Go a little off topic
–The whole of Northern Italy has been essentially quarantined. –My wife and I largely expect her conference later this month to be cancelled. The society’s leadership was meeting this weekend to decide. The biggest problem is that many academic medical centers are banning domestic travel as well (even trying to ban personal travel), so conference …
This will be relatively short due to unexpected time constraints this week. –Ebola update: No new cases in the last week. Only 139 known contacts remain under surveillance, with 99% follow up of contacts. We are within 3-4 weeks of closing the books on this outbreak, assuming no new cases. –Coronavirus: Again, lots of news, …
—Several big developments over the weekend. —First is subtle but important. The FDA basically waved hands and approved the CDC assay for Covid-19 diagnosis. This means any lab in the US capable of doing it can now bring it up free and clear. I expect rapid movement on this. For example, as of Friday evening, …
Coronavirus Update —Been a busy week in coronavirus, and I am not going to be able to capture everything. I will try to hit what I consider to be the main points. —Italy’s cases have taken off, and included spread to at least Spain, Germany, Austria, France and the Middle East. Thus far, the EU …
Continue reading “Coronavirus and Ebola Update: 27 Feb 2020”
So there was no planned update but events this week are reaching an inflection point. Since I am on my iPhone, this will be short. —Geographic spread to more and more countries is highly concerning, especially given China is largely shut down with extensive travel restrictions globally restricting Chinese visas and flights. —Japan botched the …
Continue reading “Coronavirus Update–Events Warrant: 21 Feb 2020”
Let’s get Ebola out of the way first, because it’s short. Cases continue to dwindle. Control of the outbreak is close. Ebola update done. Coronavirus will get a slightly more detailed update. –In the “Tale of Two Viruses” update recently, I said that either humanity got insanely lucky, or there were “missing cases”–chains of infection …
Continue reading “Ebola and Coronavirus Update: 23 Feb 2020”
Along the “why are there not more cases outside China from patients -before- the travel ban starting transmission chains that should now start being detectable” lines… Rumors that Singapore has at least three cases with no known connection to Wuhan and apparently acquired within Singapore. Also reports that the CDC has set up 5 labs …
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times… and indeed, coronavirus continues to behave like two entirely different viruses. On the level, I do not have a great explanation of -why- that is (I can take some guesses), but the data are what they are. In the “good” column this week, …
Continue reading “Coronavirus and Ebola Update–A Tale of Two Viruses: 13 Feb 2020”
There are now two cruise ships, one docked in NJ with up to 12 probable cases of coronavirus and one docked in Japan with about 40. Many of the affected passengers are reported to be Chinese citizens who developed symptoms on board. Obviously, the close, packed confines of a cruise ship are a -great- place …
Continue reading “Of Coronavirus and Cruise Ships: 7 Feb 2020”
Coronavirus Update —In the past week, there has been no exponential take off in new cases outside of China. In short, although many travelers have been found with coronavirus, their known contacts, by and large are NOT getting coronavirus from them. Nor are their healthcare providers. —Of 191 patients currently outside of China with confirmed …