Why Is Omicron So Contagious?
The new coronavirus variant may be better than other versions at avoiding human immune defenses—but that ability may change in different countries -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.....»»
How the Omicron Variant Got So Many Scary Mutations So Quickly
The numerous changes in the coronavirus’s spike protein could have arisen in an isolated population or an immunocompromised person, or in animals -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.....»»
New York Anime Convention Possibly Infected With Omicron
Long-time Slashdot reader Aighearach shares a report from Reuters: President Joe Biden on Thursday laid out his strategy to fight the coronavirus as the highly contagious Omicron spread across the globe with winter coming and hours after the first kn.....»»
The omicron variant is a mystery. Here’s how science will solve it
So far, panic about the new Covid variant has outpaced actual information. Enlarge (credit: Remko De Waal | Getty Images) Starting last Friday, the race was on—between a virus and information about it. And for a while, the i.....»»
Moderna plans omicron booster for March as Biden unveils winter COVID plan
The plan includes insurance coverage for at-home tests and tighter travel protocols. Enlarge / US President Joe Biden at the White House on December 01, 2021, in Washington, DC. (credit: Getty | Anna Moneymaker) President Joe.....»»
2nd US omicron case just traveled to NYC anime convention with 53K attendees
The NYC event reportedly struggled with crowding and had weak vaccination rules. Enlarge / Costumed people attend Anime NYC at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City on November 20, 2021. (credit: Getty | Kena Betancur).....»»
US Confirms Nation"s First Case of Omicron Covid Variant In California
An anonymous reader quotes a report from CNBC: U.S. health officials have confirmed the country's first case of the new, heavily mutated coronavirus variant called omicron in California, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday......»»
18 Hours of Omicron Chaos at Schiphol Airport
On November 25, two planes took off from South Africa for Amsterdam. By the time they landed, the Omicron variant had thrown the world into chaos......»»
Omicron found in US—plus 23 other countries in 5 of 6 global regions
If we can't defeat delta, we don't stand a chance against omicron, WHO warns. Enlarge / Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the chief medical adviser to the president, delivers a.....»»
How Science Will Solve the Omicron Variant’s Mysteries
So far, panic about the mysterious new Covid variant has outpaced actual information. Here’s what scientists around the world are trying to uncover......»»
WHO Says Omicron Has Been Found in 23 Countries Across the World
The World Health Organization said Wednesday that 23 countries across the world have reported cases of the highly mutated omicron Covid-19 variant. From a report: "At least 23 countries from five of six WHO regions have now reported cases of omicron.....»»
Moderna CEO Says Vaccines Likely Less Effective Against Omicron
The head of drugmaker Moderna said COVID-19 vaccines are unlikely to be as effective against the Omicron variant of the coronavirus as they have been previously, sparking fresh worry in financial markets about the trajectory of the pandemic. From a r.....»»
Israel Authorizes Use of Phone Tracking Tech To Contain Spread of Omicron Covid Variant
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Reuters: Rights groups petitioned Israel's top court on Monday to repeal new COVID-19 measures that authorize the country's domestic intelligence service to use counter-terrorism phone tracking technology to c.....»»
US preps vaccine contingencies amid panic over poorly understood omicron
Vaccines offer "at least some protection" against omicron, Biden believes. Enlarge / WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 29: Anthony Fauci (R), Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and Chief Medical Advisor to th.....»»
Omicron Covid Variant Poses Very High Global Risk, Says WHO
The Omicron coronavirus variant is likely to spread internationally, posing a very high global risk of infection surges that could have severe consequences some areas, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday. From a report: The UN agency u.....»»
Top Vaccine Makers Already Preparing to Fight Omicron Coronavirus Variant
While the Omicron mutation might "impact" the effectiveness of our current vaccines, they're "super unlikely" to render them useless, according to Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of Brown University's School of Public Health. And USA Today reports that vaccin.....»»
Why Omicron quickly became a variant of concern
The WHO lets Omicron skip over variant of interest, go straight to concern. Enlarge / That's a lot of mutations. (credit: Stanford) On Friday, the World Health Organization officially named a new version of the SARS-CoV-2 viru.....»»
Dutch order poultry indoors after avian flu outbreak
Dutch health authorities on Tuesday ordered all poultry to be kept indoors to curb an outbreak of highly contagious bird flu......»»
New study on African buffalo offers insights on persistence of highly contagious pathogens
A new Oregon State University study on foot-and-mouth disease among buffalo in South Africa could help explain how certain extremely contagious pathogens are able to persist and reach endemic stage in a population, long after they've burned through t.....»»
Masks Are a Must-Have to Go Back to School during the Delta Variant Surge
Face coverings are essential to protecting children, keeping schools open and slowing the highly contagious coronavirus variant, experts say -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.....»»
Italian Renaissance: Belief in touch as salvation was stronger than fear of contagion
In 1399, a crowd gathered in the Tuscan city of Pisa, even though people understood that a plague ravaging the area was contagious. Devotees traveled from town to town and carried a crucifix—a sculpture of Jesus on the cross —which the crowd lon.....»»