oyvayblog: Dr Ruth's COVID & Health News 8/11/25

Don't lower your guard: COVID is ramping back up. Here's the latest from Dr Ruth Ann Crystal's COVID & Medical News 8/11/25:

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COVID & Medical News, 8/11/25

"According to JP Weiland, we can see from the rapid increase in Emergency Department visits for COVID, especially in children ages 0 to 11, that the summer COVID wave is accelerating. School will be starting for many in the next 2 weeks, and teens will probably start to get infected as well soon. In Florida and Hawaii, in children ages 0 to 11 years old, Emergency Department visits for COVID are higher than any time in the last year.

From: https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#ed-visits_separated_by_age_group

"Per the CDC through 8/2/25, there are VERY HIGH levels of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater in Hawaii, Louisiana and Guam and HIGH levels in twelve other states (Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Mississippi, Nevada, South Carolina, Texas and Utah.)

"According to Mike Hoerger, as of August 4th, there are about 505,000 new COVID infections daily across America and 1 in every 95 people is currently infected, with 1 in 32 people is infectious in Hawaii, 1 in 38 in Texas, and 1 in 33 actively infectious with COVID infection in Alaska. His data will update later today on PMC19.

From: https://x.com/michael_hoerger/status/1952459529909833865

"As of 8/8/25, Michael Hoerger estimates from CDC data that in California 1 in every 63 people is currently infected with COVID. In a public service announcement on 8/7/25, California State Public Health Officer Dr. Erica Pan stated,

“COVID-19 is spreading in California. The best way to protect yourself against serious illness and hospitalization is to stay up to date on your COVID-19 vaccine. Everyone 6 months and older can get vaccinated. Talk to your health care provider or schedule your vaccine appointment at MyTurn.ca.gov to schedule a vaccine appointment.”

"It is also important to wear a well fitting N95 mask, especially in crowded spaces, to use air filters and to stay home if sick.

Variants

"As SARS-CoV-2 continues to mutate, surveillance of variants is shrinking. The U.S. Variant Tracker from the CDC has not been updated since June 21. Experts fear this blind spot may delay detection of dangerous new variants. Moderna and Pfizer will offer LP.8.1 mRNA vaccines in the United States for 2025-2026. Novavax’s protein vaccine, in partnership with Sanofi, will continue to make the parent lineage JN.1 vaccine this year. Because they are antigenically close, 2025-2026 vaccines targeting JN.1 or LP.8.1 should still provide good protection against severe illness from the newer variants like XFG.

From: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2837354

Acute COVID infections, General COVID info

"In a Spanish phase II, proof-of-concept trial of 33 hospitalized patients with non-severe COVID pneumonia, adding Maraviroc, a CCR5 inhibitor, to standard care improved outcomes. Those on Maraviroc did not require ICU care and needed oxygen for fewer days.

"A retrospective cohort study of 1.7 million patients from the Stony Brook Health System showed an increased incidence of new-onset hypertension within 3 years of COVID infection in both hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients. “COVID-19 status was the fifth-greatest risk factor for new-onset hypertension, greater than even well-established risk factors such as chronic kidney disease, and diabetes.”

"In a UK Biobank study of 467,000 adults, those infected with COVID had higher risks of death from cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurologic diseases up to three years after infection. Hospitalized patients had the highest risks, but even non-hospitalized individuals showed excess mortality. This study adds to the data showing that SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with long lasting sequelae.

"A study of 9,708 hospitalized COVID-19 patients confirmed that a simple ARC score combining Age, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), and CRP levels on day 3 of hospitalization can predict 28-day mortality with 77% accuracy. The score was validated using the National COVID Cohort Collaborative database, supporting its clinical use for early risk stratification.

Vaccines

"U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will suspend $500 million in federal funding for mRNA vaccine research. Critics warn this will cripple rapid-response capacity for future pandemics and stall mRNA vaccine advances against HIV, H5N1 bird flu, cancers, and autoimmune diseases. mRNA vaccines which were pioneered by Nobel laureates Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman can be updated in months, which is far faster than older vaccine types, and they have been credited with saving millions of lives during the COVID pandemic. More than a billion doses of mRNA vaccines have been given safely around the world since the beginning of the pandemic. Public health leaders, former federal preparedness officials, and scientists called RFK Jr's decision a national security risk and “one of the most dangerous” public health moves in decades.

From: https://x.com/JeromeAdamsMD/status/1952905490662629640

Antiviral treatments

"In a trial involving 300 patients in Korea, oral niclosamide nanohybrid (CP‑COV03) was given to people with mild to moderate acute COVID infection and was found to be safe and significantly reduced COVID symptoms. It cut the SARS-CoV-2 viral load by more than half (56.7%) within 16 hours, leading to faster symptom resolution, quicker return to usual health, and reduced hospitalization risk versus placebo.

Long COVID

"In a study of 97 people with Long COVID and 31 recovered controls, non-contrast WEPCAST MRI revealed persistent blood–brain barrier (BBB) leakiness in Long COVID almost 3 years after infection. Greater BBB permeability was linked to poorer motor function, post-exertional malaise and certain lab markers. Findings suggest subtle but persistent BBB disruption may be a long-term biomarker of neuro Long COVID independent of initial infection severity.

"A meta-analysis of human and viral transcriptome data from 21 RNA-seq studies involving a total of 1,272 individuals found that Long COVID immune cells (mononuclear cells, PBMCs, and granulocytes) show a distinct mitochondrial gene signature, despite low intracellular viral RNA, pointing to disrupted energy production and bone marrow activity as possible drivers of lingering symptoms.

"In a prospective registry study, 56–63% of Long COVID patients had improvement in physical or mental health scores three months after hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), especially for cognitive symptoms. However, 13–19% experienced worsening Long COVID symptoms, suggesting HBOT may help some but may be risky for others.

"The gut microbiome has been shown to affect the brain, the immune system and many other body systems. Two weeks ago, I mentioned in my newsletter that I had made a synbiotic (pre- and probiotics) based on scientific research that has significantly helped my daughter with Long COVID. The response has been very positive and we have sold out of the synbiotic, but we are making more. To be notified when the synbiotic is back in stock, please send us an email at info@VivaBiome.com.

ME/CFS

"A very large new study shows that myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME or ME/CFS) is linked to a person’s genetics.The DecodeME genome-wide association study comparing 15,579 people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) to 259,909 controls of European ancestry identified eight genetic regions linked to the illness. Several genes are involved in immune response to infection and another is related to chronic pain. None of the genetic findings are associated with depression or anxiety. The findings support a biological basis for ME/CFS involving both immune and nervous system pathways.

Measles

"As of August 5, 2025, a total of 1,356 confirmed measles cases were reported by 41 jurisdictions, 13% of cases hospitalized (171 of 1356), and 3 confirmed deaths from measles.

Other news

"A first-in-human study demonstrated that gene-edited donor pancreatic islet beta cells survived transplantation without triggering immune rejection. The recipient with Type 1 diabetes required no immunosuppressive drugs, offering hope for future transplantation innovations.

"Mononucleosis or glandular fever is caused by the Epstein- Barr virus (EBV). In a humanized mouse model, researchers found that EBV infection causes the body to make B cells that go to the brain and attract pro-inflammatory T cells, which then trigger Multiple Sclerosis.

"A Nature study found that lithium levels are low in the brains of people with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. Amyloid plaques actively sequester lithium. In mouse models, a diet-induced lithium drop accelerated amyloid and tau accumulation, synaptic and myelin loss, microglial dysfunction, and memory decline. But these changes could be prevented or reversed by supplementing with an amyloid‑evading lithium salt called lithium orotate.

“Good schematic on the lithium discovery”- from Eric Topol MD

From: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-02471-4

"The Gates’ foundation is dedicating $2.5 billion over five years toward Women’s Health research, focusing on chronically neglected conditions such as preeclampsia, heavy menstrual bleeding, endometriosis, menopause, and more. The investment targets five key areas: obstetric care and maternal immunization; maternal health and nutrition; gynecological and menstrual health; contraceptive innovation; and STI solutions. Only about 1% of healthcare R&D currently supports female-specific conditions outside of cancer.

"Chinese researchers saw a spike in Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections in children after COVID infection, with blood markers showing heightened inflammation, blood clotting markers and glucose levels. Immune shifts from the pandemic may be affecting post-COVID susceptibility.

"Changes in the gut microbiome in mice can affect genes in excitatory neurons in the hypothalamus that are linked to depression. Transferring used bedding (and microbes) from healthy mice to chronically stressed mice reversed depressive-like behaviors by altering gut microbiota. Researchers identified two metabolic pathways, glyoxylate/dicarboxylate metabolism and arginine biosynthesis, as potential mechanisms. The probiotic Muribaculaceae may play a key role in restoring healthy brain function through the microbiota–gut–brain (MGB) axis.

"Congress narrowly voted to cut $1.1 billion in federal funding for PBS over the next two years, ending the source of about 15% of PBS’s budget. PBS has produced educational programming, especially for children, for nearly 60 years and PBS KIDS shows like Sesame Street make up nearly half of first graders’ top educational programs. You can donate to PBS here.

"This week, a tiny kitten hopped on the NYC subway looking for a new home. Commuter Pocahontae Nehemiah shared a video of the curious kitten on TikTok and it quickly went viral reaching over 10.7 million views. Another passenger, Betsaida Mercado, adopted Emmie (named after the MTA) on the spot. After taking the kitten to the vet, little Emmie joined her new canine big brother King at her new home in Harlem.