COVID-19

Where is the next COVID variant, pi?

— After a year of omicron variants, will we ever see a new variant of concern? A virologist explains why omicron is continuing to dominate.

COVID-19

Things everyone should know about COVID-19 (Part 2: Transmission & Protection)

— This piece highlights important things about how COVID-19 is transmitted and what variant-proof measures can be taken to reduce the risk of becoming infected or reinfected.

Long COVID

Long COVID stigma may encourage people to hide the condition

— A UK survey found most long COVID sufferers have experienced discrimination, prejudice or shame related to the condition.

Bird Flu (H5N1)

Bird flu: UK is seeing its largest ever outbreak – which may prove particularly deadly for wild birds

— With a greater number of wild birds infected, this latest bird flu outbreak is likely to mean that there have been more opportunities for infected or contaminated wild birds to come into contact with poultry.

COVID-19

Things everyone should know about COVID-19 (Part 1: Immune System)

— With poor public health messaging, the general public doesn’t seem to know some important things about how COVID-19 and the immune system actually work.

COMMENT

Wear a mask in public — Successive COVID infections increase health risks, new study

— A new study shows that repeat COVID infections contribute to a significant additional risk of adverse health conditions in multiple organ systems. Long COVID is going to be a defining issue of our times.

OPINION

China-bashing is being used to normalise mass-disability and loss of life

— China’s Zero COVID policy is being criticised as a means of legitimising the abandonment of public health in the West.

What The Experts Say

Do not ignore COVID, experts say

— What health experts think about the current COVID situation, and why getting the winter booster jab and wearing face masks now is important.

What The Experts Say

COVID-19: It looks like we are in for a bad October – Experts

— What health experts say about the autumn COVID wave currently hitting the UK and what they think we should do next.

Public Health

‘Tomato flu’ outbreak in India – Here’s what it really is

— Swabs from two children in the UK reveal the cause of a mysterious illness that is currently spreading in India, the ‘Tomato flu’.

COVID-19

Long COVID: Why it’s so hard to tell how many people get it

— A recent study suggests one in eight people who get COVID will go on to develop long COVID.

COVID-19

Many people are still shielding from COVID – and their mental health is getting worse.

— While the general public has become less anxious over the course of the pandemic, the opposite is true for vulnerable people who have been shielding from COVID-19 and whose mental health is getting worse.

COVID-19

Our current COVID vaccines could soon be updated to target new variants.

— Against omicron, many of us will have minimal neutralising antibodies left after infection because of the variant’s ability to rapidly mutate. It may be time for a new generation of COVID vaccines.

Investigation

Investigation into the government’s contracts with Randox Laboratories.

— The government’s public procurement approaches were not appropriate at the pandemic’s start, especially when dealing with Randox Laboratories, the National Audit Office reports.

Monkeypox

How the monkeypox epidemic is likely to play out – in four graphs.

— Possible outcomes of the current monkeypox epidemic under four different scenarios.

Monkeypox

Monkeypox: An expert explains what we need to know.

— How monkeypox spreads and how to protect yourself.