Javonne writes:
I was watching CNN Sunday, Dec 29 and saw Ms Garrett seemingly contradicting the information about bird flu that I’ve read and heard from scientists. She said there is already human to human transmission.
What’s up?
Thanks
Javonne
Debby writes:
Could you keep us abreast of the progress of the norovirus vaccine trials? This unpleasant virus has been quite a problem in my senior community this month, leading to a lot of illness and a lot of social isolation, and I’m excited to see that more than one vaccine is in trial.
Thank you,
Debby
Ian writes:
Hi Vincent and Daniel,
Re: your comment about home Flu, RSV and SARS-CoV-2 at home antigen tests in episode 1178. I was in Germany this summer and found these tests in the pharmacy (see attached photos). They are over the counter and get this, they cost about 2 euros. So cheap!! SARS-CoV-2 antigen tests were 1.10 euro!!!
I bought a bunch of the triple test and brought them home with me. I agree that these tests should be available here in the US, but I fear that they could be very expensive. You can get a Flu and SARS-CoV-2 at home test here in the US, but they are relatively expensive at $8-10 per test. Do you think that adding RSV to the test would have any meaningful clinical impact given that there isn’t a treatment for RSV?
Overall, I think that the cost of at-home antigen tests in the US is too high and potentially a barrier to people using them. In addition, why doesn’t health insurance reimburse for these at home tests? Insurance would cover them at a PCP or urgent care visit, so why not at home. They are the exact same test…
Thanks for all that you do. I appreciate your thoughts and insights.
-Ian
Lauren writes:
Dear Dr. Griffin!
Hello! My name is Lauren Stein and I am a forever grateful TWIV fan! It’s so nice to meet you.
Dr. Griffin, I can’t thank you enough for your on-going discussion and education surrounding the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
I am part of the large and active “Still COVIDing” online community. We’re a worldwide group of people who are doing our best to minimize the risk of infection and transmission to others while trying to live our lives. This includes keeping ourselves up-to-date on the latest research as much as possible, and implementing the different layers of protections that we have available.
I am writing to you today in regard to some new information that you spoke of in the “Letters” section during the December 21st. 2024 edition, #1176 of The Clinical Update. Our group would be incredibly grateful if you might please be able to share the studies that you are referencing as this could have huge, positive, even life changing implications for those of us who are still isolating. (Many members are immunocompromised and at times it is difficult to predict risk.) Thank you!
Dr. Griffin, around the 43:20 mark, a listener’s question about best practices in regard to COVID precaution was read by Dr. Racaniello. In your response, you mentioned that transmission has changed over time and that early on in the pandemic, models saw about 50% of transmission was from asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic individuals and that also early on , about 1/3 of people testing positive had no symptoms at all. You then mentioned that these days, with immunity from previous infections and vaccination, that less than 10% of people infected with COVID remain asymptomatic. You also mentioned very importantly, that they are now seeing that people tend to get symptomatic BEFORE they are infectious to others. Bottomline, they are seeing a lot fewer asymptomatic transmission. This would be a very helpful change in transmission for those of us who are concerned with COVID.
My question is – Dr. Griffin, do you perhaps please have the recent source, data or studies that you were speaking about in regard to asymptomatic infection rates AND infections not being transmissible until symptomatic? Thank you in advance if you might and you are willing to share!
I do hope that most recent data is correct, but being that most individuals, doctors’ offices and even many hospitals are not testing for COVID regularly, how do studies come to the conclusion that there are indeed fewer asymptomatic infections? My assumption was that asymptomatic people are not testing to be counted.
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for all that you, Dr. Racaniello and the whole TWIV team are doing. You are a beacon of hope for us and we are so very appreciative for your work and care.
With Warm Regards,
Lauren
Barb writes:
Hi Daniel,
I am a pediatric subspecialist, looking for advice for management of COVID-19 isolation in my personal home. I understand there was no change in knowledge for which the CDC based its updated isolation guidelines last winter, but rather a sense of isolation fatigue. That being said, it would seem that for people who still “care”, it would be nice to have updated data with information that might include prior infection, recent vaccination (time from last?), severity of illness perhaps, and, if it could be possible, RADT negativity (repeatedly?).
I know the data has not really supported the use of RADT negativity to imply lack of infectivity, although many (knowledgeable and well-meaning) people still rely on this. I think it stems from a desire to have some objective measure by which to end what seems to still be a very long necessary period of isolation.
By way of practical example, my spouse (early 40s) had 1 day of fatigue/malaise, and 2 nights of fever, no URI symptoms. RADT was just barely positive (in fact, there was a discrepancy between us as to whether it was truly (+)). Recent (~1mo ago) vaccination with Novavax. 1 prior infection. As I read the data, isolation at home should last a minimum of 7 days (based on this: https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciad535 CID paper) and more confidently 9-10 days. Even as someone who has been particularly careful for much longer than many around me, this seems like a long time for someone who was sick for such a short period of time, and had such a recent vaccine (not to mention the data-less “equivocal” RADT+).
Do you have any updated data or practical advice?
Thanks for all you do!
Barb