The latest People who exercise and receive coronavirus vaccines are about 25 percent less likely to be hospitalized with covid-19 compared with people who live a sedentary lifestyle. A study of nearly 200,000 people in South Africa found that in most participants, the shot prevented severe illness but "worked best in people who exercised regularly," according to my colleague Gretchen Reynolds. The research adds to a growing body of evidence supporting the connection between regular exercise and lowering the risk of severe illness and hospitalization if a person becomes infected with the virus. People who exercised between 60 and 149 minutes a week were more protected than those who exercised less than an hour a week. But participants who exercised at least 150 minutes per week benefited the most. Scientists are researching ways to stop the evolution of the coronavirus in its tracks by blocking the human proteins it hijacks and uses against us, my colleague Mark Johnson reports. "If the strategy works, it has the potential to address several shortcomings of current treatments and vaccines, including their inability to prevent infections and maintain effectiveness in the face of a changing virus," Johnson writes. "Shutting off its access to a crucial protein would be like depriving a predator of food or oxygen." Some scientists are apprehensive about the protein-blocking treatment options, citing potential risks. Other important news Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has tested positive for the coronavirus again after completing a round of Paxlovid, according to the agency. A report by Senate Republicans cited the "most likely" origin of the coronavirus pandemic was some kind of "research-related incident" in China, according to my colleagues Joel Achenbach and Dan Diamond. "The report, while not a formal scientific document, represents a possible template for a future investigatory hearing in Congress if Republicans gain control of the House or Senate — or both — following the midterm elections," the authors write. This flu season is more severe than any since 2009. My colleague Lena H. Sun reports we've already seen "880,000 cases of influenza illness, 6,900 hospitalizations and 360 flu-related deaths nationally." |
No comments:
Post a Comment