Hybrid versions of the coronavirus that combine genes from the Delta and Omicron variants – dubbed “Deltacron” – have been identified in at least 17 patients in the United States and Europe, researchers said. Additionally, new research adds to evidence that trained dogs could help screen crowds to identify people infected with the coronavirus.
An Omicron-specific booster could be ready by August, the CEO of U.S. biotech firm Moderna told Reuters, but the firm is still gathering clinical data to determine whether that vaccine would offer better protection than a new dose of the existing jab.
Global COVID-19 cases surpassed 400 million on February 9, according to a Reuters tally, as the highly contagious Omicron variant dominates the outbreak, pushing health systems in several countries to the brink of capacity.
A new variant of HIV was recently discovered in Europe that is more contagious and more deadly – the virus degrades the immune system into AIDS twice as fast as previous strains.
Many countries have not reached their peak in cases of the highly transmissible Omicron variant of the coronavirus and measures imposed to curb its spread should be eased slowly, the World Health Organization’s technical lead on COVID-19 said on Feb. 1.
The United States – the World Health Organization’s top donor – is resisting proposals to make the agency more independent, four officials involved in the talks said, raising doubts about the Biden administration’s long-term support for the U.N. agency.
Tugarê Group, one of Latin America’s premier healthcare advertising agency groups, announced the launch of Competitive Edge Digital Studio, the world’s first cost-effective production studio purpose-built for the healthcare communications industry. The company is poised to meet the demand for high quality, specialized digital content for small to medium-size agencies throughout North America and Europe delivered at significantly competitive prices.
Coronavirus deaths in Eastern Europe topped 1 million on December 30, according to a Reuters tally, as the Omicron variant threatened to batter the region.
Many countries are expanding Covid-19 vaccine booster programs or shortening the gap between shots as governments scramble to shore up protection against the new Omicron variant which emerged during November in southern Africa and Hong Kong.
Europe crossed 75 million coronavirus cases on December 3, according to a Reuters tally, as the region braces for the new Omicron variant at a time when hospitals in some countries are already strained by the current surge.