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Associated Press #Health: Meet the Americans who still take #COVID-19 precautions seriously

“I don’t consider myself COVID cautious. I consider myself COVID competent,” Zebrowski said. “Cautious would imply that I have an unreasonable fear of something. I do not have an unreasonable fear of this disease.”

What does Zebrowski miss about pre-pandemic times? “I miss the illusion that people are willing to care for each other,” she said. “How hard is it to put a mask on? It rattles your faith in humankind.”
#Samara #SamaraSARS
apnews.com/article/covid-pande

In the News:
#Norovirus Rampant, worse than seen before

What you need to know:
In addition to being contact, food, & water-borne, it’s also #airborne. So if you want to SKIP THE VOMIT, you’ll need donn that #N95 respirator mask - in addition to washing your hands and avoiding contaminated foods.

The kicker:
If you’ve had covid, your immune system won’t be able to fight off norovirus like it did before. You are now more susceptible to any type of infection.

It’s been a rough start to 2025, hasn’t it? Take care out there!

#News cbsnews.com/news/norovirus-wav

#ItsAirborne mdpi.com/1999-4915/16/1/151

#Covid Immune System Damage: time.com/6306361/covid-19-immu

Eureka! Found the perfect article for the “so-called #LongCOVID” denier in your life. Very approachable language, featuring the best in offensive catchphrases.

“Disability claims skyrocket, raising new PUZZLE alongside “excess mortality’”

“Along with a BAFFLING rise in POST-PANDEMIC mortality rates that has INSURERS STYMIED, the number of Americans claiming disabilities has skyrocketed since 2020, adding another puzzling factor that could impact CORPORATE BOTTOM LINE”

“While #REMOTEWORK work reduced some risks, it INCREASED SEDENTARY BEHAVIOR and musculoskeletal issues”

💭 There’s some great information hidden in this insurancenews.net article, so, I actually think this would be a brilliant share - especially with those who’ve “moved on from #covid” but find that their bodies haven’t.

“awareness of the importance of disability coverage may rise, creating opportunities for insurers to expand their customer base…
Such gains and opportunities could, however, be offset by a boost in #disability and long-term claims, raising insurers’ liabilities, experts say, as well as a need to increase reserves in anticipation of payouts.”

#Samara #SamaraSARS
insurancenewsnet.com/innarticl

Insurance News | InsuranceNewsNetDisability claims skyrocket, raising new puzzle alongside 'excess mortality'Along with a baffling rise in post-pandemic mortality rates, the number of Americans claiming disabilities has skyrocketed since 2020.

The #CDC did something AWESOME! Along with the USDA & Dept of Interior, it released the first-ever

“National One Health Framework to Address #Zoonotic Diseases & Advance Public Health Preparedness in the United States”

- for #health threats people & animals SHARE, including #covid19, #mpox #AvianFlu, and #Ebola

High Marks, Center for Disease Control! Earning your name this week 🏆

#Samara #SamaraSARS #SamaraVirus
cdc.gov/one-health/media/pdfs/

Continued thread

BRAIN SHRINKAGE found after covid infection. Participants had brain scans prior to the pandemic as part of an unrelated study. Those who had been infected with #SARS2 showed a distinctive pattern of shrinkage on their scan results.

The orbitalfrontal cortex & parahippocampal were diminished, shrunk, in people who had experienced a #covid infection, compared to their pre-pandemic #brain scan. Harm to these areas is associated with:

⬇️ empathy
⬆️ aggression
⬆️ risky behavior
⬆️ Alzheimer’s
⬆️ schizophrenia
⬆️ memory issues
⬇️ navigation skill
⬇️ smell/taste acuity

🧵⬆️ more detail in this thread

Video explainer: cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/iSQdBk

Continued thread

##Brain scans of people who’ve had #SARS-CoV-2 show a pattern of brain shrinkage that is distinct from normal aging. The orbitofrontal cortex and parahippocampal gyrus are the regions most likely to be affected post-#infection.

The ORBITAL FRONTAL CORTEX generates much interest because of some of the roles it is speculated to play in higher-order cognition, such as #DecisionMaking . It connects other regions of the brain to the sensory regions, #memory, and #emotion centers. Notable in #covid infections, this part of the brain processes #taste and #smell perception.

Cognitive functions usually associated with the orbitofrontal cortex include:

- Affective responses (emotional reactions)
- Decision making
- Impulse control

Damage to the orbitofrontal cortex may cause changes in social #behavior (how you interact with others and situations), decision making, and #personality.

People with damage to the orbitofrontal cortex may show -

MORE:
- Aggression
- Childish conduct
- Disinhibition
- Apathy
- Risky behavior

and LESS:
- #Motivation
- #Empathy / concern and for others
- Impulse control

Damage to the orbitalfrontal cortex may alter how the body reacts to emotions, leading to impulsivity and bad judgment. For instance, when making a bold decision, healthy patients exhibit physical symptoms of worry, such as sweaty palms. Patients with injury to the orbitofrontal cortex, however, did not.

Studies show that the orbitalfrontal cortex aids in forecasting decisions based on experience. If this part of the brain is damaged, people may make bad choices even though they are aware of the consequences.

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE, some people find that the changes in their brain make them feel happier, unnhibited, less prone to worry, and more animated.

practicalpie.com/orbitofrontal

Practical Psychology · Orbitofrontal CortexDespite being a poorly understood brain region, the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) generates much interest because of some of the roles it is speculated to

#Novavax effectiveness so far:

October 2023 Scientific American:
Novavax is about as effective as #mRNA #SarsCov2 #vaccines for preventing death, hospitalization, and symptoms in the acute phase of #COVID19 infection.
Novavax is less likely to cause side effects after injection.

scientificamerican.com/article
#Samara #SamaraHealth #SamaraVirus #SamaraSars #SamaraMed

New JAMA ARTICLE:

#Paxlovid for #COVID - Here’s What the Latest Research Says

Rita Rubin, MA
JAMA. Published online January 31, 2024. doi:10.1001/jama.2023.28254
jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/

In the US, 4 treatments are available for people with mild to moderate #COVID19 who are at high risk of progression to severe disease
- nirmatrelvir-ritonavir (Paxlovid, usually preferred)
- The #antiviral #remdesivir (Veklury) is recommended for patients who can’t take nirmatrelvir-ritonavir
- For those who can’t access either of those treatments or have a contraindication to them, the antiviral pill #molnupiravir (Lagevrio), which wasn’t as effective in clinical trials as the other 2 antivirals above
- COVID-19 convalescent plasma with high titers of anti–#SarsCoV2 antibodies

SARS-CoV-2 rebound can occur with or without antiviral treatment. Paxlovid suppresses viral load while taking it. Virus found in swabs after Paxlovid treatment has ended would have been there if no treatment occurred. Treatment for 10 days is being studied to keep viral levels low and prevent rebound.

A recent retrospective study by researchers at the University of Hong Kong suggested that the sooner treatment begins, the better.

Antiviral treatment in the acute phase may reduce chances of #LongCovid.

The Paxlovid drug box says it may cause liver damage.

❓My questions to you:

Should Paxlovid be taken for 10 DAYS STRAIGHT (vs 5) in the acute phase of #Sars2 for all high risk patients who want the best outcome?

❓What may warrant taking a 10 day dose - inherent Covid risk of patient, symptom progression, symptoms at day 5, desire to be non-infectious, desire to reduce risk of Long Covid?

❓Would taking Paxlovid for 10 days vs 5 increase the risk of permanent liver damage?