’s leader company affairs and advocacy officer, informed CNBC that the corporate has gathered information appearing that 25% to 30% of folks desire a protein-based vaccine.
“We look ahead to assembly this call for and extra within the wake of recent variants and emerging COVID circumstances,” Taylor stated in a observation.
Stocks of Novavax jumped greater than 10% on Tuesday after the FDA cleared its new shot. However the corporate’s inventory remains to be down greater than 25% 12 months up to now after losing greater than 90% of its price closing 12 months.
Novavax’s shot has a vast authorization label
The FDA licensed Novavax’s up to date vaccine — which objectives the omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 — for emergency use in folks ages 12 and older. Sufferers in the past vaccinated with an older Covid vaccine are eligible to obtain one dose of Novavax’s new jab, whilst unvaccinated folks can obtain two doses, consistent with the authorization.
The FDA in a similar way licensed the brand new photographs from Pfizer and Moderna for folks ages 12 and older, however the company additionally licensed the ones vaccines for emergency use in youngsters ages 6 months thru 11 years outdated.
Nonetheless, Mamtani stated the authorization label for Novavax’s new vaccine is “vast and with none notable restrictions for the primary time,” which can most likely make the shot as extensively available to teenagers and adults as the brand new mRNA jabs. That places Novavax on extra of a degree enjoying box with Pfizer and Moderna this autumn, at the same time as a past due entrant to the sport.
The label for Novavax’s closing Covid booster used to be way more restrictive. Final 12 months, the FDA licensed it as a primary booster dose for folks ages 18 and older who could not obtain a brand new mRNA shot for accessibility or scientific causes. That “mainly disqualified numerous folks” from getting it closing fall, consistent with Mamtani.
A health-care employee administers a dose of the Novavax Covid-19 vaccine at a pharmacy in Schwenksville, Pennsylvania, US, on Monday, Aug. 1, 2022.
Hannah Beier | Bloomberg | Getty Photographs
“In any case, after 3 years, Novavax has a label that places its vaccine at parity with the mRNA photographs,” Mamtani stated. “I feel probably the most tough phrases on that label used to be that folks can get it without reference to their earlier Covid vaccination historical past.”
Logistical problems bogged down Pfizer, Moderna
Novavax’s vaccine is getting into the marketplace after Pfizer and Moderna had a bumpy begin to the rollout in their photographs. Insurance coverage and supply-related problems left many American citizens not able to search out or get admission to the brand new mRNA vaccines without cost, which can provide Novavax a possibility to catch up and get extra folks to take its shot.
“We all know that numerous folks have attempted to get an mRNA vaccine, however they are not in a position to as a result of logistical demanding situations of get admission to and distribution,” Jefferies analyst Roger Track informed CNBC. “So, that is one explanation why the 2 or 3 weeks extend may not essentially be a hurdle for Novavax.”
There is no manner of figuring out whether or not the rollout of Novavax’s new shot will see identical logistical snags or if it is going to have a smoother release. The government shifted Covid vaccine distribution and protection to the personal marketplace for the primary time this autumn. That has proved to be a difficult transition for the U.S. health-care device.
An indication advertises COVID-19 (coronavirus) vaccine photographs at a Walgreens Pharmacy in Somerville, Massachusetts, August 14, 2023.
Brian Snyder | Reuters
On the other hand, health-care suppliers and pharmacies have signaled that they’re ironing out logistical problems and will probably be higher supplied to take care of them one day.
Final week, a bunch of insurers informed the Biden management they have been “in large part, if now not utterly,” carried out with solving delays in insurance policy for the brand new Covid photographs. The ones delays had led to some sufferers getting charged as much as $190 for a shot at pharmacies.
“Must additional problems stand up, we stand able to hastily put in force device enhancements,” the insurers stated in a letter.
Some pharmacies, like Walgreens, additionally seem to be resolving delivery disruptions, which left many retail outlets with none new Covid photographs for sufferers to obtain.
Covid vaccinations may just top later this autumn
What is extra, Novavax’s new shot may if truth be told be arriving at simply the suitable time: a month sooner than Covid vaccine call for is predicted to top within the U.S. this autumn and iciness.
Jefferies’ Track stated the height may just apply a identical development as closing season when maximum Covid boosters have been administered in November. That is in part as a result of there’s “much less urgency” amongst American citizens on the subject of Covid photographs in comparison to early on within the pandemic, which might lead them to get vaccinated later slightly than previous.
“All through the primary season of Covid, everybody rushed to get vaccinations as it used to be in point of fact an emergency state. However now folks have a mindset the place they are pronouncing, ‘OK, I can wait and notice how dangerous Covid in point of fact will get,’” Track stated.
Via November, Novavax’s new shot might be as extensively to be had as photographs from Pfizer and Moderna at pharmacies, physician’s workplaces and different vaccine distribution websites.
However the largest uncertainty this autumn for all 3 firms is what number of American citizens will come to a decision to get some other Covid vaccine, Track stated.
Final 12 months’s uptake used to be already feeble: Simplest about 17% of the U.S. inhabitants — round 56 million folks — won closing 12 months’s boosters, consistent with the Facilities for Illness Keep watch over and Prevention.
“We do not know the way large the total pie will probably be as a result of we have by no means been in a industrial marketplace for Covid vaccines,” he informed CNBC. “This autumn will set a brand new benchmark for all the Covid vaccine area.”
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden management introduced Wednesday that it’s offering $600 million in investment to supply new at-home COVID-19 assessments and is restarting a web site permitting American citizens to once more order as much as 4 loose assessments consistent with family — aiming to stop imaginable shortages all the way through a upward push in coronavirus instances that has in most cases come all the way through chillier months.
The Division of Well being and Human Products and services says orders will also be positioned at COVIDTests.gov beginning Sept. 25, and that no-cost assessments will probably be delivered free of charge by means of the US Postal Provider.
Twelve producers that make use of loads of folks in seven states were awarded investment and can produce 200 million over the counter assessments to fill up federal stockpiles for presidency use, along with generating sufficient assessments to fulfill call for for assessments ordered on-line, the dept mentioned. Federal officers mentioned that may lend a hand guard in opposition to provide chain problems that sparked some shortages of at-home COVID assessments made in another country all the way through previous surges in coronavirus instances.
Crack of dawn O’Connell, assistant secretary for preparedness and reaction at HHS, mentioned the web site will stay purposeful to obtain orders in the course of the vacations and “we reserve the proper to stay it open even longer if we’re beginning to see an building up in instances.”
“If there’s a call for for those assessments, we wish to make certain that they’re made to be had to the American folks free of charge on this method,” O’Connell mentioned. “However, at this level, our center of attention is getting in the course of the vacations and ensuring other folks can take a check in the event that they’re going to look Grandma for Thanksgiving.”
The assessments are designed to locate COVID variants recently circulating, and are meant to be used by means of the top of the yr. However they’ll come with directions on how to make sure prolonged expiration dates, the dept mentioned.
The initiative follows 4 earlier rounds the place federal officers and the U.S. Postal Provider supplied greater than 755 million assessments free of charge to houses national.
Additionally it is intended to counterpoint ongoing federal efforts to supply loose COVID assessments to long-term care amenities, colleges, low-income senior housing, uninsured people and underserved communities which can be already distributing 4 million every week and feature allotted 500 million assessments to this point, the dept mentioned.
O’Connell mentioned producers would be capable of unfold out the 200 million assessments they’ll produce for federal use over 18 months. That signifies that, as call for for domestic assessments rises by the use of the web site or at U.S. shops when COVID instances building up across the nation, manufacturers can center of attention on assembly the ones orders — however that they’re going to then have an extra outlet for the assessments they produce all the way through duration when call for declines.
“We’ve observed each wintry weather, as folks transfer indoors into heated areas, clear of the out of doors that, over every of the seasons that COVID’s been a priority, that we have got observed instances move up,” O’Connell mentioned.
She added that still “there’s all the time a possibility or probability for every other variant to come back” however “we’re now not expecting that.”
“That’s now not why we’re doing this,” O’Connell mentioned. “We’re doing this for the autumn and wintry weather season forward and the potential of an building up in instances consequently.”
HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra mentioned that the “Biden-Harris Management, in partnership with home producers, has made nice strides in addressing vulnerabilities within the U.S. provide chain by means of decreasing our reliance on in another country production.”
“Those vital investments will fortify our country’s manufacturing ranges of home at-home COVID-19 fast assessments and lend a hand mitigate the unfold of the virus,” Becerra mentioned in a remark.
Up to date COVID-19 booster pictures shall be to be had to the American public in mid-September, govt officers advised some media retailers on Friday.
The U.S. Meals and Drug Management is predicted to approve the brand new vaccine dose, designed to focus on recently circulating variants of the virus, within the coming weeks, officers from the FDA and Facilities for Illness Keep watch over and Prevention advised CNN, talking at the situation of anonymity. An unnamed CDC legit additionally showed the main points with NBC Information.
“Our purpose, our crucial, our process is to verify we’re the use of the ones equipment,” the CDC legit advised NBC Information of the brand new boosters. “Vaccination goes to proceed to be key this 12 months as a result of immunity wanes and as the COVID-19 virus continues to modify.”
Up to date vaccines are anticipated to be to be had for other folks 12 and up from Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax, the officers stated. All are reportedly designed to struggle the XBB.1.5 subvariant, which is slowly shedding its dominance, however checking out displays that the doses also are efficient towards the newly dominant EG.5 pressure.
Officers are hoping for the next uptake of this vaccine. Simply over 20% of adults gained ultimate 12 months’s bivalent booster.
The timeline reported Friday would convey vaccines to marketplace reasonably quicker than officers have in the past indicated. Previous this month, CDC Director Mandy Cohen advised NPR that well being officers “wait for there being a brand new COVID booster to be had most certainly within the early October period of time.”
Friday’s information comes because the U.S. reports a late-summer uptick in COVID-19 circumstances, although the depend is vastly not up to ultimate summer season’s surge. Nonetheless, the selection of new COVID-19 hospitalizations leaped 21.6% this previous week, marking the 5th immediately week of hiking admissions, the CDC stated this week.
The CDC additionally stated previous this week that it expects hospitalizations to climb over the following month, with “1,100 to 7,500 day-to-day COVID-19 sanatorium admissions most likely reported on September 18.”
The ones figures have brought on some puts to restore dormant masks mandates, together with a number of hospitals, no less than one college and a Hollywood studio.
Massive parts of the American public nonetheless imagine false claims of a wide variety about weapons, the COVID-19 pandemic and reproductive well being, a brand new survey from the Kaiser Circle of relatives Basis presentations.
Despite the fact that the ballot discovered that percentages of American citizens who imagine that false claims are “surely” true is small, the portion who suppose they’re “most probably” true is considerable. General, between part and three-quarters of the rustic belong to what KFF CEO Drew Altman known as the “muddled heart,” announcing that the false claims had been “most probably” both true or false.
Most likely maximum hanging of the ballot’s findings is the unsuitable trust, held through many American citizens, that weapons lead them to more secure. Sixty % of American citizens imagine it’s true that armed college police guards were proved to forestall college shootings. Eighteen % of respondents idea the declare used to be “surely” true and 42% believed it “most probably” true.
In truth, as KFF famous, no research have proven this, and researchers in 2021 discovered that during an exam of 133 circumstances of faculty shootings and tried college shootings from 1980 to 2019, “armed guards weren’t related to vital relief in charges of accidents.”
What’s extra, 13% believed it used to be “surely” true and 29% believed it used to be “most probably” true that individuals who have firearms at house are much less prone to be killed through a gun than individuals who don’t have a gun. That’s additionally false: Research have proven amongst different issues that weapons are hardly ever utilized in self-defense, that dwelling with a handgun proprietor is related to considerably increased possibility — specifically for girls — of death through murder, that the spike in gun gross sales after the Sandy Hook mass taking pictures used to be connected to an building up in unintended deaths, and that handgun possession is related to increased dangers of demise through suicide.
40-two % of folks additionally falsely imagine it’s both “surely” or “most probably” true that the majority U.S. gun homicides are gang-related.
Despite the fact that statistics on gang-related homicides will also be unreliable, statistics from the Justice Division’s Nationwide Gang Heart, that have been flagged through KFF, point out that, between 2007 and 2012, gang-related homicides kind of accounted for simply an estimated 13% of all homicides once a year.
Misconceptions about COVID-19 and its vaccines had been much less not unusual, however nonetheless believed through probably thousands and thousands of American citizens. Despite the fact that COVID-19 vaccines are extraordinarily protected and efficient at fighting severe illness and demise amongst folks inflamed with the virus, totally 33% of American adults suppose COVID-19 vaccines have brought about 1000’s of unexpected deaths in differently wholesome folks — 10% suppose the declare is “surely” true and 23% suppose it’s “most probably” true — a mirrored image of the luck of conspiracy theorists in spreading lies in regards to the jab.
And six% of American citizens suppose it’s “surely” true, and 26% suppose it’s “most probably” true, that ivermectin is an efficient remedy for COVID-19, even supposing more than one research have proven the declare is merely false.
On reproductive well being, 31% wrongly suppose it’s surely or most probably true that “intercourse schooling that comes with details about birth control and beginning keep an eye on will increase the chance that teenagers shall be sexually energetic,” and 35% wrongly imagine its surely or most probably true that “the usage of beginning keep an eye on just like the tablet or IUDs makes it more difficult for most ladies to get pregnant after they prevent the usage of them.”
In truth, research have proven that complete intercourse ed results in decreased sexual job, amongst different advantages. A 2018 evaluate of twenty-two research enrolling just about 15,000 ladies discovered that, without reference to length and sort, previous contraceptive use doesn’t lengthen or negatively impact ladies’s skill to conceive.
The KFF survey polled 2,007 U.S. adults in English and Spanish between Would possibly 23 and June 12, reached both on-line or over the telephone, with a margin of error of three share issues.
The ballot additionally pointed to possible interventions for American citizens’ unsuitable ideals on more than a few well being subjects: medical doctors. 90-three % of respondents indicated they depended on their very own physician’s suggestions no less than an even quantity, in line with the survey. That used to be adopted through federal companies just like the Facilities for Illness Regulate and Prevention and the Meals and Drug Management; about two-thirds of American citizens have no less than an even quantity of accept as true with in the ones companies to make the appropriate tips on well being problems.
Specific Information Carrier
NEW DELHI: Bringing up the Global Well being Group (WHO), Union Well being Secretary Sudhansh Pant on Monday famous that the brand new Covid-19 variant EG.5 (Eris) has been reported in over 50 international locations. He additionally stated that some other variant BA.2.86 (Pirola) has been reported in 4 international locations.
He used to be collaborating in a high-level evaluate assembly convened via High Minister’s Place of work.
The assembly highlighted that whilst globally, a complete of two,96,219 new instances of Covid-19 have been reported prior to now seven days, India, which contributes to almost 17% of the worldwide inhabitants, has reported simplest 223 instances (0.075% of worldwide new instances) prior to now week.
Pant additionally knowledgeable the PMO that the day by day reasonable of recent Covid-19 instances remains to be beneath 50 within the nation.
“The rustic has controlled to take care of weekly check positivity charge of not up to 0.2%,” a remark issued via the union well being ministry stated.
The remark stated an summary of the Genome Sequencing of various variants circulating in India used to be additionally supplied.
Dr PK Mishra, Important Secretary to High Minister Narendra Modi, who chaired the assembly, stated after detailed deliberations, that whilst the Covid-19 scenario within the nation stays solid and public well being programs within the nation stay outfitted, there’s a want for states to watch traits of ILI/SARI (influenza-like sickness (ILI) and (critical acute breathing infections) instances.
Mishra identified that states will have to be directed to ship enough samples for checking out Covid-19 whilst ramping up Complete Genome Sequencing and keeping up an in depth watch at the new international variants.
The assembly used to be attended via Dr Vinod Paul, NITI Aayog member; Rajiv Gauba, Cupboard Secretary; Amit Khare, Guide PMO; Sudhansh Pant, Union Well being Secretary; Rajiv Bahl, Secretary Division of Well being Analysis (DHR) and DG Indian Council of Scientific Analysis (ICMR); Rajesh S. Gokhale, Union Biotechnology Secretary, and Punya Salila Srivastava, Further Secretary to PM.
NEW DELHI: Bringing up the Global Well being Group (WHO), Union Well being Secretary Sudhansh Pant on Monday famous that the brand new Covid-19 variant EG.5 (Eris) has been reported in over 50 international locations. He additionally stated that some other variant BA.2.86 (Pirola) has been reported in 4 international locations.
He used to be collaborating in a high-level evaluate assembly convened via High Minister’s Place of work.
The assembly highlighted that whilst globally, a complete of two,96,219 new instances of Covid-19 have been reported prior to now seven days, India, which contributes to almost 17% of the worldwide inhabitants, has reported simplest 223 instances (0.075% of worldwide new instances) prior to now week. googletag.cmd.push(serve as() googletag.show(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); );
Pant additionally knowledgeable the PMO that the day by day reasonable of recent Covid-19 instances remains to be beneath 50 within the nation.
“The rustic has controlled to take care of weekly check positivity charge of not up to 0.2%,” a remark issued via the union well being ministry stated.
The remark stated an summary of the Genome Sequencing of various variants circulating in India used to be additionally supplied.
Dr PK Mishra, Important Secretary to High Minister Narendra Modi, who chaired the assembly, stated after detailed deliberations, that whilst the Covid-19 scenario within the nation stays solid and public well being programs within the nation stay outfitted, there’s a want for states to watch traits of ILI/SARI (influenza-like sickness (ILI) and (critical acute breathing infections) instances.
Mishra identified that states will have to be directed to ship enough samples for checking out Covid-19 whilst ramping up Complete Genome Sequencing and keeping up an in depth watch at the new international variants.
The assembly used to be attended via Dr Vinod Paul, NITI Aayog member; Rajiv Gauba, Cupboard Secretary; Amit Khare, Guide PMO; Sudhansh Pant, Union Well being Secretary; Rajiv Bahl, Secretary Division of Well being Analysis (DHR) and DG Indian Council of Scientific Analysis (ICMR); Rajesh S. Gokhale, Union Biotechnology Secretary, and Punya Salila Srivastava, Further Secretary to PM.