March 7, 2022 – iEXPOSED.us Blog

FROM THE CDC:

(J. Harris: Nothing much here about BA.2)

BECKER:

No signs omicron subvariant will spur surge, Dr. Michael Osterholm says:

(J. Harris: I don’t know of this doctor, but he’s from a good medical school—U of MN.)

”…Cases of the highly transmissible omicron subvariant appear to be doubling every week in the U.S., but there isn’t clear evidence BA.2 will cause another major surge, epidemiologist Michael Osterholm, Ph.D., told Becker’s March 2.

The subvariant accounted for an estimated 8.3 percent of COVID-19 cases in the week ending Feb. 26, up from 4.4 percent a week prior, according to CDC estimates.

BA.2 was dominant in 18 countries as of Feb. 22, but no trends have emerged to suggest the subvariant is fueling a rise in cases.

“If we look at other countries around the world where BA.2 has taken off … there’s no discernable patterns,” said Dr. Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.

COVID-19 cases are rising in some countries where BA.1, the original omicron strain, is still dominant and falling in others. Countries where BA.2 is dominant are reporting mixed case trends, according to Dr. Osterholm.

The U.S. has seen steep drops in cases relative to omicron’s peak in January, when the daily average for new cases surpassed 800,000. As of March 2, the daily case average fell below 55,000, data from The New York Times shows.

Dr. Osterholm said the nation’s case decline may be leveling off, based on trends from other countries.

“In some countries the peak does have initial steep drops, and it tends to level off at a level that is substantially higher than it was before omicron showed up … so I think this is a huge challenge for some areas still seeing substantial activity.”

While case numbers and hospitalizations have seen great improvements, today’s figures would’ve been considered excessively high earlier in the pandemic, Dr. Osterholm said, noting there was a time when 40,000 cases a day was considered “a house on fire.”

His points underscore how society’s expectations regarding baseline levels of virus activity have evolved throughout the pandemic alongside shifting trends in case volumes and increased availability of COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics.

Cases will likely continue to drop over time, Dr. Osterholm said, adding he is hopeful cases will reach or fall below levels not seen since last June, when the nation’s new case average fell below 12,000.

(J. Harris: My Random observations about BA.2: It’s easy to catch, especially with young and unvaccinated. It is generally mild in those previously infected with the original Omega variant when unlucky enough to be reinfected. It is modulated or prevented in vaccinated people. Currently, data is scant. I see no reason that the BA.2 Variant won’t cause the US trouble and soon, especially in unvaccinated areas, like E. Texas. Why would it not fill in here? I hope I’m wrong.

FROM REUTERS MARCH 7

Chinese city of Qingdao reports Omicron outbreak among students

FROM HOPKINS AND ABOVE MY PAY GRADE:

Genome-wide analysis provides genetic evidence that ACE2 influences COVID-19 risk and yields risk scores associated with severe disease

Genome-wide Analysis Provides Genetic Evidence that ACE2 Influences COVID-19 Risk and Yields Risk Scores Associated with Severe Disease (Nature Genetics) Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) enters human host cells via angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Here, through a genome-wide association study, we identify a variant (rs190509934, minor allele frequency 0.2–2%) that downregulates ACE2 expression by 37% (P = 2.7 × 10−8) and reduces the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection by 40% (odds ratio = 0.60, P = 4.5 × 10−13), providing human genetic evidence that ACE2 expression levels influence COVID-19 risk.

”

FROM JAMA:

1. Comparison of Outcomes and Process of Care for Patients Treated at Hospitals Dedicated for COVID-19 Care vs Other Hospitals

Question Is treatment of COVID-19 at a dedicated hospital associated with improved care processes and outcomes?

Findings In this cohort study of 5504 patients with COVID-19, lower mortality rates were found in dedicated COVID-19 hospitals vs other hospitals.

Meaning Results of this study suggest that treatment at dedicated COVID-19 hospitals may be associated with reducing in-hospital mortality; this model may be useful during future pandemics.Question Is treatment of COVID-19 at a dedicated hospital associated with improved care processes and outcomes?

Findings In this cohort study of 5504 patients with COVID-19, lower mortality rates were found in dedicated COVID-19 hospitals vs other hospitals.

Meaning Results of this study suggest that treatment at dedicated COVID-19 hospitals may be associated with reducing in-hospital mortality; this model may be useful during future pandemics.

2. Assessment of Clinical Effectiveness of BNT162b2 COVID-19 Vaccine in US Adolescents

Question What is the association between the BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine and SARS-CoV-2 positivity among adolescents?

Findings This case-control study of 542 adolescents was conducted when the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 was predominant and within 4 months of the vaccine rollout for adolescents. Overall, the estimated effectiveness of the BNT162b2 vaccine was 91%, with 93% protection against symptomatic infections and 85% effectiveness against asymptomatic infection.

Meaning These findings suggest that the BNT162b2 vaccine was effective in adolescents within 4 months of immunization, including against infections caused by the Delta variant.

BECKERS:

1. Silence on J&J vaccine leaves recipients with questions

2. Flu hospitalizations rise 4th week in a row — 9 CDC notes

FROM WEBB MD

(J. Harris: Two excellent, readable summaries.)

1. Long COVID Patients May Develop Nerve Damage

2.COVID-19 Drugs: What to Know

FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES:

1. During the Omicron surge, Black New Yorkers were hospitalized at a rate more than twice that of white residents.

AND LASTLY: