Virus

Prof Francois Balloux
@BallouxFrancois

15 hours ago, 4 tweets, 2 min read

Recent preprint reporting that 24/24 (100%) people form Singapore infected by SARS-1 in 2003 have pre-existing T-cell immunity against #SARSCoV2, but more surprisingly 9/18 (50%) with no exposure to SARS-1 also possess T-cells targeting #SARSCoV2.
(1/4)

tinyurl.com/yauc42as
One take home message is that infection with coronaviruses induces strong and long-lasting T-cell (cross-)immunity. T-cell immunity is likely a far more important for our immune response to #SARSCoV2 infection than antibodies, in line with other recent reports.
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What remains unresolved is which virus caused T-cell immunity in the people with no prior exposure to SARS-1 in 2003. We know of seven coronaviruses infecting humans: #SARSCoV2, SARS-1, MERS and four causing 'common colds' (OC43, HKU1, 229E and NL63).
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Intriguingly, none of the known viruses in circulation in humans looks like a good candidate for the T-cell immunity to #SARSCoV2 in those with no prior exposure to SARS-1. This might suggest that other yet unknown coronaviruses could have been in circulation in humans.
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https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1266265084143087628.html

Vasa Čokrljan wrote:nije to podesno za masovno testiranje jbg.

Coronavirus: Monkeys 'escape with COVID-19 samples' after attacking lab assistant https://t.co/neUMb0nuhy

— SkyNews (@SkyNews) 29. мај 2020.

Sin distancia, sin mascarillas, con jugadores y aficionados entremezclados... La celebración del título del Estrella Roja se saltó todos los protocolos. Como si nada hubiera pasado. #SuperligaSrbije pic.twitter.com/Fonkmmchft

— A. Gabilondo (@AS_AGabilondo) May 30, 2020

Archaeology of the Lockdown, lifted:
Evidence of some kind of burning activity, possibly related to summer feasting & gathering of local pastoralists pic.twitter.com/ku7DYXvKXZ

— Lorna Richardson (@lornarichardson) May 31, 2020

Evidence of feasting on imported goods, and the use of embellished metal tokens, possibly for exchange or cult activity pic.twitter.com/RUJXBv8jvV

— Lorna Richardson (@lornarichardson) May 31, 2020

The remains of further religious activity, possibly related to a river god or pastoral sex cult. This metallic contain used to house a ritual garment worn by the cult participants for congress in the liminal space at the edge of the river, between earth and water pic.twitter.com/9OhWfsC4An

— Lorna Richardson (@lornarichardson) May 31, 2020

~2 weeks ago, Israel opened its schools fully. In the past 2 days, a superspreader event has occurred in a Jerusalem high school, w/ 103 new caseshttps://t.co/LZy84OgJdp
This appears to be the largest school venue superspreader event to date https://t.co/CxgTYY2xgt via @gmknght

— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) May 31, 2020

WORLD NEWS
MAY 31, 2020 / 8:44 PM / UPDATED 4 HOURS AGO

New coronavirus losing potency, top Italian doctor says
3 MIN READ

ROME (Reuters) - The new coronavirus is losing its potency and has become much less lethal, a senior Italian doctor said on Sunday.

“In reality, the virus clinically no longer exists in Italy,” said Alberto Zangrillo, the head of the San Raffaele Hospital in Milan in the northern region of Lombardy, which has borne the brunt of Italy’s coronavirus contagion.

“The swabs that were performed over the last 10 days showed a viral load in quantitative terms that was absolutely infinitesimal compared to the ones carried out a month or two months ago,” he told RAI television.

Italy has the third highest death toll in the world from COVID-19, with 33,415 people dying since the outbreak came to light on Feb. 21. It has the sixth highest global tally of cases at 233,019.

However new infections and fatalities have fallen steadily in May and the country is unwinding some of the most rigid lockdown restrictions introduced anywhere on the continent.

Zangrillo said some experts were too alarmist about the prospect of a second wave of infections and politicians needed to take into account the new reality.

“We’ve got to get back to being a normal country,” he said. “Someone has to take responsibility for terrorizing the country.”

The government urged caution, saying it was far too soon to claim victory.

“Pending scientific evidence to support the thesis that the virus has disappeared ... I would invite those who say they are sure of it not to confuse Italians,” Sandra Zampa, an undersecretary at the health ministry, said in a statement.

“We should instead invite Italians to maintain the maximum caution, maintain physical distancing, avoid large groups, to frequently wash their hands and to wear masks.”

A second doctor from northern Italy told the national ANSA news agency that he was also seeing the coronavirus weaken.

“The strength the virus had two months ago is not the same strength it has today,” said Matteo Bassetti, head of the infectious diseases clinic at the San Martino hospital in the city of Genoa.

“It is clear that today the COVID-19 disease is different.”