KPFA - Corona Calls

By KPFANews Politics

KPFA - Corona Calls episodes

April 16, 2024Corona Calls for 04.16.2024 – COVID and Interstitial Macrophages
Discussed in this episode:
A new paper finds that SARS-COV2 infects a type of immune cell the in the lungs called interstitial macrophages, helping to explain the cascade of inflammation, lung damage, and scarring seen in severe COVID-19. The virus enters those cells using a receptor (CD209) different from the ACE2 receptor targeted by current COVID vaccines.
An analysis in the San Jose Mercury News of COVID deaths in California over the past six months shows the death burden has become disportionately old (70% of deaths are people over the age of 75) and White (60%).
To send us a question in advance of next week’s show, write to: [email protected] . Tune in live Monday mornings at 7:30am Pacific at kpfa.org
Podcast music credit: Now Son by Podington Bear, licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License.
The post Corona Calls for 04.16.2024 – COVID and Interstitial Macrophages appeared first on KPFA.
35 min
April 02, 2024Corona Calls for 04.02.2024 – H5N1 Bird Flu
Discussed in this episode:
Avian Influenza (H5N1) has popped up in cows in several states, raising concerns that the virus has jumped to a mammalian species and is now capable of transmitting from cow to cow. Then on Monday, Texas reported a case in a human that works with cows. When is it time to get alarmed?
To send us a question in advance of next week’s show, write to: [email protected] . Tune in live Monday mornings at 7:30am Pacific at kpfa.org
Podcast music credit: Now Son by Podington Bear, licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License.
The post Corona Calls for 04.02.2024 – H5N1 Bird Flu appeared first on KPFA.
37 min
March 25, 2024Corona Calls for 03.25.2024 – Mailbag edition
This episode’s all listener questions, including:
When does it make sense to wait for the new booster?
Can you start Paxlovid too early?
Where do you get a PCR test these days?
Does your reaction to a booster tell you anything about your immune performance?
To send us a question in advance of next week’s show, write to: [email protected] . Tune in live Monday mornings at 7:30am Pacific at kpfa.org
Podcast music credit: Now Son by Podington Bear, licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License.

The post Corona Calls for 03.25.2024 – Mailbag edition appeared first on KPFA.
37 min
March 18, 2024Corona Calls for 03.18.2024 – Norovirus rising
Discussed in this episode:
Cases of Norovirus, which causes intense vomiting and diarrhea, are rising sharply and likely approaching their seasonal peak. Alcohol-based sanitizers don’t work very well on this virus: it’s better just to scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water. Here are tips from the CDC on how to avoid getting norovirus (and how to avoid passing it on): https://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/about/prevention.html
The British Medical Journal just published a big study on the effectiveness of COVID vaccines in lowering rates of post-infection clot-related health problems like heart attack and stroke. An analysis of 20 million health records from three countries shows prior vaccination helped significantly (but for some conditions, the benefit seems to reduce over time).
To send us a question in advance of next week’s show, write to: [email protected] . Tune in live Monday mornings at 7:30am Pacific at kpfa.org
Podcast music credit: Now Son by Podington Bear, licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License.
The post Corona Calls for 03.18.2024 – Norovirus rising appeared first on KPFA.
37 min
March 11, 2024Corona Calls for 03.11.2024 – On the other side of the surge
Discussed in this episode:
Are there downsides to getting too many doses of COVID vaccine? A new study of one man who got 217 (!) doses couldn’t find any.
To send us a question in advance of next week’s show, write to: [email protected] . Tune in live Monday mornings at 7:30am Pacific at kpfa.org
Podcast music credit: Now Son by Podington Bear, licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License.
The post Corona Calls for 03.11.2024 – On the other side of the surge appeared first on KPFA.
37 min
March 04, 2024Corona Calls for 03.04.2024 – New Population Studies on Long Covid
Discussed in this episode:
The CDC has updated its COVID vaccine guidance to recommend adults age 65+ get an additional dose of the latest COVID-19 vaccine.
The CDC has also weakened its guidance on how long to isolate when sick with COVID-19, to make it the same as for other respiratory virus infections. (We discussed the merits of this two episodes prior, when the proposed change was leaked).
Two new population studies show enduring cognitive impacts from COVID-19 infection. One tracked 113,000 people in England. The other tracked 112,000 people in Norway.
The less-than-awful news: both studies show less impairment in people with milder cases; additionally, the study in England shows less impairment from the present variant of covid (Omicron) than the original, and less in vaccinated people than unvaccinated.
The bad news: the England study shows average impairment increases with each successive infection; the Norway study seems to show the memory-function gap between infected and uninfected people increases over time after the infection.
To send us a question in advance of next week’s show, write to: [email protected] . Tune in live Monday mornings at 7:30am Pacific at kpfa.org
Podcast music credit: Now Son by Podington Bear, licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License.
The post Corona Calls for 03.04.2024 – New Population Studies on Long Covid appeared first on KPFA.
31 min
February 20, 2024Corona Calls for 02.20.2023 – The CDC’s new isolation guidance
Discussed in this episode:
The Washington Post (and subsequently, other outlets) is reporting, based on anonymous sources, that the CDC is considering changing its guidelines on COVID isolation to give people with COVID cases an all-clear after they’ve been fever-free for 24 hours without the help of fever -suppressing medication.
Because of fundraising at KPFA, we’ll only be taking questions via email for the next two weeks (the station needs its phone lines free for people donating). To send us a question, write to: [email protected]
Podcast music credit: Now Son by Podington Bear, licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License.
The post Corona Calls for 02.20.2023 – The CDC’s new isolation guidance appeared first on KPFA.
29 min
February 12, 2024Corona Calls for 02.12.24 – Is the wave receding?
An episode devoted exclusively to answering questions from the audience, including:
When do I know it’s safe to stop wearing a mask at indoor gatherings?
How long after a possible exposure should I start getting tested?
What are the odds of getting Long COVID?
To send in questions: [email protected]
Podcast music credit: Now Son by Podington Bear, licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License.

The post Corona Calls for 02.12.24 – Is the wave receding? appeared first on KPFA.
39 min
January 29, 2024Corona Calls for 01.29.2024 – Riding the Wave
An episode devoted exclusively to answering questions from the audience, including:
How long *before* testing positive might someone be contagious?
How much immunity do newborns have?
How do you check the certification on a KN95?*
Will there be a Spring booster for people at high risk?
What lessons should we learn from the COVID response?
*Doctor Swartzberg adds this correction and addendum to his comments on looking up the certification of masks marketed as meeting the Chinese KN95 performance standard:
“NIOSH and the FDA approve N95 AND KN95 masks. […] The KF94 from Korea is FDA approved. One should make certain it is not counterfeit.
Another source regarding counterfeit masks is https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/usernotices/AdditionalTips.html“

To send in questions: [email protected]
Podcast music credit: Now Son by Podington Bear, licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License.

The post Corona Calls for 01.29.2024 – Riding the Wave appeared first on KPFA.
34 min
January 22, 2024Corona Calls for 01.22.24 – California’s New Rules
Discussed in this episode:
The California Department of Public Health has changed its COVID isolation guidelines. It no longer recommends people with asymptomatic COVID isolate. For people with symptomatic cases, the updated guidelines allow isolation to end after they’ve been fever-free for 24 hours (as long as other symptoms are improving).
A three-country study published in The Lancet confirms vaccination significantly reduces the likelihood of Long Covid. (It only compared vaccinated to non-vaccinated. A study from Sweden published last fall showed that protection from Long COVID increased with the number of vaccinations administered.)
To send in questions: [email protected]
Podcast music credit: Now Son by Podington Bear, licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License.
The post Corona Calls for 01.22.24 – California’s New Rules appeared first on KPFA.
40 min

About KPFA - Corona Calls

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A weekly update on new research and developments concerning COVID-19 (and occasionally other infectious diseases that hit the news).

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KPFA - Corona Calls

KPFA - Corona Calls episodes

About KPFA - Corona Calls