coronavirus coverage Archives

Parents who forego COVID-19 vaccine for their children are less likely to seek information on it, study shows

Researchers at the Covid States Project sought to tease out where parents of both vaccinated and unvaccinated children get their information about the COVID-19 vaccine and matters affecting their children’s health. Northeastern experts explain their findings in a new survey.

by Tanner Stening May 20, 2022

This 2003 electron microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows mature, oval-shaped monkeypox virions, left, and spherical immature virions, right, obtained from a sample of human skin associated with the 2003 prairie dog outbreak. Monkeypox, a disease that rarely appears outside Africa, has been identified by European and American health authorities in recent days.

Experts weigh in: Is monkeypox the next COVID-19? Here's what we know.

The virus has unexpectedly spread to Europe, Australia, and North America, with the first U.S. patient undergoing treatment in Boston. “But it’s not something to panic about at this point,” says Brandon Dionne, an associate clinical professor in Northeastern’s department of pharmacy and health systems sciences.

by Ian Thomsen May 20, 2022

Your Google searches and Tweets might help forecast the next disease outbreak

People leave a trail of breadcrumbs when they navigate the digital world, offering clues about what is happening in their lives—including their health. Northeastern’s Mauricio Santillana is using machine learning algorithms to turn those clues into an early warning system for disease outbreaks.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki May 17, 2022

Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

Do at-home COVID-19 tests expire?

The short answer is yes, says Jared Auclair, director of the Biopharmaceutical Analysis Training Lab at Northeastern. Here’s a look at why different tests have different expiration windows, and the best way to store them at home.

by Molly Callahan May 9, 2022

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci testifies before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee about the response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Are we out of the pandemic? What Fauci meant by ‘a transitional phase’

While Dr. Anthony Fauci’s comments last week signal hope that the U.S. and other nations could finally be moving into a post-pandemic world, officials should proceed with caution, Northeastern experts say.

by Tanner Stening May 2, 2022

Photo by Jens Kalaene/picture alliance via Getty Images

Contracting COVID-19 might increase your risk of Type 1 diabetes

A study of more than 27 million people across the U.S. has found a link between COVID-19 infections and Type 1 diabetes. Northeastern’s Trenton Honda says, “Our interest is really looking at the question, ‘Are there going to be hidden costs, even among those who are not at high risk from COVID itself, because of COVID, later on?’”

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki April 28, 2022

Photo By Eduardo Parra/Europa Press via Getty Images

The official count of COVID-19 shots in older adults is distorted. What’s going on?

According to analysis by researchers at Northeastern and partner institutions, the CDC counts, when compared with census data, indicate that in 26 states, more than 100% of people above age 65 have gotten at least one shot. What went wrong? David Lazer, university distinguished professor, explains.

by Molly Callahan April 22, 2022

How worried should you be about BA.2?

Technically, the new dominant viral strain is another iteration of omicron. But, Northeastern experts say, that’s no reason for alarm. In fact, they say, it’s a likely sign of the new normalcy.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki April 5, 2022

While the BA.2 variant of the coronavirus appears to be highly infectious, it also appears to be less severe. For most people, that means the protection already afforded by a full vaccine regimen is sufficient to ward off illness, says Mansoor Amiji, university distinguished professor of pharmaceutical sciences and chemical engineering at Northeastern.
Photo Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

As the BA.2 variant circulates, will you need a second COVID-19 booster?

For most people, the short answer is: Probably not, says Mansoor Amiji, university distinguished professor of pharmaceutical sciences and chemical engineering at Northeastern.

by Molly Callahan March 22, 2022

New CDC guidance drops indoor mask recommendation for Boston, much of the country

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Friday new criteria for the metrics that local jurisdictions use to ease pandemic mitigation measures. “It’s moving away from a one-size-fits-all approach to a much more tailored approach,” says Neil Maniar, professor of public health practice at Northeastern.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki February 25, 2022

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