To study whether SARS-CoV-2 could infect the eyes, researchers at Johns Hopkins looked at whether the eye’s surface cells had key things that made the virus more likely to enter and infect them. WebMD Health News
Tag: Infectious Diseases
The Element of Surprise: COVID-19 Unveiled a Tale of Two Americas
Two black physicians and health equity researchers argue that the pandemic is unfolding exactly as expected. Medscape Infectious Diseases
COVID-19 Data Point to Two Possible Realities — Which Is It?
Is COVID-19 a slow-moving killer with a high death rate or a rapid spreader with minimal impact on most people? Medscape
Topol: US Betrays Healthcare Workers in Coronavirus Disaster
Many US healthcare workers started this year already suffering from burnout, but the worst was yet to come. Medscape
Medical Meetings May Be Forever Changed
COVID-19 has caused medical conferences to be canceled this spring. Some regular attendees are expressing relief. Will this disruption lead to lasting changes? Medscape Medical News
Are Warnings Against NSAIDs in COVID-19 Warranted?
UPDATED // The French Health Ministry recommends acetaminophen instead, but evidence on any unique COVID-19-related effects linked to ibuprofen is lacking, say the Spanish Health Ministry and a US expert. Medscape Medical News
More Medical Conferences Fall to Coronavirus
Several more meetings join the list of those that have canceled or postponed. Medscape Medical News
FDA OKs First Generic of Daraprim (Pyrimethamine) Tablets
Generic pyrimethamine, from Cerovene Inc, is indicated for the treatment of toxoplasmosis when used with a sulfonamide. FDA Approvals
Candida auris Tied to Vision Loss in Case Report
Infection with Candida auris likely led to panophthalmitis and vision loss in an immunocompromised patient, according to a new case report. Medscape Medical News
FDA Clears First Zika Blood Test for Routine Use
The ZIKV Detect 2.0 IgM Capture ELISA had previously been authorized only for emergency use under the FDA’s emergency use authorization authority. FDA Approvals
PRAC Recommends Restrictions on Fluoroquinolone, Quinolones
The new restrictions follow a review of rare but disabling and potentially long-lasting side effects, mainly involving muscles, tendons, bones, and the nervous system. News Alerts
False Positives Common With LabCorp Zika Testing, FDA Warns
The ZIKV Detect test for virus antibodies always requires confirmation. A higher-than-expected rate of false positives underlines the need for double-checking. News Alerts
Texas Reports Local Zika Case, First Outside Florida
The Texas health department believes that a woman became infected from the bite of a local mosquito. Medscape Medical News
OCT Imaging Reveals Extent of Retinal Damage in Infants With Zika Syndrome
Using optical coherence tomography (OCT), researchers analyzed and described for the first time the structural changes that occur in the retinas of babies with Zika virus syndrome. The results indicate “severe visual impairment in newborns,” researchers say, but further studies are needed to correlate the observed findings with visual function.
Reuters Health Information
CDC More Cautious on Conception, Sex After Zika Exposure
Men who’ve possibly been exposed to the virus without developing symptoms should wait much longer than previously advised to attempt pregnancy with a partner or have condomless sex. News Alerts
Zika Virus Found in Tears of Mice – U.S. Study
A new study has found genetic fragments of Zika in the eyes and the tears of laboratory mice infected with the virus, a finding that offers a potential new route of human infection. Reuters Health Information
Second Zika Zone in Florida Prompts CDC Travel Warning
Pregnant women shouldn’t visit a stretch of Miami Beach where mosquitos are spreading Zika, the CDC said. And pregnant women worried about the virus may consider postponing nonessential travel to all of Miami-Dade County. News Alerts
Local Transmission of Zika Likely Occurring in Florida
Four infected individuals represent the first instances of local transmission of the virus in the continental United States. The CDC expects to see more such cases here. News Alerts
FDA Issues Guidance to Protect Blood Supply From Zika Virus
The FDA recommendations are more expansive than safeguards announced earlier this month by the American Red Cross. Medscape Medical News
Biggest Ever Infectious Disease Survey to Speed End of Trachoma
The scale and quality of the survey mean trachoma, an extremely painful disease which causes blindness, could be eliminated by 2020. Reuters Health Information