Category: Infectious Diseases
Weber Contributes Data to Discussions Regarding Student Vaccine Requirements
Orange County Schools middle and high school students who are unvaccinated and want to play sports or take part in certain extracurricular activities will need to be tested twice a week for COVID-19. The school board decided in a unanimous vote to require the testing for students who want to be a cheerleader or join the band, chorus or theater this year. David Weber, MD, MPH, pro … Read more
When Could We See Delta Peak in North Carolina?
The numbers of new COVID-19 cases and hospital admissions keep climbing. That raises a critical question — when will they finally peak? CBS-17 interviewed David Wohl, MD, to learn more. “Under the current circumstances, unless there was a dramatic change, we’re talking about a peak in late October, early November,” said Wohl, professor of medicine in the division of infectious di … Read more
Mother-Infant Hepatitis B Treatment, Prevention Feasible in Sub-Saharan Africa
A study in Lancet Global Health led by Peyton Thompson, MD, MSCR, assistant professor of pediatric infectious diseases, and Jonathan Parr, MD, MPH, assistant professor in adult infectious diseases, showed the feasibility and acceptance of hepatitis B virus testing, treatment, and vaccination programs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains endemic … Read more
UNC HIV Cure Center Awarded $26.2 Million Over the Next 5 Years
The National Institutes of Health will award $53 million annually to 10 research organizations over the next five years to continue working toward curative therapies for HIV. The Collaboratory of AIDS Researchers for Eradication (CARE), led at the UNC HIV Cure Center by David Margolis, MD, is one of two programs to have received funds for all three five-year grant cycles since 20 … Read more
Delta Variant Puts Hospitals Back in Crisis Mode
The Washington Post reports that with only about half of the U.S. population fully vaccinated against the novel coronavirus, hospitals across the country are straining to respond to a deadly fourth surge of infections driven by the delta variant. David Wohl, MD, professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases, who monitors the dashboard that tracks hospital admission … Read more
Convincing Teens to Get Their Shot As School Year Nears
A WRAL.com report says officials with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services are working to boost teen vaccination rates as students prepare to head back to the classroom. David Wohl, MD, professor of medicine in infectious diseases said vaccination rates are lower than what they are for the adult population. “This is a crisis, so the problem is that it is not … Read more
US Likely to Greenlight COVID Booster Shots for Everyone, Here’s Why
David Weber, MD, MPH, professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases, explained in a CBS-17 news report why COVID booster shots are needed for everyone. “We would like to, in healthcare, give as best protection as we can and it may be that boosters offer a way to improve protection,” said Weber. He also pointed out that increasing the dosing doesn’t mean scientists … Read more
Weber Discusses EUA Vaccine Booster For Immunocompromised Patients
In response to US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granting Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna for the use of a third “booster” vaccine dose in severely immunocompromised patients, Contagion Live spoke to infectious disease, virology, and vaccinology experts on the merits of a booster vaccine dose EUA. David Weber, MD, shared his thoughts following … Read more
As Delta Variant Fuels Rising COVID Infections, a New Variant Has Shown Up
As the delta variant continues to fuel the rising number of COVID infections, another has now been detected. The lambda variant, discovered in Peru, is one of the most recent discoveries. Scientists continue to watch for new mutations of COVID-19. David Weber, MD, professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases, explained to KTAL (Washington, DC) that the SARS-CoV-2 … Read more
Wohl Responds to Questions About the Delta Variant, the Use of Antibody Treatment, and How Wisdom and Fear Leads 90% of Seniors To Vaccines
COVID Delta Variant Q & A With David Wohl, MD (August 12, 2021) NC Health News featured David Wohl, MD, professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases, in a Q & A about the Delta variant. Health reporter Rose Hoban interviewed Wohl about the Delta variant and the return to school. Read the interview. UNC Health to expand use of antibody treatment to prevent … Read more
Injectable Cabotegravir PrEP Superior to Oral TDF-FTC; Trial Halted Early
Lina Rosengren-Hovee, MD, MPH, assistant professor of medicine and infectious diseases, discussed long-acting PrEP agents versus Oral TDF-FTC in Medscape Medical News. “We’re constantly searching for new modalities to expand our repertoire of what we can provide patients, especially those folks with the highest need for PrEP,” Rosengren-Hovee told Medscape Medical News. “Being ab … Read more
Sickbert-Bennett Discusses the Best Face Coverings For Children With School Starting Back
Emily Sickbert-Bennett, PhD, MS, associate professor of infectious diseases, talked with CBS-17 about face coverings for children as school starts back, emphasizing comfort is especially important. Sickbert-Bennett has extensively researched masks throughout the pandemic and says parents should find a mask that kids are willing to wear properly all day long. Watch or read the rep … Read more