As I cut a slice of lemon for my tea one morning last March, I found that I could not detect the familiar zing of citrus. Nor, it turned out, could I taste the peach jam on my toast. . . . [L]ater that day I saw a newspaper article about the loss of smell and taste in patients with COVID-19, and I realized that I’d likely caught the virus. [M]onths after testing negative for COVID, my senses of both smell and taste are still not fully recovered.

In this, I know, I’m hardly alone.

Why declining antibodies don't spell disaster for long-lasting immunity

New data suggest that nearly all COVID-19 survivors have the immune cells necessary to fight re-infection.

The findings, based on analyses of blood samples from 188 COVID-19 patients, suggest that responses to the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, from all major players in the "adaptive" immune system, which learns to fight specific pathogens, can last for at least eight months . . .

Researchers at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) have found elevated levels of a biomarker related to blood vessel damage in children with SARS-CoV-2 infection, even if the children had minimal or no symptoms of COVID-19. They also found that a high proportion of children with SARS-CoV-2 infection met clinical and diagnostic criteria for thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). TMA is a syndrome . . .

Monash University's Professor Kit Fairley, Director of the Melbourne Sexual Health Clinic in Australia, has presented data in Canada that indicates that a significant, and previously unrecognised, route of transmission of the bacterial infection is kissing, which [may explain why] the rates of infection are so high globally.

More than half of people who recover from COVID-19 still report fatigue 10 weeks later, regardless of the seriousness of their initial infection, an observational study published Nov 9 in PLOS One has found.

Led by researchers at Trinity College Dublin, the study involved taking blood samples from and administering the Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFQ-11) assessment to 128 patients visiting an outpatient post-coronavirus care clinic at St. James's Hospital in Dublin.

Bronchitis is one of the top 10 conditions for which people seek medical care. . . . Although many physicians treat bronchitis with antibiotics, a majority of cases are caused by viruses and antibiotics are completely ineffective. Try using some safe and natural remedies. They can help to reduce swelling in the bronchial tubes and relieve your sometimes painful cough.

A walk through the woods. Playing with your cat. Getting a spider bite. These things might all seem unrelated, but they have one important thing in common – they can all potentially expose you to a sneaky and possibly dangerous bacteria known as Bartonella Henselae.

This stealthy intruder can be dangerous and is notoriously hard to treat. Today we’re going to dive into exactly what Bartonella is. And most importantly we’re going to cover practical . . .

Besides regular hand washing—which can reduce your chances of getting the flu by 50 percent according to the CDC—here are some other things you can do to keep your immune system optimal during cold and flu season:

Take a probiotic. As much as 70 percent of the immune system is in the gut – the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT). Keeping your gastrointestinal tract inoculated . . .

Young children are unlikely to spread the virus — but older kids are more at risk, say researchers.

Data gathered worldwide are increasingly suggesting that schools are not hot spots for coronavirus infections. Despite fears, COVID-19 infections did not surge when schools and day-care centres reopened after pandemic lockdowns eased.

However, research also shows that children can catch the virus and shed viral particles, and older children are more likely than very young kids to pass it on . . .

Patients with Covid-19 have the highest levels of virus in the first five days and show no evidence of the live virus, which can cause infections, in the body nine days after symptoms begin, according to the most comprehensive study of the virus to date, led by the University of St Andrews.

The first systematic review of the three human coronaviruses showed that those infected with Covid-19 are most likely to be highly infectious . . .

In this podcast, Dr. Mary Hyman, MD, and Dr. Elizabeth Boham, MD, discuss the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly focusing on effective natural approaches that individuals can employ to fortify the body’s immune system to make them more resilient to the disease and to drastically improve the chances of a full recovery if the coronavirus is contracted. Moreover, the doctors examine various holistic therapies that individuals can implement to overcome post-COVID syndrome.

Over 800,000 Americans suffer from chronic Lyme disease and experience associated symptoms such as malaise, neurological disorders, cardiac complications, and arthritis. Lyme disease is often treated with antibiotics, however 10-20% of Lyme patients develop posttreatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS). A study published in the American Society for Microbiology .

US mobile data suggests restaurants, gyms and cafes can be covid hotspots — and reveals strategies for limiting spread.

In cities worldwide, coronavirus outbreaks have been linked to restaurants, cafes and gyms. Now, a new model using mobile-phone data to map people’s movements suggests that these venues could account for most COVID-19 infections in US cities.

The model, published in Nature today, also reveals how reducing occupancy in venues can significantly . . .

Lyme disease, an acute bacterial infection that often develops into a chronic condition, is a burgeoning epidemic. In this video, learn from a true Lyme Warrior’s first-hand experience coping with and conquering this relentless illness.

Why proposals to largely let the virus run its course — embraced by Donald Trump’s administration and others — could bring “untold death and suffering”.

In May, the Brazilian city of Manaus was devastated by a large outbreak of COVID-19. Hospitals were overwhelmed and the city was digging new grave sites in the surrounding forest. But by August, something had shifted. Despite relaxing social-distancing requirements in early June, the city of 2 million people had reduced its number of excess deaths . . .

Two new US studies have identified an elevated risk of preterm birth and severe COVID-19 illness in pregnant women, while a systematic review and meta-analysis of maternal and neonatal outcomes found that the novel coronavirus doesn't seem to significantly influence pregnancy.

Implications for Workplace Reopenings and 2020 Election

A Dartmouth-Gallup study finds that women are more concerned about COVID-19 than men, a difference that transcends party lines. This female perspective towards the pandemic may be overlooked due to the underrepresentation of women in the workplace that is compounded by an underrepresentation in politics, creating what the researchers refer to as a representational "double whammy" effect.

Being previously infected with coronaviruses that cause the “common cold” may decrease the severity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infections, according to results of a new study. Led by researchers at Boston Medical Center and Boston University School of Medicine, the study also demonstrates that the immunity built up from previous non-SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infections does not prevent individuals from getting COVID-19.

Rapid antigen tests are designed to tell in a few minutes whether someone is infectious. Will they be game changers?

The United States leads the world in COVID-19 deaths but lags behind many countries — both large and small — in testing capacity. That could soon change.

At the end of August, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted emergency-use approval to a new credit-card-sized testing device for the coronavirus that costs US$5, gives results in 15 minutes . . .

Over the past several months I have been writing and broadcasting about the potential role of vitamin D as it relates to COVID-19.

By and large, effectiveness of any intervention is looked at in terms of either prevention of a problem or its actual treatment. And while there is a fairly robust body of literature accumulating that clearly shows higher risk for the disease as well as worse outcome associated with low levels of vitamin D . . .

This coronavirus is here for the long haul — here’s what scientists predict for the next months and years.

June 2021. The world has been in pandemic mode for a year and a half. The virus continues to spread at a slow burn; intermittent lockdowns are the new normal. An approved vaccine offers six months of protection, but international deal-making has slowed its distribution. An estimated 250 million people have been infected worldwide, and 1.75 million are dead.

Roughly two weeks ago, the American Heart Association told the world that diet should be assessed routinely in clinical encounters . . .

You might wonder why diet should suddenly be treated as a vital sign, and the answer is as robust as the question is reasonable: diet quality is the number one predictor of premature mortality in the United States (and increasingly much of the modern world) today.

Charcoal isn’t just for your backyard grill. Even though charcoal makes most of us think of glowing embers and yummy barbecued kabobs or steak, it has stomach soothing medicinal properties too. The CDC reports that 19 to 21 million Americans will get the stomach flu, and charcoal might just help you get back on your feet faster.

A review of COVID-19 studies reveals a troubling connection between two health crises: coronavirus and obesity.

From COVID-19 risk to recovery, the odds are stacked against those with obesity, and a new study led by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill raises concerns about the impact of obesity on the effectiveness of a future COVID-19 vaccine.

. . . Two incredible new studies point to the key aspect of immunity that T cells play in determining susceptibility and severity of COVID-19 as well as establishing immunity against SARS-CoV-2.

This new data, along with prior evidence, indicates that approximately 40-60% of healthy people already show at least a partial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 because of prior exposure to types of coronavirus that cause the common cold. If these findings prove to be accurate . . .

American jails and prisons, in which large numbers of inmates live together in close quarters, have become COVID-19 hotspots. In fact, one published analysis found that the top 10 biggest clusters of the virus in the U.S. are now in correctional facilities.

A new study, however, takes a look at the possible ripple effect these clusters may have in surrounding communities. The findings suggest that short-term cycling of prisoners . . .

Pharmaceutical companies are working around the clock to develop vaccines and drugs for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 . . .

[T]hese things, unfortunately, take time. That’s why it is more important than ever to . . . support your immune system and your overall health so you’ll have the best chance of fighting off infection. In addition to getting plenty of rest, eating an anti-inflammatory diet, and managing stress . . .

WOW, the complete title of a recent scientific article pretty much says it all. “Endogenous Deficiency of Glutathione as the Most Likely Cause of Serious Manifestations and Death in COVID-19 Patients.” . . . Lower levels of glutathione results in the combination of an impaired immune response, decreased protection against the virus and cellular damage, and an increased inflammatory response. The bottom line is that if you want to survive this pandemic . . .

“We can’t become immune to this level of suffering . . . Georgia is in no shape to open its public schools in most of the state, the virus levels are too high.”

Dr. Ashish Jha, CNN, August 10th

Many schools throughout the country face a challenging decision, to either resume some version of normal instruction or implement virtual learning. Some are invoking the former without the necessary safeguards, which still aren’t foolproof, and consequently endangering the lives of children, who can effectively transmit the disease to their families and others.

Dr. Melvin Konner, PhD, MD

From immunity to the role of genetics, Nature looks at five pressing questions about COVID-19 that researchers are tackling.

In late December 2019, reports emerged of a mysterious pneumonia in Wuhan, China . . . The cause, Chinese scientists quickly determined, was a new coronavirus distantly related to the SARS virus that had emerged in China in 2003 . . .

Six months and more than ten million confirmed cases later . . .