Results of coronavirus vaccine trials call for cautious optimism
Never before have candidate vaccines been developed from scratch, tested on animals and completed early stages of human clinical trials all under six months. This is an acid test for…
Category: SARS
COVID-19: China’s dangerous obsession with secrecy a serious threat to global public health
Contrary to what was earlier reported, China confirmed to the WHO of the cluster of cases of ‘viral pneumonia of unknown cause’ on January 3 only after the global body…
Antibodies from convalescent plasma protects against COVID-19
The researchers found passive transfer of neutralising antibodies isolated from convalescent plasma into Syrian hamsters protect the animals against the disease when exposed to the virus and also protects hamsters…
Antibodies against coronavirus start to decrease in 2-3 months, study finds
The study found IgG levels and neutralizing antibodies started to decrease within two-three months after infection with novel coronavirus. The reduction was more (40%) in the case asymptomatic individuals than…
Faeces samples can harbour infectious coronavirus, study finds
Chinese researchers were able to isolate and culture novel coronavirus from faeces samples. Confirmation of infectious virus in faeces samples raises the potential for faecal-oral or faecal-respiratory transmission. During 2002…
Plasma therapy: In a welcome change, ICMR insists on evidence-based approach
ICMR’s insistence on an evidence-based approach to plasma therapy is a welcome change and is in stark contrast to the cavalier manner in which it approved hydroxychloroquine as a prophylaxis…
Broad-spectrum antiviral inhibits novel coronavirus
A ribonucleoside analog (β-D-N4-hydroxycytidine or NHC) that was previously shown to be effective against influenza and Ebola is also potent against coronaviruses, including the novel coronavirus. The prodrug of NHC…
Coronavirus: Opacity in the time of an outbreak can kill more people
China could have contained the spread with very little effort and resources had it been transparent and acted on time. Downplaying and being secretive about public health issues, particularly novel…
